Lets Get em!

Inside Slant

Last year, Alabama was 3-0 heading into the Georgia game. This year, the Tide is 4-0 getting ready to play Georgia.

The difference? Last year, Tide coach Nick Saban was warning everyone the bubble was going to burst. This year, Saban seems a little happier with the caliber of his team week to week.

No. 8 Alabama (4-0, 1-0) takes on No. 3 Georgia (4-0, 1-0) Saturday in Athens, Ga.

Saban is not proclaiming that the Alabama program has “arrived,” but he does seem as though he likes the team’s chances, due to the influx of an outstanding recruiting class that is contributing as well as veteran players who seem to have bought into what Saban and his staff expect from week to week.

Alabama’s first 11 on both sides of the ball can compete with anybody on the Tide’s schedule. However, we’ve already seen that it only takes one or two injuries—as when linemen Andre Smith and Marlon Davis were out—to expose the Tide’s issue with a lack of depth.

The Tide’s offensive and defensive lines are clearly the strength of this team. The emergence of 365-pound Terrence Cody at nose tackle has overshadowed the play of his backup, Josh Chapman, and defensive ends Bobby Greenwood and Brandon Deadrick.

They’ve been able to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks without having to do much blitzing, which has left maximum coverage in the secondary. Whether the Tide can continue to do that this week against a Georgia squad that will be the best team the Tide has faced is another question.

Alabama can’t afford any injuries along the front line. If the Tide can stay with its normal playing rotation, they should have a chance against Georgia.

Notes, Quotes

• The fifth game of the season will bring the second top-10 opponent against Alabama (Clemson being the other), and the return of ESPN’s College GameDay to an Alabama game.

“What’s the dude’s name, the old dude?” junior cornerback Javier Arenas said when asked about ESPN.

Lee Corso?

“Yeah, I love that dude,” Arenas said. “He’s great at what he does. He’s been doing it for a while and knows the sport. He’s exciting. He gets the crowd going. I love him to death. I love all those guys.”

Scouting The Offense: Alabama is the second-highest scoring offense in the SEC, averaging 36 points per game, and leads the SEC in rushing yards per game (236.8). Despite the quick scores against Arkansas, Alabama is converting better than 50 percent of its third-down attempts and ranks third in the conference in time of possession. Because Alabama has not trailed in four games, QB John Parker Wilson has not been put in a position where he has to win a game. That could change this weekend.

Scouting The Defense: The Tide is allowing only 9.3 points per game and has not given up a rushing touchdown in 20 consecutive quarters (going back to the bowl game last year). If there is a question mark, it might be the pass defense, where the Tide has given up yards, even if those yards have not resulted in points. Georgia is one of the best passing teams in the conference.

Quote To Note: “What about it? Have you seen some of my highlights?”—Alabama cornerback/kick returner Javier Arenas, when asked if he’d seen any of Georgia tailback Knowshon Moreno’s highlights this year.

Strategy And Personnel

THIS WEEK’S GAME: Alabama at Georgia, Sept. 27—The first time Alabama and Georgia have met as undefeated teams (other than a season opener) since 1941 and the first time Alabama and Georgia have met when both are top-10 teams since 1976. Georgia has better depth and better skill players, but Alabama may have the better offensive and defensive lines and nothing to lose. Georgia is right where most people expected them to be, Alabama is ahead of schedule. Give the Bulldogs the edge, but don’t count the Tide out.

Players To Watch:

• QB John Parker Wilson owns virtually every important passing record in school history. What he doesn’t have is a championship ring. He and Georgia QB Matt Stafford are the two winningest active quarterbacks in the conference.

• LB Rolando McClain is picking up where he left off after an outstanding freshman season. He leads the team in tackles with 29 and handles calls and adjustments.

• WR Julio Jones leads the Tide in receiving yards with 132. But it’s another freshman who also wears No. 8, Georgia’s A.J. Green, who leads the SEC in receiving yards with 300. Jones gets closer and closer to living up to the hype every week.

Roster Report:

• Tide coach Nick Saban said there were no injuries to report, and that everyone would be ready to play Saturday against Georgia.

• Saban did announce the return of running back Demetrius Goode to tailback from defensive back. Goode signed as a tailback, injured a knee, and after surgery was moved to defensive back as a way to rehab the injury. Saban said he’s found that running backs who have trouble coming back from knee surgery are often afraid of taking a hit, and that playing defensive back—where they are forced to back-peddle, cut, and initiate a hit—often restores that confidence. It must have worked for Goode, who Saban says came to him two weeks ago asking to return to tailback. This week in practice, he’s been charged with impersonating Georgia tailback Knowshon Moreno.