UK Football Preview: Game 4 – Alabama Crimson Tide
By Staff
COMMONWEALTH STADIUM – LEXINGTON
12:20 PM – SEC NETWORK
#3 ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
4-0
SERIES HISTORY
ALABAMA LEADS 34-2-1
RECENT MEETINGS:
2008: ALABAMA 17 UK 14
2004: ALABAMA 45 UK 17
2003: ALABAMA 27 UK 17
It is a different challenge for UK this week as they face the #3 Alabama Crimson Tide in Lexington. Make no mistake, Alabama is every bit as good as the Florida Gators but in a different kind of way. Alabama is more of a power rushing team and will be more than happy to run the ball down UK’s throat all day. In last years 17-14 win in Tuscaloosca, the Tide outrushed UK 282-35. This year, Alabama has a better passing game, so the Wildcat’s will need a perfect storm to weather the Tide attack.
On the other hand, this is a “circle the wagons” type of game for UK and the Wildcats had their manhood tested severely last week versus Florida. And while Nick Saban is an excellent coach, he will never live down one of the worst personnel decisions in NFL history.
While coach of the Miami Dolphins, it was Saban’s decision to pass on free agent Drew Brees and sign Daunte Culpepper. Brilliant eh? OK, I admit it, Saban is a great coach college coach with no apparent weakness. I am still bitter because he laid an egg in the pros and his handiwork saddled my Dolphins with a 1-15 season after he left for greener pastures. OK, bitterness aside, let’s look at the Crimson Tide.
OFFENSE
Alabama signal caller Greg McElroy is a huge upgrade over John Parker Wilson and has opened up the passing game over last year’s conservative offense. McElroy has been nearly perfect so far this year, going 61-91 for 913 yards and 7 TD’s against just 1 INT. Note that his number blow Tim Tebow’s away and McElroy is not even mentioned in the Heisman talk. Sophomore Mark Ingram is a true dual threat at runningback as he has amassed 347 yards rushing and leads the team in receptions with 13. And since this is Alabama, there is another back to look out for as well. Freshman Trent Richardson is averaging 7.4 yards a carry and has 280 yards rushing through 4 games. WR Julio Jones is off to a slow start this year, due to recovering from off season injuries and he has just 7 receptions for 120 yards. Marquis Maze is averaging 24.3 yards a reception to pick up the slack and the aforementioned Ingram has 3 TD’s receiving.
DEFENSE
The Alabama defense is on par with the Florida D. Last week, Alabama held an Arkansas offense that put 41 on the board against Georgia to a solitary touchdown. Rolando McClain, Bama’s MLB, is a future NFL starter and he is off to a good start this year. McLain is a game changer with the way that he attacks the ball. Nose guard Terrence Cody, at 354 pounds will give the UK offensive line fits all day long and will occupy the line so McClain can do his damage. Alabama has a very experienced DB squad with Javier Arenas and Kareem Jackson players to watch out for.
OUTLOOK
To a man, it seems like UK has taken their horrid start and loss to Florida personally to a man and I do expect to see quite a bit of fight from the Wildcats. Regardless of what happened last Saturday, I do think that UK is much improved over last year and they do match up a bit better against Alabama. UK has only beaten the Tide twice in it’s history but both of those wind have been in Lexington, the last one 12 years ago. If UK can make it through the first couple of possession’s and have a low scoring first quarter, Alabama will be in for a fight. The important thing is to show up and if UK can show up, look for Alabama to escape Lexington with just a 23-17 victory. I would love to pick UK to win the game, but at this point of the season, headed into crucial road games against South Carolina and Auburn, even a moral victory against the Tide can propel them to road success the next two weeks.
** I will be live blogging from Saturday starting at 11:45AM. I will stay through most of the first quarter at least, so show up and let’s root for the huge upset against Bama**
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