Tide Tidbits - October 31, 2008

Alabama relying on its triple threat
The runners shuffle in and out, taking breaks when they're not breaking tackles and getting plenty of time to catch their breath. Then comes the fourth quarter, when No. 2 Alabama still has a steady supply of fresh tailbacks to throw at weary defenders. The Crimson Tide has employed that three-tailback system with brutal efficiency and fashioned the SEC's top running game in the process. By the fourth quarter, Glen Coffee, Roy Upchurch and/or Mark Ingram are still going strong and the defenders are showing the ill effects.

Tide focuses on special teams
One of second-ranked Alabama’s biggest tests this Saturday against Arkansas State may come in the kicking game. Javier Arenas fumbled the game’s first punt, giving the Vols a first-and-goal on the Alabama 5. The Tide defense forced Tennessee to settle for a field goal. In the second quarter, a partially blocked punt put Tennessee on the Alabama 32. The Vols missed a field goal attempt on that possession. Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban called both errors “individual mistakes.” “He didn’t yell at me,” Arenas said. “You can’t, like, destroy someone’s confidence — it wouldn’t destroy mine. But, you know, I was wrong trying to catch it. Not necessarily wrong. I caught it. I just should’ve held on to it.”

Alabama trying to send message with final drives
It begins when Alabama coach Nick Saban delivers a message to his quarterback. Begin managing the clock now, Saban tells senior John Parker Wilson. That means the second-ranked Crimson Tide has a lead, the game is nearly over, and it wants to conclude by grinding it out on offense. "The more you're running it," Wilson said, "the longer the clock (runs)."

UA defense faces different kind of challenge this week
University of Alabama cornerback Kareem Jackson says the Crimson Tide football team has defensive formations and coverages that no one has seen yet in Alabama’s 8-0 start. But at least some of those surprise packages will have to be opened against Arkansas State on Saturday. The Red Wolves, Alabama’s homecoming opponent in a 2 p.m. game on Saturday, are an unusual offensive challenge for the Crimson Tide because of the running ability of quarterback Corey Leonard. “We haven’t seen anything like that this year, but we’ve got to prepare for them and be ready this Saturday,” Jackson said.

Roll Tide!