Oklahoma State Offense vs. Alabama Defense
Offensive coordinator Larry Fedora keeps defenses off balance with a number of different formations, varied blocking schemes and a good mix of passes and runs. He will run out of spread sets, pass out of two tight end sets, run counters and zone block. Alabama's linebackers must stay honest and react to the play rather than attack upfield as a result. Their hesitation should make it easier for blockers to reach their assignments and that's reason for the Tide to be concerned. RB Dantrell Savage reads his blocks well and he explodes through seams. If he gets into the second level going full speed, he is capable of breaking a long run and he will be working behind a relatively experienced offensive line that has done a good job of getting into position. In addition, Savage should be fresh when he is in the game because Mike Hamilton and Keith Toston provide excellent depth. Hamilton is a strong runner who has the burst to turn the corner and Toston shows a second gear when he gets a seam. However, Oklahoma State could have difficulties picking up the tough yards in short-yardage situations because Alabama MLB Prince Hall has quickly developed into an above-average run stuffer. He plays with a mean streak and is strong enough to shed blocks. He is also a sound open-field tackler.
Oklahoma State vs. Alabama
vs.
When: Dec. 28, 4:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Where: Shreveport, La.
Barring a setback, QB Bobby Reid will be back in the lineup after injuring his shoulder in the regular-season finale. Reid isn't the most accurate passer in the nation but he can hit the open man when he sets his feet. While he doesn't always make sound decisions under pressure and Alabama's secondary is chocked full of playmakers, Reid should have plenty of time to go though his reads and find the open man. First off and most importantly, the Tide's pass rush has been one of the least productive in the nation and the Cowboys' pass protection has been sound. Secondly, Reid has the quick feet to buy time in the pocket and the athletic ability to pick up some yards on the ground when he gets flushed out of the pocket. Keeping that in mind, DCs Ramzee Robinson, Simeon Castille and Lionel Mitchell should have to cover for long period of times. While Robinson, Castille and Mitchell have good cover skills, Reid has two excellent receivers in D'Juan Woods and Adarius Bowman. They are more than capable of getting open when the pass rush doesn't hurry Reid. It's also worth noting that the corners must tackle well. Woods and Bowman are strong open-field runners so Fedora should continue to get them the ball on some receiver screens.
Alabama Offense vs. Oklahoma State Defense
Alabama's backfield is built to allow the Tide to grind out long scoring drives on the ground. RB Kenneth Darby has good vision, he gets though holes quickly, and he can bounce off would-be tacklers. However, he has had a disappointing season. He runs behind two talented fullbacks, (Le'Ron McClain and Tim Castille), who take good angles to their blocks and are relentless once in position. In addition, Jimmy Johns is a big back who provides adequate depth behind Darby. The problem is the offensive line is undersized and lacks dominant drive blockers that can consistently open up seams. As a result, the Tide can have problems running the ball inside the red zone and picking up first downs in short-yardage situations. Those weaknesses should continue to surface against Oklahoma State because DT Ryan McBean can make plays in the backfield and MLB Rodrick Johnson has good size. However, the offensive line could spring Darby for some long runs with a strong performance because Cowboys have actually surrendered more than four yards per carry this year and a relatively inexperienced linebacker corps gets caught out of position at times. Darby is a smart runner who will take advantage of any breakdowns in the defense as long as his offensive linemen can prevent penetration and briefly sustain their blocks.
The spotlight will be on the offensive line when QB John Parker Wilson drops back to pass, as well. First off, Wilson doesn't always make sound decisions under pressure and Oklahoma State has one of the most productive pass rushes in the nation. In addition, the Cowboys front four has done most of the damage and defensive coordinator Vance Bedford does a good job of keeping his defensive linemen fresh with a steady rotation. Another reason sound pass protection is so important is the lack of depth behind Wilson. Marc Guillon left the team because he was unhappy with his playing time and Jimmy Barnes has sustained a season-ending knee injury, substantially depleting the depth behind Wilson. However, Wilson has a strong arm and he can be accurate when he has time to set his feet so he should have some success moving the ball through the air when he gets time. WRs DJ Hall and Keith Brown complement each other well. Hall can stretch the field and create room underneath for Brown, who is an above-average possession receiver. They should be able to exploit a weak Cowboy secondary that lacks ideal experience and hasn't played all that well.
Special Teams
Oklahoma State PK Jason Ricks has connected on eight of his 10 field goal attempts and he has shown the ability to connect from long range. Backup Bruce Redden has connected on his only field goal attempt this year and 29 of his 76 kickoffs have resulted in touchbacks. Matt Fodge gets excellent distant on his punts and he occasionally can place the ball inside the opponent's 20-yard line. However, he has had one of his punts blocked and Alabama has blocked three punts this year so it's important that he get rid of the ball quickly and the blocking holds up in front of him. Perrish Cox returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown in the season opener and he's flashed the ability to break long punt returns. He reads his blocks fairly well and he has the second gear to go the distance whenever he gets a seam. Though he missed the regular-season finale with a hip injury, he could be back in the lineup for this game and there is good depth behind him. Tommy Devereaux is another dangerous punt return man with good speed and Grant Jones returned a kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown against Texas earlier this year. Keeping that in mind, the Tide cannot afford any breakdowns when covering kicks.
Alabama PK Jamie Christensen doesn't have ideal range but he isn't going to miss many field goal attempts inside 40 yards. Christensen missed some time with a groin injury earlier in the year so backup Leigh Tiffin got plenty of playing time. Though Tiffin got off to a strong start, he missed three out of his four field goal attempts and missed a point after attempt in overtime in the Tide's one-point loss to Arkansas earlier this year. P.J. Fitzgerald has placed 18 of his 52 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line and he has flashed great range at times. Both return units have been inconsistent at best but return man Javier Arenas returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown earlier this year so he clearly has some big-play ability. He could break out and give Alabama quality field position or even points because Oklahoma State's cover units have been among the worst in the nation.
Matchups
? Alabama FB Le'Ron McClain vs. Oklahoma State MLB Rodrick Johnson
? Oklahoma State RB Dantrell Savage vs. Alabama MLB Prince Hall
? Alabama ROG Marlon Davis vs. Oklahoma State DT Ryan McBean
Scouts' Edge
The play of Alabama's offensive line has been average at best this year and it should continue to be a problem against a talented Oklahoma State defensive front four. Darby should struggle to consistently pick up three to four yards per carry and that means the Tide should find itself in plenty of situations with pass-heavy tendencies. Though Wilson has the arm and weapons to exploit a suspect Cowboy pass defense, more often than not, he won't get enough time to get the ball to his playmakers.
Defensively, Alabama should have a difficult time slowing Oklahoma State's balanced attack. A talented backfield, led by Savage, should be efficient enough to set up play action and take pressure off Reid. Reid will take advantage of sound pass protection and find the open man. It's also worth noting that the firing of former head coach Mike Shula, followed by an unimpressive search for his successor, could have a substantial impact on the Tide. While interim head coach Joe Kines has tried to minimize the situation, there is no question it has been a distraction and that could affect the players' ability to properly prepare for this game.
Prediction: Cowboys 28, Crimson Tide 20
Offensive coordinator Larry Fedora keeps defenses off balance with a number of different formations, varied blocking schemes and a good mix of passes and runs. He will run out of spread sets, pass out of two tight end sets, run counters and zone block. Alabama's linebackers must stay honest and react to the play rather than attack upfield as a result. Their hesitation should make it easier for blockers to reach their assignments and that's reason for the Tide to be concerned. RB Dantrell Savage reads his blocks well and he explodes through seams. If he gets into the second level going full speed, he is capable of breaking a long run and he will be working behind a relatively experienced offensive line that has done a good job of getting into position. In addition, Savage should be fresh when he is in the game because Mike Hamilton and Keith Toston provide excellent depth. Hamilton is a strong runner who has the burst to turn the corner and Toston shows a second gear when he gets a seam. However, Oklahoma State could have difficulties picking up the tough yards in short-yardage situations because Alabama MLB Prince Hall has quickly developed into an above-average run stuffer. He plays with a mean streak and is strong enough to shed blocks. He is also a sound open-field tackler.
Oklahoma State vs. Alabama
vs.
When: Dec. 28, 4:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Where: Shreveport, La.
Barring a setback, QB Bobby Reid will be back in the lineup after injuring his shoulder in the regular-season finale. Reid isn't the most accurate passer in the nation but he can hit the open man when he sets his feet. While he doesn't always make sound decisions under pressure and Alabama's secondary is chocked full of playmakers, Reid should have plenty of time to go though his reads and find the open man. First off and most importantly, the Tide's pass rush has been one of the least productive in the nation and the Cowboys' pass protection has been sound. Secondly, Reid has the quick feet to buy time in the pocket and the athletic ability to pick up some yards on the ground when he gets flushed out of the pocket. Keeping that in mind, DCs Ramzee Robinson, Simeon Castille and Lionel Mitchell should have to cover for long period of times. While Robinson, Castille and Mitchell have good cover skills, Reid has two excellent receivers in D'Juan Woods and Adarius Bowman. They are more than capable of getting open when the pass rush doesn't hurry Reid. It's also worth noting that the corners must tackle well. Woods and Bowman are strong open-field runners so Fedora should continue to get them the ball on some receiver screens.
Alabama Offense vs. Oklahoma State Defense
Alabama's backfield is built to allow the Tide to grind out long scoring drives on the ground. RB Kenneth Darby has good vision, he gets though holes quickly, and he can bounce off would-be tacklers. However, he has had a disappointing season. He runs behind two talented fullbacks, (Le'Ron McClain and Tim Castille), who take good angles to their blocks and are relentless once in position. In addition, Jimmy Johns is a big back who provides adequate depth behind Darby. The problem is the offensive line is undersized and lacks dominant drive blockers that can consistently open up seams. As a result, the Tide can have problems running the ball inside the red zone and picking up first downs in short-yardage situations. Those weaknesses should continue to surface against Oklahoma State because DT Ryan McBean can make plays in the backfield and MLB Rodrick Johnson has good size. However, the offensive line could spring Darby for some long runs with a strong performance because Cowboys have actually surrendered more than four yards per carry this year and a relatively inexperienced linebacker corps gets caught out of position at times. Darby is a smart runner who will take advantage of any breakdowns in the defense as long as his offensive linemen can prevent penetration and briefly sustain their blocks.
The spotlight will be on the offensive line when QB John Parker Wilson drops back to pass, as well. First off, Wilson doesn't always make sound decisions under pressure and Oklahoma State has one of the most productive pass rushes in the nation. In addition, the Cowboys front four has done most of the damage and defensive coordinator Vance Bedford does a good job of keeping his defensive linemen fresh with a steady rotation. Another reason sound pass protection is so important is the lack of depth behind Wilson. Marc Guillon left the team because he was unhappy with his playing time and Jimmy Barnes has sustained a season-ending knee injury, substantially depleting the depth behind Wilson. However, Wilson has a strong arm and he can be accurate when he has time to set his feet so he should have some success moving the ball through the air when he gets time. WRs DJ Hall and Keith Brown complement each other well. Hall can stretch the field and create room underneath for Brown, who is an above-average possession receiver. They should be able to exploit a weak Cowboy secondary that lacks ideal experience and hasn't played all that well.
Special Teams
Oklahoma State PK Jason Ricks has connected on eight of his 10 field goal attempts and he has shown the ability to connect from long range. Backup Bruce Redden has connected on his only field goal attempt this year and 29 of his 76 kickoffs have resulted in touchbacks. Matt Fodge gets excellent distant on his punts and he occasionally can place the ball inside the opponent's 20-yard line. However, he has had one of his punts blocked and Alabama has blocked three punts this year so it's important that he get rid of the ball quickly and the blocking holds up in front of him. Perrish Cox returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown in the season opener and he's flashed the ability to break long punt returns. He reads his blocks fairly well and he has the second gear to go the distance whenever he gets a seam. Though he missed the regular-season finale with a hip injury, he could be back in the lineup for this game and there is good depth behind him. Tommy Devereaux is another dangerous punt return man with good speed and Grant Jones returned a kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown against Texas earlier this year. Keeping that in mind, the Tide cannot afford any breakdowns when covering kicks.
Alabama PK Jamie Christensen doesn't have ideal range but he isn't going to miss many field goal attempts inside 40 yards. Christensen missed some time with a groin injury earlier in the year so backup Leigh Tiffin got plenty of playing time. Though Tiffin got off to a strong start, he missed three out of his four field goal attempts and missed a point after attempt in overtime in the Tide's one-point loss to Arkansas earlier this year. P.J. Fitzgerald has placed 18 of his 52 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line and he has flashed great range at times. Both return units have been inconsistent at best but return man Javier Arenas returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown earlier this year so he clearly has some big-play ability. He could break out and give Alabama quality field position or even points because Oklahoma State's cover units have been among the worst in the nation.
Matchups
? Alabama FB Le'Ron McClain vs. Oklahoma State MLB Rodrick Johnson
? Oklahoma State RB Dantrell Savage vs. Alabama MLB Prince Hall
? Alabama ROG Marlon Davis vs. Oklahoma State DT Ryan McBean
Scouts' Edge
The play of Alabama's offensive line has been average at best this year and it should continue to be a problem against a talented Oklahoma State defensive front four. Darby should struggle to consistently pick up three to four yards per carry and that means the Tide should find itself in plenty of situations with pass-heavy tendencies. Though Wilson has the arm and weapons to exploit a suspect Cowboy pass defense, more often than not, he won't get enough time to get the ball to his playmakers.
Defensively, Alabama should have a difficult time slowing Oklahoma State's balanced attack. A talented backfield, led by Savage, should be efficient enough to set up play action and take pressure off Reid. Reid will take advantage of sound pass protection and find the open man. It's also worth noting that the firing of former head coach Mike Shula, followed by an unimpressive search for his successor, could have a substantial impact on the Tide. While interim head coach Joe Kines has tried to minimize the situation, there is no question it has been a distraction and that could affect the players' ability to properly prepare for this game.
Prediction: Cowboys 28, Crimson Tide 20
