Stopping Florida's Offense

[Catch Prothro]

Arkansas, with four big-time receivers, presented a deep ball threat, and Bama's defense respected that threat early in the game.  Arkansas capitalized on that respect early with an underneath passing attack that managed to score early against the Tide.  After the Tide defense made some adjustments, those underneath routes were closed, and Arkansas had a difficult time moving the ball.

In contrast, Florida is gaining most of its yardage with a dink and dunk style offense.  Florida's strength is the speed of Rainey and Demps, and Florida utilizes that strength by trying to create open space that allows these players to use that speed to their advantage.  Rainey and Demps also have found large holes to run through in the rushing game.

Because Florida does not present the same deep ball threat as Arkansas, expect Bama to play tighter defense and dare Florida to throw deep.  What I expect to see is an aggressive, close to the line defense that closes the running gaps and presses the receivers, throwing off the timing on the short pass routes and disrupting the screen passes.  Although Rainey and Demps have speed, they are not as well suited for a power rushing attack.  They lack the strength to create their own holes.  They were, in short, recruited for a spread offense and now find themselves in a pro-style offense.  And while Florida's offensive line has done well in creating gaping holes, don't expect the same success against Bama's front.

The key to stopping the speed players is not allowing Florida to create the space they need.  You don't close the spaces by playing back, like Bama did intiallly against Arkansas, but by attacking, and I expect to see a lot of that on Saturday.

[crtuneman]

Bama's advantage lies in our secondary. I believe our secondary is the best run-support secondary in the nation. Rainey & Demps like to get outside to use their speed, but against Bama there will be safeties & corners on the edges that will prevent the outside runs. Florida will have to try to throw to beat us, and that is where Bama will thrive. Brantley is good, but he makes a lot of mistakes when he is pressured. I expect we will pick off 3-4 passes against him this week. Just my opinion of course. The real question for me is whether or not our Oline can open holes against their front 4. Also, will this be the week we finally see the Wildcat?

[Catch Prothro]

Bama's advantage lies in our secondary. I believe our secondary is the best run-support secondary in the nation. Rainey & Demps like to get outside to use their speed, but against Bama there will be safeties & corners on the edges that will prevent the outside runs. Florida will have to try to throw to beat us, and that is where Bama will thrive. Brantley is good, but he makes a lot of mistakes when he is pressured. I expect we will pick off 3-4 passes against him this week. Just my opinion of course. The real question for me is whether or not our Oline can open holes against their front 4. Also, will this be the week we finally see the Wildcat?

I'm not counting on the Wildcat.  I agree about the interceptions, though 3-4 might be a tad optimistic.   

[Chechem]

Jesse (again).

[crtuneman]

Bama's advantage lies in our secondary. I believe our secondary is the best run-support secondary in the nation. Rainey & Demps like to get outside to use their speed, but against Bama there will be safeties & corners on the edges that will prevent the outside runs. Florida will have to try to throw to beat us, and that is where Bama will thrive. Brantley is good, but he makes a lot of mistakes when he is pressured. I expect we will pick off 3-4 passes against him this week. Just my opinion of course. The real question for me is whether or not our Oline can open holes against their front 4. Also, will this be the week we finally see the Wildcat?

I'm not counting on the Wildcat.  I agree about the interceptions, though 3-4 might be a tad optimistic.   

Do you think Saban & McElwain might be saving the wildcat or any special formations like that for LSU?

[Coach Hank Crisp]

Shutdown the run first. Then force Brantley to beat us with his passing game. Send the rabbits in on a bull rush after Brantley and unleash 'Hell!'

• Alabama is giving up 1.8 yards per rushing attempt to lead the league. Kentucky is last at 5.1 per attempt

Both have come up big for Florida, but neither is what you would call a big back. Rainey, at 5-foot-9, 174 pounds, has averaged 102.8 yards rushing per game. Demps (5-7, 191) averages 80 yards rushing per game. Both are among the SEC's top-10 runners.

Both also wear non-contact jerseys during most of Florida's practices, Muschamp said Monday.

[2Stater]

I think we get a couple of interceptions and maybe recover a fumble. Florida dinks and dunks and will play close to the vest until gap stuffers like Jesse will force them to run outside. Rainey & Demps have good speed, but Bama is the quickest I've ever seen them on the ends. That leaves the long pass. Good luck with that, Florida. MB & DK will eat your lunch. I see Florida coming out fired up and execute a pre-planned play-by-play drive that may allow them to score on their 1st position. After that, not so much. I think it will be a good defensive effort by both teams.

[Catch Prothro]

Do you think Saban & McElwain might be saving the wildcat or any special formations like that for LSU?

I'd just be guessing.  And like my pickem results show, my guessing skills need work.

I'd guess that they have some trick plays up their sleeves, like the first score against Arky, which had been practiced for two years.  But the fact that we haven't seen the Wildcat at all this year leads me to believe that it is off the playlist.  The coaches probably would have already gotten it into a game against a lesser foe just to work the kinks out, like they did last year.

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