Alabama Fan's Perspective: What To Watch for in the Capital One Bowl

The Crimson Tide have been off the playing field for an entire month. With time to reflect on accomplishments and missed opportunities, and after spending time with loved ones over the holidays, the team regrouped and prepared for the finale to the 2010 season.

Nick Saban also used the opportunity to build stronger ties to the coaching staff at Orlando's Dr. Phillips High School. While using the facilities for practices leading up to the Capital One Bowl, the University of Alabama made improvements to the high school's facilities, some of which will remain long after the Tide drifts back to Tuscaloosa.

Dr. Phillips is not only home to Alabama five-star DB commit Hasean Clinton-Dix and four-star RB Demetrius Hart, a wavering commit to the University of Michigan, but there are seven other three- and four-star senior football athletes in attendance with the high school football program. Saban is spending Alabama's money wisely.

The Game

Offensively

Look for Alabama's offense to get off to a quick start. Senior quarterback Greg McElroy knows Jim McElwain's offense like the back of his own hand and knows the playmakers he can count on, just as well. Expect a fast-paced, two-minute style, no-huddle offense for the first series, maybe throughout the first quarter, if it's working well.

Alabama should post at least three scores in the first quarter. Fewer than two touchdowns in the first half will mean that the offense is not in sync, or that Michigan State has prepared better than expected and will present more of an impediment than Alabama coaches, players and fans had hoped for.

Senior Cornerback Chris Rucker (6-2, 200 lb) matches up well with Julio Jones but Jones is the better athlete. While McElroy should spread the ball around, Jones should be a primary target if there is one-on-one coverage. And Alabama must remain in attack mode for the entire game.

If Alabama gets up by 20 or more, as it has been done in the past, expect Alabama to attempt to keep the ball on the ground and run out the clock. It is the Saban way of doing business. It did not work well in the last outing against Auburn. Maybe the lesson was learned.

Defensively

The Alabama defensive line should dominate in the trenches and force Michigan States offense into uncomfortable situations with blitzing linebackers and cornerbacks coming quickly, causing QB Kirk Cousins to make quick decisions. Alabama will use its superior team speed to shut down the outside sweeps and force the running game to the middle of the field.

The Spartan quarterback has a high percentage of completions (67.5) but his quarterback rating suffers due to the touchdown-to-interception ratio. Cousins has thrown 20 touchdown passes and nine interceptions on the year. He has passed for better than 2,700 yards on 216 completions for an average of 8.5 yards per catch.

The Spartans are a capable team, with nine receivers having 10 or more catches on the season. Six of those players have better than 200 yards receiving on the year, as well. BJ Cunningham leads the receiving corp with 50 catches, 611 yards and nine touchdowns.

Alabama will have to play well in man-on-man coverage. There are no more freshman starters on defense. Dee Miliner has matured for an entire SEC season and was selected for first-team All-SEC honors by the conference coaches. Dequan Menzie will have to shine at Star, as well.

Safety Robert Lester must step up in run support and Will Lowery must play mistake free in a support role for Lester and cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick. Lowery is a junior walk-on with limited experience. At this point, this position is considered the weakest link in the Alabama defense. It is the last line of defense and Lowery will have to make plays.

Stepping in for Mark Barron, Lowery is not expected to replace Barron's production as a safety. Alabama does not have an adequate replacement for the injured two time All-American. in fact, there may not be one in the entire conference.

Being in the right place at the right time will serve the team well. Proper technique in run support by Lowery will allow other defenders time to step up and make plays. If there is a weakness, Michigan State will, without fail, exploit the deficiency and score points against the Tide.

Special Teams

Freshman punter Cody Mandell had highs and lows during the season, and was also selected to the freshman All-SEC team. But he was not one of the top performing punters in the league, just one of the top freshman performers. While he is capable of consistent play, if Alabama is depending on the punter to keep Michigan State in check, then Alabama is punting too much and they are in trouble from the start.

Alabama has not shown an ability for excellent special teams play all year and it is doubtful that special teams will play a decisively large role in the game against the Spartans. But the kickers, punt and kick return teams must not allow the Spartans to excel in this area during the contest.

And the Alabama players have been prepared to expect the unexpected from a Mark Dantonio-coached team. What they need to do is soundly execute on special teams units so as to not allow for fake punts, field goals or onside kicks to become game changers in favor of the Spartans.

Know Your Enemy

To be ahead before the game, you must know the tendencies of your opponent and do what you can to play to their weaknesses and not allow them to get leverage by establishing success with what has worked throughout the season.

Cousins cannot run the ball. In fact, he has -80 yards rushing on the season. What that says it that pressure from the front seven will spell doom for the Spartans provided the secondary can do their job effectively for 5-7 seconds. Three to four of those precious seconds must be with Cousins scrambling from the pocket, looking for a down field receiver. Pressure, pressure, pressure the quarterback and Alabama will win.

Give him the time he wants and he will pick the Alabama defense apart.

Edwin Baker has rushed for over a 1,000 yards and has scored 13 touchdowns on the season. He has carried the rock 195 times and averaged just over six yards per carry. In their loss against Iowa, Baker had nine carries for 21 yards.

In the Illinois game, though the Spartans won, point production was at a low, scoring only 26 total against the Illini. Baker had eight carrier for 23 yards, Larry Caper led the Spartans with 37 yards on seven carries. As a team, the Spartans had under 100 yards rushing in the game.

The key to beating Sparty is to shut down the run and force Cousins into a pressured passing game. Against Iowa, Cousins was 21-29 with three interceptions.

In nine of the eleven wins for Michigan State, the Spartans rushed for 170 yards or more and balanced the offense with a passing game that matched the rushing production. It's a familiar pattern for success. Defensively, Alabama should key on stopping the run first. That too, is a familiar scheme for success against most winning teams.

Bottom line, Alabama must play sound, fundamental football, use team speed to force the game to the middle of the field and use good techniques for tackling the ball carrier.

Alabama does not need to use trick plays or vary from what has brought them success during the year. If Alabama does what they have done all year, they will win.

Now, just so the negative comments from the opposition can be kept to a minimum, this is an Alabama article pointing out how an Alabama fan sees this playing out. If you have a different perspective, keep it to yourself or write your own article.

Both teams are well coached and have offenses with multiple playmakers. Alabama has the edge, athletically and physically. Alabama fans have a great deal of respect for what Mark Dantonio has accomplished, along with his talented team in 2010.

I certainly don't think Alabama should win this without a fight from Sparty, particularly since we are seeing that the SEC hasn't faired so well in the early going this bowl season. But I don't see MSU in contention if Alabama plays to their potential. Roll Tide Roll. Here we come, Capital One Bowl.