Alternative Battle Plan: Alabama Crimson Tide Offense Reloaded

As the game got started against Florida International University on Saturday night, Alabama Football faced a diversity of adversity.

With star power beginning to emerge in the 2009 season, the injury bug and viral illness asserted influence as the X-factor, and the wheels seemed to be falling off. 

Then Plan B was initiated, all the pieces fell into place. Players on the 2009 Alabama Crimson Tide responded to adversity the way Coach Saban had prepared them.

Adversity: Setting the stage

Earlier in the week, Mark Ingram fell victim to the flu bug being passed around on the University campus like a good Wall Street tip. Others on the team have suffered from the ravages of this pandemic illness, but this was the starting tailback who had just racked up 191 all-purpose yards against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the season opener.

Brandon Deaderick, having suffered a recent gunshot during an attempted robbery, faced news of a death in the family. He left the practice field to console loved ones during this untimely loss, answering a higher call.

Gameday injuries

With Ingram sidelined, Roy Upchurch was inserted as the starting tailback. Upchurch was effective for a short time but suffered a sprained ankle early in the 1st quarter.

The coaching staff leaned on Ingram and the sophomore entered the game and contributed with sudden impact. In just 14 plays, Ingram exploded for a net 103 yards and 1 TD. But the recent illness had an affect on his conditioning and the star realized his time would be limited, letting the coaching staff in on the secret at halftime.

On the wing, WR sensation Julio Jones opened the game with a 9 yard reception on the first series but injured his knee (bruised knee cap) on a subsequent play and was sidelined for the remainder of the game.

Redshirt freshman Damien Square, at 6-3, 275 lbs, was having the time of his life. He began the game, fielding the opening short 36 yard kickoff, returning it five yards before being downed. Amazingly, on the next FIU kickoff, the defense-man fair caught the ball.

During the night, Square turned in strong effort play after play. He is credited with 1 QB hurry, 1 sack, and 1 TFL on the speedy T.Y. Hilton. Unfortunately, with about seven minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Square suffered a knee injury that may prove to be season ending.

FIU opposition

The Golden Panthers presented an explosive offense and special teams unit. On the third play from scrimmage, QB Paul McCall connected with wideout Greg Ellingson for a 46 yd. gain, sending a message to the Tide secondary that double coverage on T.Y. Hilton would do nothing but open up other options for the aggressive FIU offense.

Though the Panthers did not establish an offensive scoring drive in the first quarter, a dynamic special teams unit led by the speedy Hilton matched the Tide's first quarter TD with a blazing 96 yard scamper up the sideline to keep the Panthers within striking distance, settling the first quarter scoring at 10-7 in favor of the men in Crimson.

As in the season opener, the Alabama offense could not finish off drives into the red zone with touchdowns and settled for points off the toe of kicker Leigh Tiffin.

Despite impressive statistics by GMac and the Tide offense between the 20s, the feisty Panthers kept the audience engaged by putting together a 60 yard drive in 4:26 minutes. QB Paul McCall connected with Greg Ellingson on a nine-yard slant pass that gave the opposition a one-point lead midway through the second quarter.

Responding to Adversity: Reload

The Real McCoy

Mike McCoy stepped up his game against the Panthers to replace the injured Jones. In the first quarter, McElroy connected with McCoy on a 24 yard crossing pattern, that put the Tide up 10-0.

After the Panthers took a 14-13 lead in the second quarter, McCoy asserted himself as a deep threat, hauling in a 35 yard completion on the first play from scrimmage. The drive resulted in a touchdown that put the Tide up for good. McCoy ended the game with 5 completions for 100 yds.

Trent Warfare

In the third quarter, with Ingram gassed, enter Trent Richardson. Richardson is no Sandman. His energy electrified the sedate crowd and sent a roar through the stadium rafters.

No. 3 plugged into the Alabama offense initially in the first quarter, sparking the Tide offense on a drive that ended on the FIU three-yard line, resulting in a made field goal by Leigh Tiffin.

He re-entered the game with 9:24 left in the third quarter.

After returning to the lineup, his first two plays from scrimmage resulted in a 6-yard rushing gain and 12-yard aerial gain on a short flick from McElroy. A coaching decision to re-insert Ingram proved ineffective and the short drive fizzled, culminating in a missed field goal try by Tiffin.

On the subsequent Alabama possession, with 5:25 left to go in the 3rd quarter, it was all out Trent Warfare. The Tide put together a seven-play scoring drive featuring the true freshman. On four plays, Richardson rushed for six, completed an 11 yard reception, rushed for 13 yards, and scored on a nine-yard rush, capping a drive that took only 2:11 off the clock.

The insertion of Richardson into the offense of the Crimson and White proved to be the move that took hope away from the Golden Panthers. On a drive that took only two plays, Richardson swiftly entered the end zone to open the fourth quarter on a 35-yard scamper that put the Tide ahead 33-14.

For the game, Trent Warfare resulted in 15 carries for 119 yards and 2 catches for 23 yards. Not bad for a freshman debut (142 all-purpose yards).

Permission Granted

Nick Saban has been petitioning on behalf of Terry Grant since the of end spring practice. Saban became more vocal as fall camp progressed. Grant had very little to show in meaningful playing time against the VT Hokies. Saban once again advocated a bigger role for Grant in the Alabama offensive scheme, describing Grant as a coaches dream as an athlete and student.

In the fourth quarter, with 8:33 left in the game, Mr. Grant didn't let his head coach down, taking the ball over left tackle for 42-yard touchdown run, closing out the scoring for the game.

Defensive Pressure and Depth

After the initial first quarter let down by the Alabama special teams and second quarter lapse by the defensive starters, the Men in Crimson banded together to put relentless pressure on the Golden Panther quarterback. At least 11 different players on the defensive line were credited with sacks (5) or pressures on Paul McCall.

In the end, FIU accumulated only 1 net rushing yard, gains eliminated by TFL and sacks (56 yards gained, 55 yards lost). While McCall and his receiving corp stung the Tide secondary for 213 yards passing, most of the yardage was accumulated in the first half (134 yd). There was 1 INT (Mark Barron) in the game, coming in the fourth quarter after the backup Younger took over for the FIU starting QB.

Twenty-one Alabama defenders were credited with one or more tackles in the game, Rolando McClain leading the group with four tackles (1.5 TFL). Dont'a Hightower pressured McCall relentlessly, hitting him hard on several occasions.

By the end of the evening, the fifth year senior, McCall was on the sidelines cramped, exhausted and in pain. It will take more than a good night's rest and a liter of IV fluids to recover from the trauma inflicted by the Alabama defense on Saturday night.

The Tide showed improvement from week one to week two, but lackluster special teams play made the game seem closer than it really was in the overall outlook. Special teams must improve before the men in Crimson enter SEC play or it may prove to be this teams Achilles heel.

One thing is for sure, it won't be for lack of preparation and practice on fundamentals. Saban and staff will analyze this game, play by play, and make the necessary corrections.

Next up, the Mean Green from Denton, Texas. Not to  be overlooked, like FIU, a member of the Sunbelt Conference. Remember, the challenge is not to simply out play the opponent, but to be the best that you can be on every play. If that happens, the Tide will move into SEC competition undefeated.