ALABAMA VS FLORIDA ATLANTIC: PREVIEW

By Cole Thompson

 

TUSCALOOSA — For some fans, It’s just a game, for others; it’s a religion, it’s a pastime, it IS life. This week the hallowed gates of Bryant-Denny Stadium will open once more as the Crimson Tide take on the Florida Atlantic Owls in the Tide’s home opener.  This game isn’t anything new for either team as this will be a rematch from the 2012 season; which Alabama won 40-7. However for the Owls, this might be a bit harder with a new offensive signal caller in Lane Kiffin. Still, Alabama should still be preparing for the Owl’s fast paced offense and be ready to take on anything.

The Crimson Tide (1-0) struggled at first last week against Dana Holgerson’s West Virginia Mountaineers, but in the end prevailed by winning 33-23. While Florida Atlantic is as fancy as a Big 12 team, there are still many questions to be answered on both sides of the ball. Probably the biggest question is still who will be the every game starting quarterback. While Blake Sims played exceptional and got the Tide the win, Nick Saban still believes the competition is up for grabs.

“I don’t hesitate to say there’s a quarterback competition and that in some way we’ll probably try to play both quarterbacks in this game,” Saban said when asked the question by AL.com. “I don’t know how.”

The Florida Atlantic Owls (0-1) played their first game last week and let’s just say it could be one they hope to forget.  After hiring new Head Coach Charlie Partridge, The Owls traveled into Lincoln, Nebraska and we’re blown out by the Cornhusker’s, 55-7. Still, things are on the bright side for Florida Atlantic. After finishing 6-6 last season and the “resignation” of Carl Pelini, The Owls managed to steal Arkansas Defensive Line Coach, Charlie Partridge. This will be a positive on the Owl’s side this weekend having a SEC alumni as their coach and has faced the Tide before.

Will this be the biggest upset in College Football, or will Alabama be able to shoot down these birds. Let’s break down this matchup for both teams and see who truly has the advantage.

 

THINGS TO KNOW

 

Date: Saturday, September 6^th, 2014

Time:  12:00 EST, (11:00 CST)

Place: Bryant-Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, Alabama

TV: SEC Network

Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network, ESPN

Vegas Line- 40 ½ favored towards Alabama

 

 

Alabama Keys to Victory

 

• Play the Better Quarterback

Alabama is coming into the game with the issue of who’s the starting quarterback for the rest of the season. While Coach Saban has stated that both Sims and Jake Coker will play, the better of the two should play most of the reps. While Sims has the legs and is a proven winner, he struggled to throw the ball last week finishing 24-33 in passing, (but 1-19 entering the 4^th quarter). Coker on the other hand has been said for months that he would end up winning the starting quarterback job. Yet hasn’t been able to compete with Sims or been able to step out on the field to prove himself. While both will play about 50 percent of the game, hopefully Alabama will find the quarterback for the season after two drives by both signal callers.

 

• Trust in the Freshman Cornerback’s

If there’s one other issue besides finding the future of the Quarterback position, it’d be finding the future of the Cornerback position. Both Cyrus Jones and Bradley Slyve had decent games at best, but struggled with press man coverage as well as tackling. This game on paper might be called an “easy win” for Alabama, so what’s the risk of testing the future. Both freshmen cornerbacks Marlon Humphry and Tony Brown have been looked at in first team reps. This might be the week to try them out in full on experience. Who knows? Maybe the future is now for these two bright young stars.

 

FLORIDA ATLANTIC’S KEYS TO VICTORY

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  photo by palmbeachsports.com

 

• Have Two Game Plans for Two Different Offense’s

While it may seem like a nightmare for Alabama fans to see two different Quarterbacks on Saturday, it’s an even bigger nightmare for the Owl’s defense. While the offense will be run the same, Sims and Coker have both have different ways to deal with their offense. Also, the Owls will need to address all the receivers since most likely they will see more than just the usual three. Coach Jovan Dewitt might want to pay a few extra hours in the film room studying the offense for this game.

 

• PASS PASS PASS!!!

Last game quarterback Jaquez Johnson wasn’t able to perform as well as the team would like due to an injury against the Cornhuskers. While his status is still a toss-up but it looks a lot better than planned. Still, if he is ruled out, receivers Lucky Whitehead and Alex Deleon will be begging for the ball. Both receivers have proven themselves as able to produce first downs. Also the issue with Alabama’s cornerbacks will be a positive for the air game. From a viewer’s standpoint, the more they pass, the better chance they have.

PEOPLE TO WATCH FOR: ALABAMA

 

• Reggie Ragland and Ruben Foster

A positive for Alabama’s defense is that senior linebacker Trey DePreist will be back on the field for his final home opener. That means for one of these two gentlemen, they will have to preform above and beyond to win the other inside linebacker job. While Foster managed to get 7 tackles and Ragland 6, they both missed as many as they made. Not only that; but they both played out of position which led to mistakes in both the run and pass. In the end, DePreist is in no jeopardy of losing his job, however which ever one of these two cannot play up to standard, they might be playing their way on to the bench.

• Chris Black

DeAndrew White will be missing a few weeks due to a shoulder injury. Time to step into the limelight redshirt sophomore Chris Black. While many believed Black would get a chance to play in this game, he now will step into a starting role this week. After last season finishing with 8 receptions for almost 100 yards and a pair of touchdowns, there will now be more asked of the former number two wide receiver prospect. Watch him carefully as he explodes from the outside and works his way up the field with his dynamic speed. If there’s one player on the offense to look forward to watch, look no further then number 1 himself.

 

• PEOPLE TO WATCH FOR: FLORIDA ATLANTIC

 

• Jaquez Johnson

Sure Jaquez Johnson isn’t a Trevor Knight or a Nick Marshall, but he still is able to produce. Remember, Johnson was able to lead the team down on the opening drive to a touchdown, and the only points for the Owls. While he still is questionable, he really has proven himself the team’s quarterback. Look for his arm strength and working the receivers against the Tide’s cornerbacks. If he can do that, maybe he can have more than just one touchdown this week.

 

• Charlie Partridge

When your coach is accused of taking drugs and ignoring his job, it’s time to send him the boot. After Coach Pelini’s “Resignation”, the Charlie Partridge era has officially begun. Partridge for the past few years has been running the defensive line for the Arkansas Razorbacks. This will be great to watch since a former SEC alumni take on a team he’s very used to playing against. With running the whole show, let’s watch how he runs both sides of the ball, especially that front 7 against the offensive line.

 

 

• The X-Factor Player: Alabama

 

• Jake Coker

If there was any time for Jake Coker to step up, it would be right about now. Coker over the summer was once said by Bleacher Report as “The quarterback Saban always wanted.” While he may look on paper as that, he has struggled to win the quarterback battle. However, the positive for the Alabama native is Saban has stated both Quarterbacks will play this game. The issue is Coker is losing time to win this never-ending battle. With this being said by most as a “tune-up game”, Coker needs to show his worth on Saturday. His arm strength and size will be his positive piece. However, the lack of experience and a small injury will be Achilles heel (no pun intended). If Sims struggles and Coker can make accurate throws and be able to throw on the run to his receivers, he might just be signing his name on the dotted line for that permanent starting job.

 

THE X-FACTOR PLAYER: FLORIDA ATLANTIC

• Andrae Kirk

Not a household name in the NCCA world, but definitely a name to watch out for in Saturday’s matchup. Kirk led the team in tackles last week against the Cornhuskers and has experience on the field as a starter. He is a veteran in a very unexperienced and that will be crucial when play against very experienced running backs and tight ends. Not only that, but the senior will also be playing for shot to move into the next level of his career. A big game against a well ranked team could mean something down the road for this young man. If Kirk can make a few tackle for losses or even hurried and incomplete passes, Florida Atlantic might stand a chance in this game.

 

•  PREDICTION

 

At the end of the day, this really is a tune up for Alabama. They rank higher than the Owls in every category, have much more experienced and talented players and have a better coaching staff across the table. It’s very hard not to pick Alabama this week even though they didn’t cover the spread against West Virginia. The issue is; Florida Atlantic is the No. 97 ranked team in the nation while West Virginia is ranked No. 47. Not to mention, Coach Saban really does believe in Florida Atlantic quarterback Jaquez Johnson.

• “Florida Atlantic had a pretty good year last year, and really got off to a pretty good start against Nebraska, believe it or not. The quarterback got hurt about the 26th play of the game and then they weren’t nearly as good after that, because he is probably the center of what they do and is a very, very effective player.”
• The issue with that statement is that Johnson still hasn’t been cleared to play. Without him, the owls will look more like Ducks sitting in water. To be fair, Alabama’s defense may struggle, so expect the score to be a repeat of two years ago. Alabama will win its 11^th straight home opener

 

• Prediction: Alabama 40, Florida Atlantic 7

 

• Cole Thompson is The Alabama beat reporter for WVUA-FM. Follow him on Twitter at @ColeThompson32