In Week 2 of the 2011 college football season, the Alabama Crimson Tide will face the Penn State Nittany Lions in State College, Pennsylvania. Last season, Nick Saban led the (#1) Tide in a 24-3 win over Joe Paterno's (#18) Lions in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.This season, Alabama enters the game ranked second in the nation in both Top 25 Polls - the Associated Press (AP) and the USA Today/Coach's Poll (CP). Conversely, Penn State is currently not ranked in the AP and is #25 in the CP. Both teams were able to easily defeat their opponents at home in week 1, however, they were from inferior, non-BCS schools; thus, how good they actually are remains a mystery.(Update - Week 2 Polls: Alabama #3 in AP and #2 in CP - Penn State #23 in the AP and #20 in the CP)The Crimson Tide opened the season at home defeating Kent State 48 to 7. They were able to rack up 482 total yards on offense (299 passing and 183 rushing) while holding Kent State to only 90 total yards (99 passing and -9 rushing). Yes, you read that right! Minus 9 Yards Rushing! Bama scored a total of six touchdowns and kicked two field goals. While their win seems impressive, there were a few areas of concern on offense. The two quarterback system Saban chose to employ led to 4 interceptions, two thrown by each AJ McCarron and Phillip Sims. McCarron completed 14 out of 23 passing attempts (60.9% CMP%) for 226 yards (9.8 YPA), one touchdown, and a QB rating of 140.4. Sims, in contrast, only completed 7 of 14 passing attempts (50% CMP%) for 73 yards (5.21 YPA), no touchdowns, and a 65.2 QB rating. McCarron was never sacked, but Sims was twice. McCarron appeared to have the better game, and I would expect Saban to start and only play him against the Lions. Also, Heisman Trophy Hopeful, Trent Richardson, was only able to gain 37 yards on 13 carries; an average of only 2.8 yards per carry and a long of only 10 yards. Richardson is expected to lead the Tide's rushing attack, and although he did score 3 touchdowns, his overall performance was far from Heismanesque. Sophomore Jalston Fowler led the tide with 69 yards on 4 carries (17.3 YPC) and scored a touchdown on a 49 yard run, the longest of the day. Close behind, sophomore Eddie Lacey rushed for 58 yards on 8 carries (7.3 YPC). Lacey had a long of 23 and scored one touchdown. As expected from a well coached Saban team, the Tide only had 2 penalties for 10 yards.In contrast, the Lions defeated Indiana State 41 to 7, and looked more impressive and crisp than Bama. They committed no turnovers and were able to control the clock by rushing for 245 yards. Their defense only allowed 170 total yards (105 passing and 65 rushing). It was classic "Joe Pa" football...few mistakes but nothing major (7 penalties for 45 yards), great special teams play (opening kickoff returned 95 yards for a touchdown by Chaz Powell), running the ball, and playing solid defense. Sophomore Rob Bolden started at quarterback in week one, but I would expect to see junior Mathew McGloin challenge him for the start against Bama. McGloin completed 6 out of 8 passing attempts (75% CMP%) for 77 yards (9.6 YPA), no touchdowns, and a QB rating of 155.9. Bolden, on the other hand, only completed 6 of 12 passing attempts (50% CMP%) for 37 yards (3.08 YPA), zero touchdowns, and a QB rating of 75.9. Bolden was also sacked twice and McGloin only once. Sophomore running back Silas Redd led the Lions rushing attack with 12 carries for 104 yards (8.7 YPC), a long of 19, and two touchdowns. Sophomore Curtis Dukes gave the Lions 47 yards on 6 carries (7.8 YPC), and junior Brandon Beachum rushed for 41 yards on 7 carries (5.9 YPC). Senior Joe Suhey and junior Michael Zordich each scored rushing touchdowns against the Sycamores, with Suhey getting 6 carries for 29 yards (4.8 YAC) and Zordich rushing for 15 yards on 5 carries (3.0 YAC). The Penn Stat rushing attack took care of the lessor competition because it was unstoppable, and Redd's running was impressive. However, I don't expect to see the same performance against the Tide's rushing D. Alabama may be the better team on paper, but they will not survive a trip to State College and remain the #2 team in the nation if they commit 4 turnovers again. Saban must shore up the mistakes to beat Joe Pa and not jeopardize the Tide's shot to win a 2nd BCS National Championship this year in New Orleans.I'm not quite willing to put Alabama on upset alert, but I wouldn't be completely surprised if Penn State and JoePa were able to steal a win. Penn State must mix the run and the pass well. If they become predictable, expect to see this Alabama defense disrupt their entire game plan. For Penn State to actually beat Bama, they will need quarterbacks McCarron and/or Sims to repeat their 4 turnover performance. If the defense and special teams units can't provide the offense with favorable field position, then the Nittany Lions can not win this game. Penn State has a chance, however, it is slim and I wouldn't put my money on it! The Tide will leave State College 2-0 because their defense is just that good.
The 2011 BCS National Championship Game between Alabama Crimson Tide and the LSU Tigers was the most boring title game I have ever watched. It was completely one-sided with Alabama dominating LSU 21-0. Don't get me wrong, I am a huge fan of defensive slugfests and thoroughly enjoyed the first LSU vs Alabama game in Tuscaloosa. This game, however, was not comparable to the first match. The Tide dominated LSU in every aspect of the game...offense, defense, and special teams. They held LSU to only 92 total yards of offense while racking up 384 of their own. It wasn't, however, just a matter of Alabama's defense dominating the game, but also LSU's offense played horrible. Jordan Jefferson fumbled several snaps and missed open wide receivers. The offensive line could not block and create passing lanes for him to find his receivers. Alabama's AJ McCarron played an outstanding game throwing the ball through tight windows to receivers covered by LSU DB's. In particular, he picked on Tyrann Mathieu, "The Honey Badger," and took advantage of his size by throwing the ball out of his reach to taller receivers. Though he did not have any touchdown passes, McCarron did complete 23 or 34 passes (67.6 CMP%) for 234 yards and a long of 26. The only bright spot in LSU's play was that its defense only gave the Tide one touchdown. Bama, once again, was forced to rely on its field goal unit, but this time Jeremy Shelley, the goat from the first game, set a BCS Title game record by making five field goals. In the regular season, if you recall, he missed four field goals allowing LSU to beat Bama in Tuscaloosa. In the game that mattered the most, Shelley was able to redeem himself.Besides blocking one of Shelley's field goals, LSU's special teams were also overwhelmed by Bama. Marquis Maze got the Tide rolling in the first quarter with a 49 yard punt return leading to the first field goal of the game. Though Maze was injured on the play, Bama's punt return and coverage teams were still able to provide them with good field position all game. LSU's punt coverage also assisted the Tide by roughing the punt returner at the ten yard line after he called a fair catch. Instead of giving Alabama the ball at the 10, they gave it to them at the 25. LSU's punter actually kicked pretty well. However, their return game with Mathieu was completely shut down.Coach Nick Saban also out-coached Coach Les Miles. His team was fully prepared for everything LSU's offense and defense tried to do. Miles tried to get the option game going, which was successful the first time around, but Alabama was ready for it and Miles seemed to refuse to go away from it even though it was clearly not working. It didn't seem as though Miles made half time adjustments. They came out and threw the ball down the field twice, which was different than the first half, but then went back to the same basic offense using option, WR screens, and running the HB on dives or off tackle. It was truly a very bland offense and was similar to the one they ran against the Tide in game one. Though Jefferson was clearly struggling, Miles kept him in and chose not to use Jarrett Lee. In my opinion, this was a mistake because Lee has started and played many games this season and may have been able to provide a spark.Saban's offense, on the other hand, came out throwing the football down the field, something they did not do in the first match up. It seemed to catch LSU by surprise. The Tigers were stacking the box and playing man on the Bama's WR's. Saban purposely picked on Mathieu by using tall receivers to go over top of the 5'8" DB. Mathieu may have been a game changer in LSU's games against West Virginia Mountaineers, Arkansas Razorbacks, Oregon Ducks, and Georgia Bulldogs, however, he was not attacked the way Saban targeted him in this game. He usually covers slot receivers that are similar in height. In this game, Saban lined up tall receivers and tight ends in the slot, which Mathieu defend against high, jump balls.Alabama's defense was definitely the highlight of the game, however, LSU's offense assisted them by playing terribly. The Tigers offense committed numerous penalties and missed many opportunities by Jefferson's inability to execute properly. He missed several wide open WR's, throwing the ball in the grass and nowhere near them on multiple occasions. His biggest mistake came when he attempted a shovel pass after his receiver had turned to block for him. The pass was picked off and led to points, and pretty much ended any hopes LSU had of coming back.Had LSU played good and this was a good, defensive game, then I would have loved it. However, LSU played awful, and it wasn't merely due to Bama's dominance. They simply didn't execute, and it was the combo of bad offensive play by LSU and great defensive play by Bama. It was also a combo of poor LSU pass defense and McCarron executing to perfection which allowed Bama to drive down the field on almost every possession.Simply put, I think LSU played awful! This game was disappointing. LSU could have possibly finished the greatest single season in college football with a win, but instead they came out flat, unprepared, and were embarrassed. It is the first time a team was completely shut out in the title game, and there is no excuse for that.What do you think...Was this the worst BCS National Championship Game in History
Another football season is quickly approaching and while the players are in summer drills and 7-on-7 training, it's time for the writers to get to work and start putting in the time necessary to be successful as well.Being a great writer and getting to work the press box isn't for the slackers; here's a list of my summer drills to assure myself a good season in 2011.Kouandijo, Kouandijo, Kouandijo... Write this at least 25 times each day so I won't have trouble once the season starts.Phillip Sims is the quarterback battling A.J. McCarron, and Blake Sims is the guy who was a high school quarterback who can play everything except a down lineman.Go ahead and pack an ethernet cable in my travel case for the press box so when my laptop stops getting the wireless signal, I can just plug in this year.Start planning now for new excuses for the Alabama State Troopers that patrol the roads between my house at Panama City Beach, Florida, and Tuscaloosa. I think they've heard all the tried and true ones I always had ready before.Kiss up to Doug Walker, head of media relations at the University of Alabama so that you're not seated next to that same reporter I was so ofter last year. After three halftime chili dogs, the locker room smells better.You have to know your opponents, so keep reminding myself that Kent State players are the "Golden Flash" and not the "Golden Flashers"; they get upset when you make that mistake.And while I'm at it, add North Texas to that list. They're the Eagles, Mean Green is just sort of nickname. They're from Denton, Texas, and even though you've never heard of them much, they're one of the largest universities in Texas. I just hope nobody asked me what Denton is near.Keep a picture of Keiowone Malone handy so that I can tell the difference between him and Kenny Bell. It's not enough that they're both about 6-feet and 170 pounds, but they wear the same freaking number and are both receivers!Keiwone keeps reminding me that if I'm in doubt, he's the best looking one, but neither really float my boat, not that there's anything wrong with that.And that's another name I'll have to start spelling 25 times a week to get right.... Keiwone, Keiwone, Keione.... Oh well, maybe they won't play him that much this year, and I'll get lucky.Read more Alabama Crimson Tide Football news on BleacherReport.com Read Full Article
Another football season is quickly approaching and while the players are in summer drills and 7-on-7 training, it's time for the writers to get to work and start putting in the time necessary to be successful as well.
Being a great writer and getting to work the press box isn't for the slackers; here's a list of my summer drills to assure myself a good season in 2011.
Kouandijo, Kouandijo, Kouandijo... Write this at least 25 times each day so I won't have trouble once the season starts.
Phillip Sims is the quarterback battling A.J. McCarron, and Blake Sims is the guy who was a high school quarterback who can play everything except a down lineman.
Go ahead and pack an ethernet cable in my travel case for the press box so when my laptop stops getting the wireless signal, I can just plug in this year.
Start planning now for new excuses for the Alabama State Troopers that patrol the roads between my house at Panama City Beach, Florida, and Tuscaloosa. I think they've heard all the tried and true ones I always had ready before.
Kiss up to Doug Walker, head of media relations at the University of Alabama so that you're not seated next to that same reporter I was so ofter last year. After three halftime chili dogs, the locker room smells better.
You have to know your opponents, so keep reminding myself that Kent State players are the "Golden Flash" and not the "Golden Flashers"; they get upset when you make that mistake.
And while I'm at it, add North Texas to that list. They're the Eagles, Mean Green is just sort of nickname. They're from Denton, Texas, and even though you've never heard of them much, they're one of the largest universities in Texas. I just hope nobody asked me what Denton is near.
Keep a picture of Keiowone Malone handy so that I can tell the difference between him and Kenny Bell. It's not enough that they're both about 6-feet and 170 pounds, but they wear the same freaking number and are both receivers!
Keiwone keeps reminding me that if I'm in doubt, he's the best looking one, but neither really float my boat, not that there's anything wrong with that.
And that's another name I'll have to start spelling 25 times a week to get right.... Keiwone, Keiwone, Keione.... Oh well, maybe they won't play him that much this year, and I'll get lucky.
Read more Alabama Crimson Tide Football news on BleacherReport.com
The Alabama Crimson Tide travel to the Swamp in Gainesville, FL to challege the Florida Gators. Both teams are currently undefeated with the Tide ranked #3 and the Gators ranked #12. This game is going to be decided on whether Florida's offensive attack can work against Alabama's defense. John Brantley has looked much improved this season, but he has not faced a defense anywhere close to as good as Alabama's. He will need to get the ball in his play-makers hands, primarily Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps. Rainey is averaging 170 all purpose yards and five touchdowns. Demps, on the other hand, is averaging over four yards per carry and has scored four touchdowns. These two will need to get in rhythm and make some big plays for the Gators to get the upset.Alabama's offense will also have to score against Florida's, which has been equally stingy. The Tide will need their Heisman Hopeful running back, Trent Richardson, to have a big game, and that won't be easy. The Gators rush defense ranks fifth in the nation and has been stingy, giving up less than 57 yards per game, however, they haven't played against a running back of Richardson's caliber. In order for him to have a good game, he will need quarterback AJ McCarron to manage the game and play smart. The Tide can rely on the running game, but need to get the ball in Marquis Maze's hands. Maze is a big play waiting to happen and very reliable. If Bama is able to get the passing game going, then they have a chance of opening up the run game.University of Florida Gators Football Campus ArtBama is favored by 3.5 points in the Swamp, and I think this game could go either way. I think the Tide are the better overall team, but we haven't seen Florida really play anybody and they've put the teams they've played away. Bama has the more impressive win versus Arkansas last weekend and I think their defense will be too much for Demps and Rainey.
Larry King
March Madness
Natasha Fame Leslie
Ryan Seacrest
Sanu Dellafiore
John Armstrong
Fred Hanna
Georgia Hester
