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Tennessee vs Alabama: Five Bama Players to Watch for vs Vols
Sep 24, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin talks to quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) during the game against the Kent State Golden Flashers at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Tennessee vs Alabama is a huge game for both teams for the first time in years. Here are five Crimson Tide players to watch for against the Volunteers.
The Vols are banged up heading into this year’s Tennessee vs Alabama game, but they still have plenty of dangerous players to make this a game. Meanwhile, the Crimson Tide are riding high off a huge win over the Arkansas Razorbacks.
And they have had much better rest with a few easy teams sprinkled in to that point.
As a result, Tennessee football has to watch out for numerous Bama players in this game. As always, Nick Saban’s teams are loaded with weapons.
But this year, the offense has been fully recreated in Lane Kiffin’s identity. Now, either side can shut down the other team whenever they need to.
There are some weaknesses in the Tide that certain Vols can exploit, which we talked about earlier this week. But given the number of elite players in the program and the depth, Saban has been able to mask those weaknesses.
Still, despite what the line says, he will need all of his top players to step up in this game. And Butch Jones, Bob Shoop, and Mike DeBord have to be on the lookout for all dangerous Alabama players.
It’s Bama week, and that means Tennessee certainly has its work cut out.
Here are the five players on the Crimson Tide that the Vols need to watch out for in the Tennessee vs Alabama game.
Oct 8, 2016; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Ryan Anderson (22) and linebacker Tim Williams (56) sack Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Austin Allen (8) during the second quarter at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
Ryan Anderson
Linebacker, Senior
Typical in a Nick Saban 3-4 defense, Ryan Anderson has emerged as a new dominant edge rusher for the Tide.
Vols fans remember Anderson from last year’s Tennessee vs Alabama game, as he had three tackles, a quarterback hurry, and strip-sacked Joshua Dobbs at the end of the game to secure the 19-14 victory for the Tide in Tuscaloosa.
This year, Anderson has picked up where he left off. He leads the Tide in sacks with four and a half on the season, and he already has seven and a half tackles for a loss. Add in three quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles, and it’s clear that this guy has become a veteran playmaker for Nick Saban’s defense.
The departure of Kirby Smart has not changed him at all.
Going into this game, Anderson will want to take advantage of a banged up Vols offensive line. Butch Jones and Mike DeBord have to account for him at every turn, and Dobbs has got to find ways to avoid him. Anderson could potentially be the most dangerous playmaker out there.
But a part of his playmaking abilities is due to his support up front. That brings us to our next player.
Sep 10, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Jonathan Allen (93) at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Jonathan Allen
Defensive End, Senior
Through six games this year, Jonathan Allen has been living up to his hype on the Alabama football defensive line. One of the most versatile linemen in the SEC, Allen has been a playmaker and a run-stopper for Nick Saban all year.
For the year, he has 25 tackles, four sacks, and four and a half tackles for a loss overall. He also has two passes broken up, sicks quarterback hurries, a blocked kick and fumble recovery. By the way, he returned that fumble recovery for a touchdown.
So a year after the Vols saw their offensive line get torched by Alabama’s front seven, they are faced with an equally difficult task this year. Allen leads that front seven.
Even worse, Tennessee is more banged up in the interior line than they are at tackle, a departure from where they were at the beginning of the year. As a result, the Vols will have to account for Allen moving into the middle and making plays all day.
Last year, he had a sack against the Vols, but that was largely the only play he made all day. Outside of that, Tennessee had to worry about other players.
But other players made key plays because of how focused they had to be on Allen. They have to be focused on him in this year’s Tennessee vs Alabama game as well.
Sep 10, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Damien Harris (34) is pursued by Western Kentucky Hilltoppers linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe (4) at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Tide defeated the Hilltoppers 38-10. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Damien Harris
Running Back, Sophomore
Nick Saban and Lane Kiffin have a new big game running back in Damien Harris. At this point, he’s looking like the next guy to replace Derrick Henry and join the long list of successful Alabama football running backs over the past few years.
Harris has had three 100-yard rushing games so far this year. And they have been in the three biggest games of the year for the Tide: nine carries for 138 yards against the USC Trojans, 16 carries for 144 yards against the Ole Miss Rebels, and 13 carries for 122 yards last week against the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Imagine what he could do in the Tennessee vs Alabama game.
Harris is averaging over eight and a half yards per carry right now, and he’s as tough of a guy to stop as Texas A&M’s Trayveon Williams was for the Vols last week.
With Darrin Kirkland Jr. potentially getting back, the Vols should be able to do a better job this week, but they’ll struggle without Danny O’Brien. Overall, they desperately need Kendal Vickers and Colton Jumper to step up to stop Harris.
Bob Shoop will have to prepare for him as much as possible. Harris is the type of player who could break off a big game at any time.
And if Tennessee is not careful, he will torch them.
Oct 8, 2016; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick (29) returns an interception for 100 yard touchdown against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the fourth quarter at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Alabama won 49-30. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
Minkah Fitzpatrick
Cornerback, Sophomore
Minkah Fitzpatrick is similar to Jonathan Allen as another guy who was an incredibly hyped up defensive player going into the season. He has lived up to that hype through six games so far this year.
A lockdown corner, no wideout has had a big day on Fitzpatrick. The only receivers to have a huge game against the Tide have been slot guys, tight ends, and the No. 2 tight end in one case. But nobody has gotten anything on Fitzpatrick.
What makes Fitzpatrick more dangerous, however, is the fact that he is a playmaker at cornerback along the lines of a safety.
He had three interceptions last week against the Arkansas Razorbacks. So Butch Jones and Mike DeBord are going to have to account for him all day if they are going to win this game. Fitzpatrick is a dangerous player that could give Joshua Dobbs hell.
And he would be able to shut down Josh Malone and Jauan Jennings.
Alabama remains as elite in the secondary as it always has been on the outside thanks to Fitzpatrick.
Oct 8, 2016; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) looks for a receiver during the second quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
Jalen Hurts
Quarterback, Freshman
When was the last time an Alabama football quarterback was the most important player on the Tide? Well, that is now the case in this year’s Tennessee vs Alabama game.
As a freshman, Jalen Hurts has looked like a veteran through six games in Lane Kiffin’s offense. He has led a huge comeback on the road against a ranked team. He has led his teams to 40 points or more in all of their big games this year.
And he is an amazing dual-threat quarterback that Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide don’t usually use.
Going into this game, the Vols will want to rattle Hurts as a freshman and use the home crowd to take advantage of his inexperience. The problem is he has already shown he can handle road crowds in the SEC with Arkansas and Ole Miss.
However, the good news for Butch Jones is that none of those are truly as raucous as Tennessee’s crowd is going to be this year.
So this is his first real experience with Neyland. And he could be a little bit overconfident as a freshman.
But no matter what, Tennessee has to do whatever it possibly can to rattle him. If Hurts is composed, the defense will get torched. It had trouble last week with a mobile quarterback and elite running back. They are facing the same thing this week.
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