ALABAMA (3-0, 0-0) vs.ARKANSAS (1-1, 0-1)
09.26.09 TIME: 2:30 p.m. TV: CBS
GAMEDAY '09 Arkansas Airshow After setting a school record with five touchdown passes against Georgia, Arkansas and Ryan Mallett bring their high-flying passing game to T-Town.
Also inside:
• Etched in stone: 1934
• Position Matchups
2009 Schedule Date
Opponent
9/05/09 Virginia Tech
Result W 34-24
9/12/09 Florida International W 40-14 9/19/09 North Texas
W 53-7
Date
Opponent
Location
GameDay Publish Date
9/26/09
Arkansas
Tuscaloosa
9/25/09
10/03/09 Kentucky
Lexington, Ky.
10/01/09
10/10/09 Ole Miss
Oxford, Miss.
10/07/09
10/17/09 South Carolina
Tuscaloosa
10/16/09
10/24/09 Tennessee
Tuscaloosa
10/23/09
11/07/09 LSU
Tuscaloosa
11/06/09
11/14/09 Mississippi State Starkville, Miss. 11/12/09 11/21/09 UT Chattanooga
Tuscaloosa
11/20/09
11/27/09 Auburn
Auburn
11/24/09
ON THE INSIDE
GameDay 2009 • September 25
1
Stat of the
week Alabama has won its last 17 Southeastern Conference openers. The Crimson Tide’s last defeat in a conference opener was in 1991, when Alabama lost to Florida 35-0.
4 | CLEARING THE SKIES
GAME INFORMATION
With Bobby Petrino bringing the top-ranked passing unit to town, can the Tide defense keep Arkansas grounded? By Spencer White
CW | Katie Bennett
3 | PLAYSTATION SIMULATION
8 | BUY OR SELL
With stud quarterback Ryan Mallett coming to town, the Alabama defense stepped up big in its SEC opener.
Is Washington a Pac-10 contender? Is Miami a legitimate top-10 team? Find out in GameDay’s new “Buy or Sell” section.
Alabama Crimson Tide (3-0) vs. Arkansas Razorbacks (1-1)
By Will Nevin
9 | ETCHED IN STONE
13 | POSITION MATCHUPS
This week’s installment looks at Frank Thomas’ first Rose Bowl squad and two ends who became legends of Tide football.
Find out which key matchups in Saturday’s game favor the Crimson Tide and which favor the Arkansas Razorbacks.
By Spencer White
• Field: Bryant-Denny Stadium • Place: Tuscaloosa • Time: 2:30 p.m. • TV: CBS • Radio: 1420 AM (Eli Gold, play-by-play; Phil Savage, color analyst; Barry Krauss, sideline reporter)
GAMEDAY STAFF • Jason Galloway, GameDay editor • Spencer White, GameDay assistant editor • Amanda Peterson, editor-in-chief • Will Nevin, managing editor • Brandee Easter, design editor • Emily Johnson, assistant design editor • Aaron Gertler, graphics editor • Katie Martin, assistant photo editor • Bethany Martin, photographer Cover photo: Katie Bennett, Bethany Martin, Arkansas Athletics
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2
PICKS, POLLS AND PERSPECTIVE
September 25 • GameDay 2009
CW PICKS | WEEK 4 Jason Galloway
Spencer White
Cyrus Ntakirutinka
Aaron Gertler
Amanda Peterson
GameDay editor
Asst. GameDay editor
Senior sports reporter
Graphics editor
CW editor
13-8
15-6
13-8
11-10
14-7
Will Nevin
Drew Gunn
CW managing editor Advertising manager
Arkansas at #3 Bama #22 North Carolina at Ga. Tech #6 California at Oregon #9 Miami at #11 Virginia Tech #15 TCU at Clemson Texas Tech at #17 Houston #24 Washington at Stanford Season record
the
student
SECTION
UA students talk about their expectations for the upcoming Crimson Tide game. CW | Bethany Martin
AP POLL
14-7
14-7
COACHESʼ POLL
1. Florida (55)
1. Florida (59)
2. Texas (2)
2. Texas
3. Alabama (3)
3. Alabama
4. Mississippi
4. Penn State
5. Penn State
5. Mississippi
6. California
6. California
7. LSU
7. LSU
8. Boise State
8. Boise State
9. Miami
9. Oklahoma
10. Oklahoma
10. USC
11. Virginia Tech
11. Ohio State
12. USC
12. Virginia Tech
James Jones Senior Art
Shelly Pate Sophomore Studio art
“North Texas wasnʼt a powerhouse, but the “D” got some good practice and reps against them.”
“I think it will be a really intense game, but another win for the Tide.”
Robyn Gilstrap Junior Elementary education
Jessica Dawson Junior Digital media
13. Ohio State
13. Miami
14. Cincinnati
14. TCU
“Itʼs going to be a close game, but Alabama is going to pull out another win.”
15. TCU
15. Cincinnati
16. Oklahoma State
16. Oklahoma State
17. Houson
17. Georgia
18. Florida State
18. North Carolina
19. BYU
19. Kansas
20. Kansas
20. BYU
21. Georgia
21. Missouri
22. North Carolina
22. Michigan
23. Michigan
23. Houston
24. Washington
24. Nebraska
25. Nebraska
25. Florida State
“Definitely looking forward to watching the game with my family this weekend.” Elizabeth LaKemper Sophomore Marketing “Iʼm looking foward to another home game.”
Alexia Mingo Sophomore Secondary Education/ Biology “This game is going to be a must see.”
PS3 SIMULATION
GameDay 2009 • September 25
PS3 SAYS | ALABAMA 50, ARKANSAS 10
SIMULATION STATISTICS
BY WILL NEVIN Managing Editor In his first Southeastern Conference game against Georgia, Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett lit up the Dogs defense, completing passes almost at will in a valiant, but ultimately losing, effort. Apparently, in coming to Tuscaloosa to take on the Tide, he left his “A” game in Fayetteville as the Tide terrorized the Hogs’ offense in a 50-10 win at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The game started out with poor special teams play for the Tide and the Razorbacks. B.J. Scott returned the opening kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown to put Bama up 7-0. Lucas Miller returned the ensuing kick 74 yards for Arkansas, but the Hogs had to settle for a 21-yard field goal. Javier Arenas returned the next kickoff 90 yards for another Tide special teams score, giving Bama a 14-3 lead before the offense had even hit the field. The Tide’s first offensive possession yielded a 48-yard Leigh Tiffin field goal, putting the Tide up 17-3 going into the second quarter. Arkansas got into the end zone with a 5-yard touchdown run from Broderick Green to pull to 17-10, but it was all Tide after that. Bama finished the first half with a 9-yard Mark Ingram touchdown run and a field goal to go into halftime up 27-10.
3
Alabama • Passing: Greg McElroy, 13-of-17, 150 yds, 2 TDs
• Rushing: Mark Ingram, 26 rushes, 169 yds, 2 TD NCAA 2010 screenshot Cory Reamer sacks Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett in the endzone for a saftey. The Hogs would have been better just leaving at the break, as the third quarter scoring opened with a Mallett sack in the Arkansas end zone, resulting in a safety for Alabama. The Tide finished the game with two Greg McElroy touchdown passes — one to Baron Huber and another to Colin Peek — and another touchdown run for Ingram. Mallett had the kind of game that should have come with a parental advisory, completing only 15-of-27 passes for 146 yards and three interceptions. For Alabama, linebacker Cory Reamer had a career day with nine tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack, a safety and an interception. Alabama improves to 3-1 (1-0) in the simulated season.
• Receiving: Colin Peek, 4 catches, 47 yds
• Top Defensive Performer: Cory Reamer, 9 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack, 1 safety, interception
Arkansas • Passing: Ryan Mallett, 15-of-27, 146 yds, 3 INT
• Rushing: Michael Smith, 15 rushes, 25 yds
• Receiving: Jarius Wright, 5 receptions, 60 yds
• Top Defensive Performer: Wendel Davis, 9 tackles
A swarm of Alabama defenders drag down North Texas running back Darius Carey during the Tide始s 53-7 victory. CW | Katie Bennett
Clearing
THE SKIES
With arguably the hottest quarterback in the country paying a visit to BryantDenny on Saturday, Javier Arenas and the Crimson Tide defense faces its stiffest challenge of the 2009 season. Can Alabama put a halt on the aerial assault of sensational sophomore Ryan Mallett? BY SPENCER WHITE Assistant GameDay Editor
T
The path to stardom on the college gridiron can be a rocky one. • Just ask Arkansas starting quarterback Ryan Mallett. • The former Texarkana, Texas, high school star, who originally committed and signed with the Michigan Wolverines, decided to transfer following the hire of spread guru Rich Rodriguez in Ann Arbor. • Homeless and looking for a system to spread his rather large (6-foot-7) wings, Mallett saw an opportunity in Fayetteville, Ark., where renowned offensive head coach Bobby Petrino had arrived to lead the University of Arkansas Razorbacks after a brief and disastrous foray with the Atlanta Falcons. • Following NCAA regulations, Mallett was forced to sit out one year without losing eligibility, unable to dress or play in any games for the 2008 season. • Even Greg McElroy, who has waited three years for his chance to shine at Alabama, isn’t sure he could handle it. • “I was always with the team and always eligible to play on Saturday,” McElroy said. “I think it would be difficult to sit out a year.” • But Mallet
6
September 25 • GameDay 2009
persevered, learning the offense through Sunday run-throughs and scout team work, until the starting job was declared his in the preseason for the 2009 season. And he’s made quite a debut. Through two games, Mallett leads the nation in pass efficiency, completing his passes at a 67 percent rate
and totaling 717 yards with six touchdowns and no interceptions. In only his second start, Mallett set a new Arkansas single game record, throwing five TD passes against the Georgia Bulldogs in the Razorbacks’ 52-41 loss last Saturday. “ H e ’s o bv i ously a guy that can execute and do it very well,” said head coach Nick Saban. “He also has some very good players around him… t h e y h ave three receivers that are top 10 in the SEC in receptions. They have a
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}
“They’re a good offense; they score a lot of points. But they haven’t played us.” — Rolando McClain
very good tight end, and their offensive line plays very well in their system.” For Alabama, the offensive prowess of the Razorbacks is something the vaunted Tide defense has yet to encounter this season. Top-10 opponent Virginia Tech has struggled offensively, and FIU and North Texas did not possess the talent of the Arkansas offense. Rolando McClain still doesn’t seem too worried. “They’re a good offense; they score a lot of points,” McClain said. “But they haven’t played us. We do a good job of stopping people from scoring points. “We’re not overwhelmed by the points that they score…we’re going to do what we have to do to stop them and limit their big plays.” Part of stopping the Razorbacks will undoubtedly involve a hefty dose of pass rushes, something that Georgia failed to capitalize on early against Arkansas. Most of Mallett’s yardage and scoring came before the fourth quarter, when Georgia finally began applying pressure to the slowfooted Mallett. His resulting throws began to sail high and miss targets. For Saban, this provides
an opportunity for a different type of scheme than he could employ against Virginia Tech, when the Hokies could rely on the scrambling abilities of Tyrod Taylor if the Tide was not careful in its blitzing. “I think both guys are unique athletes in terms of what they’re gifted at,” Saban said. “Tyrod Taylor was an extremely good athlete…it was really important to try to keep him in front, make sure that he didn’t run…I think when you play a guy that’s a prostyle quarterback [like Mallet], who has very good arm-talent and very good understanding of what they’re doing…you need to affect him with disguise, different coverages, different ways to pressure.” McClain is expecting that he and his fellow front seven members will be called on early and often to try to put Mallett on the Bryant-Denny turf. “We’ll do a lot of things with our blitzes, do a lot of things with our coverage,” McClain said. “If [Mallett] can sit back in the pocket, he will make plays.” When McClain and company can’t get to the backfield, it will be up to Javier Arenas and the rest of the Tide secondary to keep Mallett’s lasers from landing in the hands of Razorback receivers.
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GameDay 2009 • September 25 Arenas wasn’t familiar with Mallett until watching the sophomore’s aerial display against the Bulldogs. “I was pretty astonished at how confident [Mallett] was,” Arenas said. “He’s an excellent quarterback. It came as a surprise to me because I’ve never seen him before.” Agent 28, however, has never been one to shy away from a challenge. “It’s a great test,” Arenas said. “No matter who you’re playing against, it’s just a different scheme you’ve got to prepare for.” With a player like Mallett, whose arm strength has been legendary ever since his days as a high school recruit, a new challenge is presented to some of the younger secondary players, like sophomore safety Mark Barron, who must play an effective centerfield on Mallett’s long bombs. “It takes realizing the capability of a guy like [Mallet],” Arenas said. “If you don’t take the proper step, this guy can
throw it over your head.” The threats don’t end with Mallett and the passing game. Arkansas will certainly hand the ball off to one of two outstanding running backs, All-SEC senior Michael Smith and talented freshman Ronnie Wingo Jr. Though the duo has only accumulated 151 yards rushing between them, they function well as a diversion from the passing game, and the Tide will need to continue to dominate the line of scrimmage to force the Razorbacks into a onedimensional offense. The Tide defense will need to be far from a one-trick pony on Saturday to come out with a victory, as Saban stated on Monday. “Playing defense is a lot like being a pitcher,” Saban said. “If you’re a one-pitch guy, eventually they’re probably going to hit you…if [the quarterback] knows what you’re doing all the time before he gets the ball in his hand, he’s going to be able to make a good decision and take advantage of it, so you’ve got to be able to pitch a little bit.”
7
CW | Bethany Martin Cornerback Javier Arenas (28) and inside linebacker Rolando McClain (25) prepare to blitz North Texas quarterback Nathan Tune. If Alabama hopes to be successful against strong-armed Ryan Mallett and the Arkansas offense, McClain and the front seven will need to pressure Mallett without the help of Arenas and the secondary.
8
BUY OR SELL
September 25 • GameDay 2009 SPENCER WHITE Assistant GameDay Editor
MIAMI IS A TOP 10 TEAM
JASON GALLOWAY GameDay Editor
BUY
BUY
The Hurricanes have defeated two ranked opponents to start 2009, one a hated rival (Florida State) and the other in their own house (Georgia Tech). This year’s Miami squad looks infinitely more confident than last year’s mediocre 7-6 team, and sophomore quarterback Jacory Harris is emerging as a legitimate superstar. Expect “the U” in a January bowl game.
Miami has been one of the 10 most impressive teams through the first three weeks of the season, so why shouldn’t they be a top-10 team? Jacory Harris has emerged as the top quarterback in the ACC, and the Hurricanes have proven they may be the best team in the conference. Don’t be surprised when Miami is in the Orange Bowl come bowl season.
SELL Washington’s astonishing 16-13 upset over Southern California ranks as a watershed victory in the Huskies’ revival under first-year coach Steve Sarkisian. However, there is still a demanding schedule left, including trips to Arizona State and Oregon State before ending the season against Cal. Unlike with USC, Sarkisian and defensive coordinator Nick Holt didn’t coach at those schools. I’m saying 7-5.
WASHINGTON IS A PAC-10 CONTENDER
BUY Although the Huskies were the laughing stock in all of college football last season, Jake Locker has proven he may be more valuable than anyone could have imagined. With a defense that also looks much improved, Washington stands as a legitimate contender in the Pac-10. I believe the Huskies are better than everyone remaining on their schedule except for California.
Hutson and the other end BY SPENCER WHITE Assistant GameDay Editor Most folks around the South didn’t know it at the time, but the 1934 Alabama football squad was special. It was a great football team, no doubt. The Tide had a new head coach, Frank Thomas, who had spent the last three seasons building on the foundation left for him by Wallace Wade, who had left the Capstone after the 1931 Rose Bowl victory to take the top job at Duke. It wasn’t even Alabama’s sterling 9-0 regular season, where the Tide once again captured the Southern Conference championship in dominant fashion, recording five shutouts and playing only one game in which a victory was in doubt, a memorable contest against Tennessee. The legacy of the 1934 Crimson Tide was not the whole as much as its parts. There was quarterback and punter Millard ‘Dixie’ Howell, a spectacular field general from Hartford who garnered the acclaim of legendary Volunteer head coach Gen. Robert Neyland after the Tide’s 13-6 victory in Birmingham. After watching Howell run, pass and punt up and down the field against his squad,
Bryant Museum The Crimson Tide gets honored in Tuscaloosa after beating Stanford in the 1935 Rose Bowl and claiming its fourth national title. Neyland unhesitantly called Howell the greatest back in the South. Every quarterback needs a target, and there were few better in college football than end Don Hutson. Hutson, known among writers and fans as ‘the Alabama Antelope,’ is widely considered today to have been the first great
receiver to play football for the Crimson Tide. He and Howell are said to have created many of the modern passing routes used in collegiate football while practicing together in Tuscaloosa. Hutson would go on play for the Green Bay Packers after his career at the Capstone, setting 18 NFL records by the time of his retirement
10
ETCHED IN STONE
September 25 • GameDay 2009
in 1945 and changing the course of the professional game. On Hutson’s other side, the man known as “the other end� was a big and clumsy oaf from Moro Bottom, Ark. He wasn’t fast like Hutson, and he didn’t have the moves of Howell. He wasn’t a great passcatcher, and he couldn’t throw a ball to save his life. All he could do was go 110 percent every play and hit the man across from him so hard his children felt pain. His name was Paul Bryant, but most everyone called him “Bear.� At the time, Bryant was a lifetime away from achieving the fame and legendary status he would achieve
the Indians 7-0 in the first before exploding for 22 points in the second quarter, fueled by Hutson’s six catches for 165 yards and two touchdowns. The 85,000 fans in attendance were awestruck by the All-American who gracefully galloped on, around and through the as the 25-year coach of the Tide. He Tide band struck up “California, Stanford defense, seemingly at was simply a cog in a machine, a Here I Come� in anticipation of will, guided by the sure throws of piece of what experts of the time the Rose Bowl invitation the team fellow All-American Howell. The would label the most diverse and would receive in early December. 29-13 victory would give Thomas versatile group of young men to Alabama was matched up against his first national title as coach of undefeated Stanford, in a rematch the Tide, and the season would don the crimson jersey. After a 40-0 sleepwalk over of the 1927 Rose Bowl, which ended cement Bryant’s growing desire to coach football after his graduation the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in an unsatisfactory 7-7 tie. There would be no knot on the following year. in late November to clinch an The rest, as they say, is history. unblemished regular season, the Jan. 1, 1935. The Tide fell behind
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“All he could do was go 110 percent every play and hit the man across from him so hard his children felt pain. His name was Paul Bryant, but most everyone called him ‘Bear.’�
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COLUMN
GameDay 2009 • September 25
11
The Bear is growling this year The Bear is growling. Pride and tradition again beckon. The glory of a perfect regular season is not in the distant past. The splendor of a shutout of Auburn remains fresh. Here at the University of Alabama, the grass on the Quad is the deepest of greens, standing ready for the tens of thousands who will come this autumn. It is the Field of Dreams for tailgating, for they will come. Without a doubt, they will come. Even if they don’t come for the game — which they should — they should at least try the lemonade, the tangy, sweet, cold liquid in a bright red Solo cup. $2 is not much for a lot of joy. On Butler Field, next to the Arby’s on University, the Million Dollar Band practices as evening turns into night. They tune their instruments, readying them for halftime and everything before and after. They are as much a part of the tradition as anything. Game
day would be nothing without them. Upperclassmen talk about seasons past. They don’t just talk, though. They relive. They tell of games Alan Blinder that weren’t Opinions Editor just games. They were defining moments. There were a lot of those last year. Athens. Baton Rouge. Knoxville. Atlanta (the first time). And those were just the road games. Those games were sing-alongs for the Crimson Tide Nation. Yea, Alabama. Sweet Home Alabama. Rammer Jammer. They are all rituals, and, no matter the desire of some for political correctness, they don’t fade. Rather, they grow
richer with time. Now it has started again. Atlanta, like last year, was the first stop. The start of something great. The upperclassmen, mindful of tradition, teach the freshmen. They envelope them in the electricity. The magic. The tradition. For a time, the newcomers look bewildered. Then they visit Bryant-Denny. For some who have been around for a while, it is the equivalent of a cathedral. Those same people equate “Roll Tide” to “Amen.” The freshmen are, for better or for worse, on their way to a similar fate. They see the statues outside the stadium. They crowd, pack, squeeze into the student section. They hear the voice of the Bear, second only to God in this town, echo. “We’re winners,” he booms. Tradition and duty intertwine as the student body — greeks in formal attire, independents in a blend
of crimson and white — screams itself hoarse. Houndstooth caps — just like those of the Bear — fly off with every big first down, every touchdown, every victory. On Saturdays, in the cavernous depths of the structure, the maestro himself, Nick Saban, prepares. He talks about a standard of excellence. But, at Alabama, excellence on the field is not a mere standard. It’s a way of life. Twelve national championships. Eight perfect seasons. More than 800 wins and counting. Namath. Newsome. Musso. Stabler. Bryant. Stallings. The last two are immortalized in front of the stadium. With the coming of every autumn, the hope for a new statue reignites. The hope for a national championship. As summer fades and fall knocks, pride and tradition still beckon at the Capstone. The Bear is set to roar. Again.
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12
SEC ROUNDUP
September 25 • GameDay 2009
Around
the
conference
Compiled by Britton Lynn Sports Reporter
#7 LSU at Mississippi State
Ball State at Auburn
Time: 11:21 a.m. on SEC Network Series: LSU leads 66-33-3 What to watch for: The Tigers have won the last nine straight games and 16 of the last 17 in the series. Last weekend, LSU rolled over Louisiana-Lafayette, only allowing a field goal to the Ragin’ Cajuns. Keep an eye on Mississippi State defensive end Pernell McPhee, who received Southeastern Conference Defensive Lineman of the Week.
Time: 6 p.m. on FSN Series: Auburn leads 2-0 What to watch for: Auburn has never lost to any current member of the Mid-American Conference. Ball State defensive end Robert Eddins has seven tackles for loss, tied for the third most in the nation. Auburn’s Antonio Coleman has started off 2009 strong with two sacks, a fumble recovery, six tackles (4 TFL) and an interception for a touchdown.
#1 Florida at Kentucky
Ohio at Tennessee
Time: 5 p.m. on ESPN2 Series: Florida leads 42-17 What to watch for: Kentucky’s last win against Florida was way back in 1986. Despite last Saturday’s victory over Louisville, the Gators’ 22-game winning streak over the Wildcats should be enough reason for concern. Florida is also seeking to win its 14th straight game, dating to 2008.
Time: 6 p.m. on PPV Series: first meeting What to watch for: The Vols are 10-1 against teams from the state of Ohio, though never facing the University of Ohio. Tennessee junior safety Eric Berry, who snagged his 13th career interception against the Gators, is now tied for the most among active players in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Arizona State at #21 Georgia
Vanderbilt at Rice
Time: 6 p.m. on ESPNU Series: Georgia leads 1-0 What to watch for: Georgia linebacker Rennie Curran currently leads the SEC with 34 tackles in just three games, and quarterback Joe Cox tied a Georgia record with three touchdown passes against Arkansas last week. Cox needs to be ready for Arizona State’s Dexter Davis, who is the only returning player in the nation who has recorded double-digit sacks the past two seasons.
Time: 6 p.m. on CSS Series: Vandy leads 3-1 What to watch for: Vanderbilt’s true freshmen tailbacks, Zac Stacy and Warren Norman, became the first Commordores to rush for more than 100 yards in the same game since 2002 in the season opener against Western Carolina. Rice running back Jeramy Goodson can be dangerous, rushing for three second-half touchdowns against Oklahoma State last week.
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Position Matchups After an offensive onslaught in week 3, the key for Saturday’s game centers around Ryan Mallett. Meanwhile, Julio Jones tries to take advantage of a poor Razorback pass defense. RYAN MALLETT VS. ALABAMA SECONDARY The country’s leader in passing efficiency, Ryan Mallett is emerging as one of the nation’s top quarterbacks. After exploding for 408 passing yards and five touchdowns against Georgia last week, Mallett looks to continue his brilliance against Alabama on Saturday. The Crimson Tide secondary will need to step up in a big way if Alabama wants to pull away and not allow Arkansas to hang around.
EDGE CW | Katie Bennett
AP
ARKANSAS OFFENSIVE LINE VS. ALABAMA DEFENSIVE LINE The Tide’s front seven has dominated opponents all season. Not only has Alabama stuffed the run, but it has put much more pressure on the quarterback than last year. The Tide’s front three needs to be able to get substantial pressure on Mallett without the help of many blitzes so that Alabama can drop more players into coverage. The Razorbacks’ offensive line needs to protect Mallett if they want any chance of winning.
EDGE .Arkansas Media Relations
CW | Katie Bennett
TRAMAIN THOMAS VS. JULIO JONES With Julio Jones out the past two games, other Alabama receivers have stepped up as legitimate threats. If Arkansas tries to doubleteam Jones all day, Greg McElroy will find other targets to throw. Tramain Thomas will likely be assigned the tall task of guarding the sophomore sensation, and he could be left man-to-man in many instances. If Thomas doesn’t have the game of his life, Jones should own the matchup.
EDGE Arkansas Media Relations
CW File
KEY PLAYERS
ALABAMA
Marquis Johnson, CB
Ryan Mallett, QB
As the third cornerback brought in for the Tide’s nickel and dime packages, Johnson is likely to see the field more often than not against Arkansas’ spread offensive system, and it will be crucial for Johnson to stick close to his man with a dangerous quarterback like Ryan Mallett hurling the pigskin. If Johnson and the rest of the Alabama secondary can limit big plays by Hog receivers, the capable Tide offense should be able to distance itself throughout the game.
The sophomore transfer has exploded onto the SEC scene in a big way in 2009, erupting for 717 yards, six touchdowns, no interceptions and the nation’s highest QB rating at 193.5. Mallett has every tool a dangerous pocket passer can possess: a strong arm, a tall pocket presence (standing 6-foot-7) and tremendous accuracy when he has time. If his offensive line can protect him, he could have a field day.
Eryk Anders, LB
D.J. Williams, TE
With disrupting Mallett a high priority for the Tide defense Saturday, it will fall to Anders to provide consistent pressure from the Jack linebacker position. The 6-foot-2, 235 pound Anders will need to make himself well aquainted with every member of the Arkansas backfield, especially Mallett, if the Tide plans to keep the Razorbacks below their mindboggling 427.5 yard-per-game passing average.
Though technically a tight end, Williams is one of the most dangerous weapons in the Arkansas arsenal. It’s rare to find a man as large as Williams who also possesses the sure hands and route-running ability to be the kind of receiving threat the junior presents. The Tide will need to take care to keep Williams covered this weekend, or he will make Alabama pay with completion after completion to continue Hog drives down the Bryant-Denny field.
Julio Jones, WR
Michael Smith, RB
If there is one player on the Tide sideline who can’t wait to sink his teeth into the soft Arkansas defense, it’s Jones. Missing most of two games with a bruised knee will drive any player crazy, but it’s especially true with an extremely driven and dominating presence like Jones. Look for the sophomore to come back against a rather weak Razorback secondary and reestablish his presence in a big way on Saturday.
Smith hasn’t had a large impact for the Razorbacks early in the season, mostly due to the emergence of Mallett and the passing game, tallying a “paltry” 102 yards on 12 carries. But the senior Arkansas offensive leader earned his preseason All-SEC accolades for a reason, and Smith will need to use all of his skills against a rock-ribbed Alabama rush defense to have a shot at maintaining any semblance of offensive balance.
OFFENSIVE STARTERS
LT LG C RG RT TE HB QB RB WR WR
77 78 73 75 79 84 17 12 22 8 4
James Carpenter (Jr.) Mike Johnson (Sr.) William Vlachos (So.) Barrett Jones (R-Fr.) Drew Davis (Sr.) Colin Peek (Sr.) Brad Smelley (So.) Greg McElroy (Jr.) Mark Ingram (So.) Julio Jones (So.) Marquis Maze (So.)
DEFENSIVE STARTERS
DE DT DE JACK WILL MIKE SAM CB FS SS CB
95 62 97 32 30 25 13 3 27 4 28
Brandon Deaderick (Sr.) Terrence Cody (Sr.) Lorenzo Washington (Sr.) Eryk Anders (Sr.) Dontʼa Hightower (So.) Rolando McClain (Jr.) Cory Reamer (Sr.) Kareem Jackson (Jr.) Justin Woodall (Sr.) Mark Barron (So.) Javier Arenas (Sr.)
SPECIAL TEAMS STARTERS K P PR KR
99 97 28 28 80
ARKANSAS
Leigh Tiffin (Sr.) P.J. Fitzgerald (Sr.) Javier Arenas (Sr.) Javier Arenas (Sr.) Mike McCoy (Sr.)
OFFENSIVE STARTERS
LT LG C RG RT TE QB RB WR WR WR
73 72 60 66 65 45 15 21 4 85 3
Ray Dominguez (Jr.) Grant Cook (So.) Seth Oxner (So.) Mitch Petrus (Sr.) DeMarcus Love (Jr.) D.J. Williams (Jr.) Ryan Mallett (So.) Michael Smith (Sr.) Jarius Wright (So.) Greg Childs (So.) Joe Adams (So.)
DEFENSIVE STARTERS
DE NT DT DE OLB ILB OLB CB S S CB
91 61 96 18 46 34 10 4 5 39 26
Jake Bequette (So.) Zach Stadther (So.) Malcolm Sheppard (Sr.) Adrian Davis (Sr.) Freddy Burton (Sr.) Jerry Franklin (So.) Wendel Davis (Sr.) Rudell Crim (Jr.) Tramain Thomas (So.) Matt Harris (Sr.) Ramon Broadway (Sr.)
SPECIAL TEAMS STARTERS K P PR KR
7 34 3 4 11
Alex Tejada (Jr.) Dylan Breeding (Fr.) Joe Adams (So.) Dennis Johnson (So.) Cobi Hamilton (Fr.)