News Article: Arkansas wrap-up: Tide’s defense triggers critical comeback

[JessN]

Arkansas wrap-up: Tide’s defense triggers critical comeback
By Jess Nicholas
TideFans.com Editor-In-Chief
Sept. 25, 2010

Alabama headed into the locker room Saturday down 17-7, and would go down 20-7 midway through the third quarter.

Then, the defense that had been the Crimson Tide’s Achilles heel all day long, and had done its best for three games to convince Alabama fans that it couldn’t make plays in critical situations, picked off two Ryan Mallett passes, set up a field goal and the go-ahead touchdown and put Alabama back in the driver’s seat on its quest to repeat as national champions.

The key in this game? Alabama finally read the book on Mallett, and the book revealed the following: Mallett has a glass jaw.

For the full story, click here.

 

[trenda]

The key in this game? Alabama finally read the book on Mallett, and the book revealed the following: Mallett has a glass jaw.

Arkansas fans will vehemently disagree with this, as home-team fans are wont to do, but the proof is in the pudding: In the two years Mallett has captained the Arkansas offense, he has consistently done a great job of it right up to the point that he gets hit. Against Alabama, that hit came in the form of a shot to the gut in the second half by reserve nosetackle Nick Gentry.

Spot on, Jess!!

Great to win a close, tough game on the road in a hostile environment!!

Lots to work on this week. If they just take what happened today and learn from it, we'll be in good shape.

 

[CrimsonJag]

Arkansas might have staged a “red out,” but Alabama brought plenty of Visine.

Jess, do you follow Travis Reir on Twitter? :wink:

 

[4thGenBamaGrad]

I think this photo sums up the second half very well:

 

[JessN]

Jess, do you follow Travis Reir on Twitter? :wink:

I don't. I'm assuming he used the same line? I figured someone would but I hadn't seen it yet.

 

[GoBama#1]

Overall good read as usual. Once Alabama was up at end of the 4th quarter and Ark was trying to drive to score, they looked like they were a little razzed and unfocused. Everyone who watched the game here with us asked right before the play where Dre intercepted it, "why doesn't Petrino call a time out, get his team focused and call a couple of plays, they will make mistakes and blow it if they continue playing this unfocused...."

Next play, Mallet threw the interception. We all agreed that the sequence of events that iced the game fell on poor coaching by Petrino. Back in 2007 when Bama was that situation, Bama used timeouts to focus and call plays. We put together a game winning drive. Arkansas threw and interception and lost.

 

[CrimsonJag]

I don't. I'm assuming he used the same line? I figured someone would but I hadn't seen it yet.

He used it in a similar way. Creative, for sure.

 

[BEATtutorsee]

Anyone else feel like they saw our defense grow a little right before their eyes today? I was very impressed with the second half performance. RTR! :BigA:

 

[rockystomp]

The defense started hitting hogs in the mouth in the second half....enough said.

Bama football

 

[Midnight Rider]

Jess, your comment about Mallet losing composure when being pressured or "hit" is spot-on!! If you watched the Georgia game last week, as well as, our game with Arkansas last year, when you pressure Mallet he becomes a very average quarterback. That is the one issue I had early in yesterday's game, was why we were not attacking him more!

 

[DrollTide]

Good article. You had this out by 9pm yesterday and I picked up the sense that you were still emotionally exhausted from the game.

 

[crimsonbleeder]

Good article. You had this out by 9pm yesterday and I picked up the sense that you were still emotionally exhausted from the game.

I think we all were. I slept well last night, that's for sure. Felt like I had played that game with those guys. VERY intense from beginning to end...

 

[Bamaro]

Great analysis as usual but it begs the question of What happens if/when we meet another team of Ark's caliber whose QB doesn't have the "glass jaw"? Hopefully "Whatever was said in the locker room at halftime" will take permanent hold.

 

[Airborne Tider]

Great analysis as usual but it begs the question of What happens if/when we meet another team of Ark's caliber whose QB doesn't have the "glass jaw"? Hopefully "Whatever was said in the locker room at halftime" will take permanent hold.

You also have to consider that no other team that we will play has a QB who is a better passer than Ryan Mallet.

 

[crimsonbleeder]

Great analysis as usual but it begs the question of What happens if/when we meet another team of Ark's caliber whose QB doesn't have the "glass jaw"? Hopefully "Whatever was said in the locker room at halftime" will take permanent hold.

Truth is, EVERY QB has a "glass jaw" if hit enough. They may vary on how much "pressure" it takes to break it, but, there is ALWAYS a breaking point...

 

[JDCrimson]

Well, judging from last night, I dont think Garcia has a glass jaw but I think his coach does. Unless Garcia was woozy, I think it was poor decision to bring the other guy of the bench to try and win the game. I think last night made our bout with SC a little easier on many different fronts.

 

[Jessica4Bama]

Well, judging from last night, I dont think Garcia has a glass jaw but I think his coach does. Unless Garcia was woozy, I think it was poor decision to bring the other guy of the bench to try and win the game. I think last night made our bout with SC a little easier on many different fronts.

I didn't get why Spurrier put the other QB in either. I guess Garcia made him mad with the way he decided to run and not protect the ball.

 

[BEATtutorsee]

You also have to consider that no other team that we will play has a QB who is a better passer than Ryan Mallet.

Or a passing game in general as good as Arkansas's.

 

[GoBama#1]

I didn't get why Spurrier put the other QB in either. I guess Garcia made him mad with the way he decided to run and not protect the ball.

Still a dumb move. It may have cost USC the game. Not seeing the forrest for the trees, it seems to me.

 

[crimsonbleeder]

I didn't get why Spurrier put the other QB in either. I guess Garcia made him mad with the way he decided to run and not protect the ball.

Made no sense to me, either. SOS's ego gets in the way of his need to win a LOT.