Alabama Fans, Know Your Opponent: Arkansas State

There’s a lot to know about Arkansas State the average fan doesn’t know.  They’ve done something that the Tide has trouble doing: They beat Louisiana-Monroe.  Also this season, they beat Texas A&M 18-14, Texas Southern, and Middle Tennessee.  So far this season they are 4-3 and feel like they are capable of playing the big boys.

However, feelings are just an emotion, and physics say you lose when you’re outweighed, outmuscled, outrun, out-coached and out-talented.  This is a team that can bite a team that dares overlook it, but that won’t be the case this Saturday.  Right now Alabama has too much to look forward to to dare look past the Red Wolves from Arkansas State.

Offense

Arkansas State is a running team.  They come at you with different running backs, and all can hurt you.  They pass just enough to keep you honest, but it won’t be the passing game that hurts you, just maybe move the chains.  They get their yardage the old-fashioned way: on the ground.

Reggie Arnold and Derek Lawson’s season statistics are almost identical running the ball.  They have 555 and 553 yards respectively.  You’d better not leave the QB without containment, because Corey Leonard can tuck it and run it like a quality running back.  You don’t run this well without a decent line, and they have one of those.

They have a solid field goal kicker, and their punter is good.  So far in seven games, they’ve averaged 33 points a game.  This average was aided much by an 83-10 blowout of Texas Southern.  Against Texas A&M, they won 18-14, and their other low output was a loss at Memphis by a score of 17-29.  Good defenses can hold down their average.

Defense

On defense, they average giving up only 21 points a game.  The defense is very opportunistic.  They create turnovers and then capitalize on them.  So far this year they have 10 picks and eight fumbles.  They have returned three fumbles for TDs and one interception for a score.

They don’t mind physical play.  Ben Owens is a senior linebacker and leads the team in tackles, something usually done by a safety.  The second-leading tackler is M.D. Jennings, a defensive back.  Alex Carrington has nine sacks so far this year, and the team has 21 altogether.  Like I say, they like to come at you.

How It Plays Out

As I said earlier, this is a good team that could hurt a team that takes them lightly.  The problem is Alabama is a great team that may have gotten over looking past lightly regarded opponents.

Look for Bama to run at will against them, to try to open up the passing game and get some practice there for the LSU game, and to score early and often. 

On defense, look for Bama to commit to stop the run and force more passing.  Arkansas State will get their licks in, but it will be a case of too little and too lightly.  The Red Wolves are no match for a rampaging elephant, and they should be thoroughly stomped by evening’s end.

Bama, 41-10.