Title-chasing Alabama can’t overlook rival Auburn
TUSCALOOSA, ALA. A win is a win. This one just didn’t go over well with Nick Saban.
The top-ranked Crimson Tide (11-0) were sluggish and unenthusiastic throughout a 31-3 Saturday victory against Chattanooga, but Jalen Hurts threw for three touchdowns as the defending national champions didn’t allow a touchdown for a third consecutive week in winning their 23rd game in a row.
“That probably wasn’t our best effort,” Saban said in his opening comments after the game.
That’s definitely an understatement.
With a smile, Saban declined to repeat what he said to the team at halftime because it would require several bleeps.
Saban made it clear he was proud of how Alabama has played this season but took responsibility for how his players performed Saturday at home.
In short, Alabama didn’t play to the level it has for most of the season.
So I don’t know what’s worse. Alabama going 4-for-13 on third down, allowing a Football Championship Subdivision school to make seven tackles for loss or having to wait until Saturday night for that inevitable outcome.
But now that the game is over, let’s resume Iron Bowl talk. Just because a spot in the Southeastern Conference title game isn’t on the line after Auburn (8-3) lost to Georgia on Nov. 12 doesn’t mean this game lacks marquee value. So many story lines. So many subplots. Too many to name.
Here are five intriguing story lines going into Saturday’s showdown at Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Third time a charm?
Under Saban, Alabama hasn’t beaten Auburn three consecutive times.
The Crimson Tide won in 2008 and 2009, but lost at home in 2010 to the Cam Newton-led Tigers.
Alabama outscored Auburn 91-14 in winning the next two, but lost in the most epic Iron Bowl ever when Chris Davis’ famed “Kick-Six” stunned the undefeat-
ed and two-time defending national champions in 2013.
The Tide have won the last two. So will history repeat itself with Auburn coming out on top?
Trenches
Alabama and Auburn have two of the best defensive lines in the country. So which offensive line can hold its own enough to move the ball?
Both teams run tempo on offense, so that can nullify a great defensive line, but since Auburn and Alabama practice against those types of offenses and have great depth, that might not matter much.
Alabama has made changes to its O-line all season, with the latest being Korren Kirven at right guard for Lester Cotton, who started in place of Alphonse Taylor. So Auburn could make it
tough to run inside.
The Tide haven’t faced a downhill runner like Kamryn Pettway this season. If he returns close to 100% from a leg injury and finds running seams, the collisions between 6-0, 240-pound Pettway and 6-1, 228-pound Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster will go instant viral.
Ka-BOOM!
QB mystery
Auburn put quarterback Sean White on the shelf last week against Alabama A&M, as he has a bum shoulder. You’d expect him to be ready for the Iron Bowl, but what if he isn’t?
First of all, Auburn will keep it a mystery, even if he is ready to go. Will that affect Alabama’s preparation knowing it might see Jeremy Johnson or John Franklin III — or both? Whoever plays
quarterback, he better keep his head on a swivel because Alabama defenders Jonathan Allen, Tim Williams, Ryan Anderson and Rashaan Evans are coming after him.
There’s no QB mystery at Alabama. Hurts accounted for four touchdowns off the bench in the opener against Southern California, started the next week and has been a difference-maker ever since.
But Auburn’s defense has multiple players who can get after him in Carl Lawson, Marlon Davidson, Montravius Adams and Deshaun Davis. LSU made Hurts earn it in ’Bama’s tough 10-0 win. So will Auburn.
1-on-1
Carlton Davis can match the Tide’s ArDarius Stewart in terms of size. He’s 6-1, 195 pounds, while Stewart is the same height but weighs 9 pounds more than the Auburn cornerback.
Davis likes to get his hands on receivers, but that is right up Stewart’s alley.
Stewart (647 receiving yards, six touchdowns) is Hurts’ go-to target who gives you the entire field. He runs all the routes, accumulates yards after the catch and is tough to tackle.
Davis has been victimized from time to time but might raise his level of play. He didn’t dress against Alabama A&M, but expect him to play in the Iron Bowl.
Stewart dressed but didn’t play for disciplinary reasons, Saban said after the game. If both guys play, as expected, and Davis elevates his game, it will be a very entertaining matchup.
Offensive coordinators
In many ways, Alabama and Auburn run the same offense in terms of the misdirection, tempo and motions.
With Pettway, Auburn can run inside better, but Alabama is better at attacking the edges and running behind veteran Cam Robinson and freshman Jonah Williams.
So I can’t wait to see how offensive coordinators Lane Kiffin (Alabama) and Rhett Lashlee (Auburn) call plays against two of the SEC’s best defenses.
Will they both open in tempo? Will they try to establish the run early?
Kiffin often opens a game with pass plays as he did against Mississippi State. That seemed to get Hurts in a rhythm last week. Kiffin, the former head coach of the Oakland Raiders as well as Tennessee and Southern California in the college ranks, appears to be the more creative play-caller. But there’s a mystery with Lashlee because we haven’t a full season of work from him.
You know Auburn coach Gus Malzahn has input in the matter, but who Lashlee has at his disposal will greatly determine his calls. Lashlee can be creative, but executing the plays is far more important because Alabama’s defense turns slip-ups into six points.