Bama in search of big pass plays
AP Photo ALDM118, ALDM116
By JOHN ZENOR
AP Sports Writer
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) - Nick Saban wants No. 2 Alabama's offense
to start looking more like the one that started the season for the
Tide.
The one that produced big pass plays and took a few more chances
early this season.
The Crimson Tide survived the lack of those elements to enter an
open date unbeaten with Saturday's 12-10 survival game over
Tennessee.
The No. 1 order of business isn't returning to No. 1, a ranking
the Tide swapped back with Florida after one week. It is to adjust
the offensive mentality so that teams can't just put extra men near
the line of scrimmage to contain the running game.
"We can't be so risk aversive," Coach Saban said. "We've just
got to be more aggressive with what we're doing on offense right
now. They're loading the box and we can't block them all. We can't
get angles on them all. We need to recreate the balanced offense
that we had earlier in the season.
"That's what we'll work on doing in the bye week."
No. 9 LSU visits in two weeks in a key SEC West battle.
The Tide (8-0, 5-0 Southeastern Conference) had managed to
overcome any deficiencies in the passing game with the running of
Mark Ingram and a dominating defense. Special teams saved 'Bama
this time.
Leigh Tiffin's field goals of 38, 50, 22 and 49 and Terrence
Cody's two blocked kicks in the fourth quarter secured the victory.
But the offense that seemed capable of doing it all in the early
games managed just 256 yards against the Volunteers (3-4, 2-2) and
found itself in far too many third-and-long situations.
The biggest play was Ingram's 25-yard run out of the Wildcat, a
formation Alabama used with mixed results.
The Tide and quarterback Greg McElroy had a nice balance of
passing and rushing in the first four games, producing 1,025 yards
through the air and 937 on the ground. McElroy passed for at least
230 yards in each of those games.
In the last four, most of Alabama's success has come running
(804 yards), with only 514 passing. The Tide now ranks 84th
nationally in passing.
McElroy was efficient against Tennessee, completing 18 of 29
passes for 120 yards and no interceptions, settling for mostly
short throws against a strong pass rush. Perhaps the most
comforting sight for Alabama's offense was Julio Jones getting
involved again. The receiver had been quiet all season but made
seven catches for 54 yards.
"I've just been patient all year and I knew I was going to get
the ball sooner or later," Jones said.
They were all short passes, though, low-risk plays designed to
give him some room to make plays running. Tight end Colin Peek, the
Tide's leading receiver, barely played because of a sprained knee
sustained during pre-game warmups.
"We have to get back to believing in our players and throwing
the ball downfield and making some big plays in the passing game,"
Saban said. "They played us all day to stop the run, they played
us all day to stop Mark.
"We had to throw the ball. That's just what we've got to do."
Then again, the Tide's forte is clearly running the ball with
Ingram and Trent Richardson. But even Ingram made a rare mistake
trying to run the clock down late, coughing up the first fumble of
his college career. He still gained 99 yards.
"There's not a greater competitor in the world than Mark
Ingram, and nobody feels worse about turning it over at the end of
the game than he does," Saban said. "He has been a fantastic
warrior for us all year long and really played well (Saturday)."
Despite the offense's apparent shortcoming lately, the Tide
still managed to win 22-3 at No. 24 Mississippi, beat No. 21 South
Carolina 20-6 and edge Tennessee. The defense allowed only one
touchdown in those three games.
Five straight SEC games took their toll, Saban said.
"I felt like our team was really tired this week, probably more
mentally than really physically," he said. "We had a lot of guys
beat up, a lot of guys missing practice, a lot of guys struggling
to do what we need to do."
Even Alabama's defense was pushed around at times and allowed
341 yards, but still kept Tennessee out of the end zone until
Jonathan Crompton's 11-yard touchdown pass to Gerald Jones with
1:19 left. The Volunteers then recovered the onside kick to set up
Daniel Lincoln's 44-yard field goal attempt on the final play.
Ingram is certainly appreciative of the defensive support.
"They are by far the best defense in the country in my book,"
he said. "They are able to carry us on their back when we are not
executing as well offensively."
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
