Scouting Report
2009 SEC Championship Game Scouting Report
FLORIDA vs. ALABAMA
This will be the 18th SEC Title game and the 7th time the Gators and Crimson Tide have faced off. Florida is 4-2 against Alabama, including last year’s 31-20 victory. The Tide led entering the 4th quarter, 20-17. But Florida dominated the final period (14-0). Bet Nick Saban talks about that a lot this week…finish them off! Florida can use that experience to have confidence they can come back.
Games simply don’t get any bigger than this. #1 vs. #2. An SEC Championship up for grabs. A spot in the National Title game on the line. Both teams are undefeated. Saban vs. Meyer. Alabama vs. Florida. Tebow and Ingram get the Heisman stage. Julio Jones takes the spotlight. Lace them up tight boys, this one’s going to get nasty.
Steve Addazio’s FLORIDA OFFENSE vs. Kirby Smart’s ALABAMA DEFENSE
Gators played without big-play man Percy Harvin in last year’s game. They enter this match-up without a big-play threat at WR too. But they do have Tim Tebow, and he was the difference a year ago. When Florida needs a play, Tebow delivers. The Gators spread attack begins with that zone read pla,y and it features a lot of counters & misdirections, with OL pulling and leading the backs. Without Harvin’s big-play ability, they have become more of a grind it out attack. The Tide’s defense is bigger & stronger than it was a year ago, but not quite as fast. That’s why the Gators may use that speed option more in this game. Alabama’s front 7 might be the best in CF, but the secondary has given up some plays lately.
BIG-GAME MATCH-UP #1: POUNCEY BOYS vs. CODY. That’s 640 pounds taking on 360 lbs. This will be a heavyweight brawl. Cody’s job is to take them on and not give ground, so Ro McClain can pursue and make tackles.
**GATORS NEW O-LINE COMBINATION FEATURES A TRUE FRESHMAN @ LEFT TACKLE: XAVIER NIXON. Carl Johnson has been moved inside to left guard. Nixon was rated one of the top OTs nationally in last year’s recruiting class. Xavier is more athletic than Johnson and thus, a better pass blocker. However, he’s got his hands full Saturday. EDGE ALABAMA: DEADERICK & DAREUS WORKING ON NIXON. Marcel Dareus is a beast. Deaderick softens the OT up, then Dareus comes in and destroys the QB. Gators have issues here…better stay out of obvious passing situations. More on that in a moment.
REPLACING HIGHTOWER AT LB: Alabama lost one of their stars—LB Donta Hightower—after 4 games. TRUE FRESHMAN NICO JOHNSON has stepped in and played solid football, but there has been some drop-off.
BIG-GAME MATCH-UP #2: ROLANDO McCLAIN & BAMA LBs TACKLING IN OPEN SPACE. Demps & Rainey are quick and slippery. Brandon James is dangerous and will probably get some touches on offense too. Got to get them on the ground and get physical with them. Otherwise, they run wild. The pressure is on Reamer, Anders, and Johnson to tackle. McClain is simply a beast.
THE PASSING GAME MATCH-UP: HERNANDEZ & COOPER vs. ARENAS & BARRON
Barron got burned against Auburn biting on a double-move out and up route, and gave up the big-play. Florida will see if he has learned his lesson. FS Justin Woodall will have his sights on TE Aaron Hernandez, who is the leading receiver. The best match-up will be Riley Cooper working on Javier Arenas. Cooper has had a big season and has delivered big-plays when Tebow has gone to him. Florida utilizes these guys so well in the Red Zone. They are big and physical. In last year’s game, the Gators scored TDs because these dudes made plays in the Red Zone.
THE GAME’S BIGGEST KEY ON THIS SIDE OF THE BALL: 3rd DOWN. With TIM TEBOW @ QB, the Gators are almost automatic on 3rd down & 5 or less. In last year’s SEC Title game, the Gators converted 7-9 third down situations of 5 yards or less. But on 3rd & Long, Florida was 1-4. Florida wants to be in manageable 3rd down situations. Alabama wants them in obvious passing situations on 3rd and long. That’s when Coach Smart can dial up the blitzes.
Jim McElwain’s ALABAMA OFFENSE vs. Charlie Strong’s FLORIDA DEFENSE
The Tide did a good job of running it in last year’s showdown. Coffee & Ingram combined for 29 carries and 133 yards (4.5 yards per carry). JPW managed the game well (12-25-187 yards, with 1 INTC). Julio busted a long one for 64 yards. The Tide offense took control of the game in the 3rd quarter, with a 15-play, 91 yard TD drive to tie it at 17-17. Then, they drove for the go-ahead FG. But the Gators defense got the best of them, with the game hanging in the balance, in the 4th quarter. Gators forced a 3-and-out and then, forced a JPW INTC.
This Alabama offense is a physical, zone-blocking run team. The Gator defense is fast and athletic. Most of the time, they have simply smothered opposing offenses.
***ALABAMA RB MARK INGRAM WILL PLAY WITH A SORE HIP. GATOR DE CARLOS DUNLAP HAS BEEN SUSPENDED***
QUESTION #1: HOW WILL THESE 2 SITUATIONS IMPACT THE GAME?
If INGRAM is not effective, freshman TRENT RICHARDSON GETS HIS CARRIES. Richardson has been outstanding in the back-up role and appears ready to carry the load. He averages 5 yards a tote. The kid can run through arm tackles and make’m miss. Roy Upchurch is capable of picking up the slack too.
DUNLAP getting suspended hurts the Gators defense obviously, but JERMAINE CUNNINGHAM AND JUSTIN TRATTOU should be able to pick up the slack. Trattou got some snaps at DT against FSU, but he’s a DE and a good player. CUNNINGHAM has flipped some this season from LE to RE and he will give Davis and Carpenter all they want in pass situations.
Auburn had some success slowing down Alabama’s running game by “loading up the box.” Would expect the Gators to do the same. Get too many guys to block up close to the LOS. Of course, Saban and the offensive staff have had some time to prepare for that “smothering style” of defense.
KEY #1: GET JULIO JONES INVOLVED EARLY, NOT LATE. Not sure why McElwain waits until the 4th quarter to start feeding Alabama’s most talented player, but for the Tide to knock off the Gators, Julio needs to be involved early and often. IF FLORIDA WANTS TO CROWD THE BOX. Get it to JJ on 1st & 10 in the Quick Passing Game…on the hitch, slant and stop routes. Or put him in motion and get him running the short crossing route. Julio needs 10 touches in this game. Feed him. Another way to attack is to “Max Protect” and take some shots down the field, looking for the big play.
BIG GAME MATCH-UP #2: JOE HADEN AGAINST JULIO JONES. Haden might be the 1st CB taken in the NFL draft. He’s tough and relentless. Charlie Strong wants him defending Julio Jones, but don’t look for Haden to mirror him. Janoris Jenkins will get some opportunities too.
BIG-GAME KEY: IF THEY TAKE JULIO AWAY, THE BALL HAS TO GO TO MAZE & HANKS. Coach Strong can roll coverage to Jones CB up and a safety over the top. In that case, the Tide must get some plays out of Maze and Hanks.
BIG PRESSURE ON McELROY: HOW WILL HE PERFORM? If the run game struggles, McElroy will have to consistently make good decisions and deliver accurate throws. Mistakes mean turnovers or 3-and-outs and that hurts Bama. How the young QB performs might be the difference in winning and losing. Coach Strong’s plan will be to gang up against the run, and take his chances with McElroy throwing the rock.