Goal Line Stand
Alabama's Focus
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USC's
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The QB
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The
BCS's biggest problem
By Michael Bradley
No one on the Alabama roster is saying he has watched with great delight as all the pre-season darlings of pollsters and prognosticators have fallen hard on the expectations that now seem so foolish. That’s not their way, and definitely not the best strategy to stay away from Nick Saban’s considerable bad side.
Instead, Tide players will talk about their need to keep working and to maintain focus. About consistency. All that bland stuff that drives writers nuts but helps football teams squeeze out the distractions that can torpedo something special.
After just one month of the ’09 season, Alabama has gone from a team picked by some to finish third in the SEC West to one of the “Big Three” unbeaten teams in the polls. While Mississippi tries to learn that one bowl win and an upset of the eventual national champion don’t guarantee a spot among college football’s royalty, and Ohio State, USC, Miami, Penn State, Oklahoma State (especially the Cowboys) and California (should I go on?) have seen their dreams of perfection spoiled, Alabama has started the year looking like the type of team nobody in the country wants to play. The Tide has a nasty defense – even without injured LB Dont’a Hightower – and a balanced offense with some real explosive potential. It overcame some sloppy play in the opener to manhandle Virginia Tech and overwhelmed Arkansas last week in its first SEC contest, making the Hogs look like Florida International and North Texas, the Tide’s tuneups after VT.
Things look great in Tuscaloosa, all right, and yet ‘Bama players know it could all come apart like a wet grocery bag on one ugly Saturday.
“We all know we’re capable, but we have seen teams projected to go undefeated come out very flat and almost give games away,” says redshirt junior QB Greg McElroy. “You watch the Florida-Tennessee game, and you see a couple costly turnovers [by the Gators], and a bounce here or there, and maybe the game goes Tennessee’s way.
“We have to prepare very week.”
That hasn’t been a problem for McElroy, who spent three years patiently waiting for a shot at quarterbacking the Tide behind John Parker Wilson. Okay, maybe not patiently. But at least he was used to the drill. At Southlake Carroll HS, outside Dallas, he was the understudy to Chase Daniel, finally getting his chance to start as a senior and responding by leading the Dragons to the 5A state title and a perfect 16-0 record. Though he originally committed to Texas Tech, he changed his mind to play for Mike Shula’s squad and after withstanding a coaching change and three years on the bench, he has pushed his career record as a starter to 20-0.
“I prepared every game like I was the starter,” McElroy says of his time behind Wilson. “I watched films and extra cut-ups and went over the gameplan time and time again. The only thing that was different when I finally got to play was the physicality of the game.”
No one has hit McElroy hard enough yet to keep him from getting the job done – and done well. He’s third in the country in passing efficiency and has mastered the Tide attack so well ‘Bama is opening things up more and more each week. Against the Hogs, there were times when McElroy seemed as if he was soliciting offers of cash and prizes from Tide wideouts to throw them the ball. That’s how wide open they were at times. McElroy has great faith in himself and even more belief in the talent of his receivers. That’s not hard to do with Julio Jones around, but Marquis Maze and Mike McCoy are dangerous, too, so much so that McElroy can now turn them all loose.
“If there’s an opportunity for a go route on both sides, I give both guys the chance,” McElroy says. “In the past, we might have just gone with Julio.”
Of course, the Tide can still run the ball. That’s what happens when you have a physical defense; you take on that personality. For the first time in a while, and thanks to the continuing stream of talent pouring into the program, Alabama doesn’t necessarily have to pound teams to win. McElroy even uses “finesse” to describe the ‘Bama tactics at times, hardly something anyone could have imagined under the Bear. Come to think of it, Saban isn’t exactly a study in subtlety himself. But that’s how you have to win big these days. You need to break some jaws – and some ankles. So far, Alabama has done both and remained perfect in the process. There are 10 possible more opportunities to stay pristine, in an uncertain climate that has pre-season hopefuls regrouping.
“I think we’re a dynamic team,” McElroy says. “I think we can establish our identity as each game comes along.”
And everybody around the Tide tumbles.
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GAME OF THE WEEK I: USC at California, Saturday, Oct. 3, 8 p.m. (EDT), ABC. This was supposed to be the historic showdown between the Trojans and Bears that would propel Cal toward its first Rose Bowl berth since the ’58 season. Instead, coach Jeff Tedford’s team is trying to rebound from the stench of last week’s blowout loss in Eugene. ‘SC, meanwhile, hardly looked imposing in last week’s win over Washington State and must recover from the freak injury suffered by running back Stefon Johnson. This one still has plenty of juice, because nothing is certain in the Pac-10, but it has lost much of its earlier luster. Southern California 27, California 23.
GAME OF THE WEEK II: Oklahoma at Miami, Saturday, October 3, 8 p.m. (EDT) ABC. Here’s another one that looked much better on the schedule last week this time. Sure, the Hurricanes are happy to be 2-1, considering the tough competition they have faced, but last week’s debacle against Virginia Tech has made them look far more vulnerable, even against an OU team that probably won’t have Sam Bradford under center. Look out for the Sooner defense, which has played well the past two games and whether backup QB Landry Jones can continue his strong play. Miami was supposed to have its swagger back before losing to the Hokies, and it will need all its confidence and far more consistent play to overcome a still-dangerous Oklahoma team. Oklahoma 30, Miami 21.
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BUMPS AND RUNS: There has been plenty made about Tim Tebow’s concussion and Stefon Johnson’s weightlifting injury. While both are serious and could have long-term impact, other medical news that emerged from last week was Baylor QB Robert Griffin’s torn knee ligament. Griffin is the key to the Bears’ resurgence and is also a world-class sprinter who had Olympic aspirations. Baylor was hoping to reach a bowl this year, and without Griffin that will be tough…It’s hard to think Gus Malzahn won’t be a head coach somewhere in the next two or three years. He thrived as offensive coordinator at Arkansas, turned Tulsa into a record-breaking outfit last year and has Auburn third nationally in total offense with the same QB (Chris Todd) who looked lost in Tony Franklin’s spread last season…Speaking of offensive turnarounds, how about those Texas A&M Aggies? They’re number one in the nation in yards per game, and QB Jerrod Johnson is getting it done by air and land. Granted, A&M hasn’t really played anybody, but we’ll learn more about the attack Saturday when Arkansas and the Aggies get together in Jerry Jones pleasure dome for an old-fashioned SWC reunion…Stanford has bounced back from its loss to Wake Forest to take two straight and continue on the path to what it hopes will be a return to the post-season. Leading the way is throwback running back Toby Gerhart, who has three 100-yard games (including a 200-yarder last week against Washington) and has scored five times. He also has three years of starting experience on the Cardinal baseball team and has been hit by pitches 25 times during that stretch…The scouting report going in against Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett is to heat him up, or he will make people pay by finding the Hogs’ three dangerous receivers. Alabama sacked Mallett three times and hit him a bunch more, and he finished a mere 12-of-35 for the afternoon in a 35-7 loss.