Alabama Surprise! Nick Saban Been Holding His Defensive Cards Close To the Vest?

Larry Burton (Syndicated Writer) After seeing something was amiss with the Tide's defense so far this year, I have gone back and studied the games played so far and noticed that the Bama defense has given very little for the Arkansas Razorbacks to study so far.

So far Alabama has pretty much run a base defense with little trickery or stunts and even fewer "jail house" blitz packages. This could be one reason the sack numbers are so low.

If he starts this week's game and is successful with that same vanilla defense, then expect him to hold his cards for the Florida game the following week.

Why give opponents a look at your best defensive schemes if you don't need them to win?

Alabama will play more nickel and dime packages this week than in any week so far and with Florida having a limited running game, may next week as well. So they'll be more defensive backs in the game than in past games.

All week in practice, Saban has been moving and toying around with the linebackers to get a better pass rush. Both Nick Johnson and Jerrell Harris have both taken time with the No. 1s at the Sam and Will spots and with Courtney Upshaw still a little banged up, we may only see him on third and long situations as a rabbit rusher.

Also in practice William Vlachos has returned to the starting spot at center and looks to be 100% as does James Carpenter.

Yesterday was the last day in pads and today they'll do an early walk through before leaving on an early afternoon flight to Arkansas for a good meal and night's rest before the early afternoon kickoff tomorrow.

Saban was very pleased with this week's practice, the attitude and work ethic of the team and the game plan. What that game plan entails is anyone's guess.