Defense: Alabama Crimson Tide 38 – Florida Gators 10
First thoughts here. Offense here.
We knew the Alabama rushing offense would be a test for Florida. It was talked about all week. Actually, it was discussed much earlier than that. This was something debated since the schedule was first announced. The first real test for the Gators; one of the nation’s top teams coming to The Swamp to take on a team in transition. It could get ugly, but it was just the test Florida needed. Well, it did get ugly. Ugly in the form of Trent Richardson.
Everyone is aware of exactly how good Richardson can be, but with good, but not great numbers so far in his career, no one had really seen greatness. There were plenty of great moments, but being a backup to a Heisman Trophy winner created an environment in which Richardson wasn’t going to be the primary option…until now.
The Tide running back started the season modestly enough. Three touchdowns against Kent State got people talking, but so did his average of 2.8 yards per carry. He went over 100 yards against Penn State, but still didn’t explode like many expected. Three weeks later and Richardson is the Heisman candidate everyone has drooled over. After five games (all Alabama wins of course), Richardson is only 129 yards away from matching his yardage total from his freshman year. He has already set a career-high with 10 touchdowns in 2011. Against Florida, he set a few milestones as well. 29 carries, a career best. 181 yards, also a career high. The numbers were great, but what impressed the most was the way he ran the ball.
The Gators’ defense knew what they had to do: meet Richardson at the line and take him down on first contact. Every member of the defense knew that was the key. Sure there would be plays where the Tide offensive line would open up holes and allow Richardson to get his yards, but on those the defense sniffed out, they had to bring the star running back down immediately. And there you have the problem. Richardson is a classic “fall forward” back. It’s almost impossible to hit him and knock him back. Falling forward is a great ability to have, but Richardson takes it one step further. Against the Gators, he wasn’t falling forward for an extra yard or two; he was doing so for an extra four or five. Richardson was shaking off first contact and getting to the second level of the defense. It was hard not to be impressed. Sure the Florida defense struggled to make tackles, but how much of it had to do with Richardson’s ability to keep plays going? This was an eye opener for the Gators on many levels, but also a display of just how good Alabama’s go-to back is.
Throughout the night, the Gators could do nothing to stop the Tide rushing attack. There were very few big plays, but enough consistency in the Tide moving the ball that the defense looked worn-out in the second quarter.
Florida held Alabama to a field goal on their first drive, but Richardson started his work early with carries of five, seven, nine, 11, and three in that series. Only three points for the Tide, but five carries for 35 yards for Richardson. Drive number two resulted in a score for no. 3 and five more carries for another 25 yards. When you saw his first quarter numbers flash on the screen – 10 carries, 60 yards, one touchdown – you knew it was going to be a long night for the Gators…and it was.
The second quarter started well enough for the Florida defense. Down 17-10, the defense needed a stop to avoid letting the game get out of hand. Bama managed a first down on the first play of their first drive of the quarter, but couldn’t get another and were forced to punt. It was a victory for the defense, but one that would be short lived.
The next drive was a mix of Richardson in the run game and the pass game and the Gators just didn’t have an answer. They couldn’t tackle and started to come undone. On consecutive plays, Florida was flagged for roughing the passer and a personal foul (we’re guessing Jon Bostic doesn’t swing at anyone ever again; Will Muschamp had just a little to say to the linebacker when he came off of the field). With the defense looking lost, Alabama was able to make it 24-10 before the half.
Things brightened up for the Gators in the second half briefly. Florida’s defense seemed to tighten and forced Alabama to punt on three-straight drives, including two three-and-outs. While the defense did it’s best to keep the Gators in the game, the offense couldn’t move the ball. The teams combined for six-straight drives under 3:36 in length. With the defenses coming on and off the field rapidly, you could sense signs on Florida slowing down.
The defensive improvement in the third quarter quickly came to an end in the fourth. On consecutive drives, Richardson and Eddie Lacy ran in scores from 36 and 20 yards out. Alabama would run on their last 11 offensive plays. The Gators’ defense was worn down and couldn’t do anything to stop the Alabama backs. Get pressure in the backfield and the running back already seemed to be past the line. Meet the back at the line and he drug defenders for another four yards. A rough night for Florida and a test with many questions still to be answered.
On the bright side, the Gators didn’t allow A.J. McCarron to look like anything more than an average quarterback. He made a nice throw or two, but was kept in check for most of the night. There was a fairly serious problem though and one that Muschamp harped on consistently during practice before the season: communication. On several plays, an Alabama receiver would go in motion and you would see a Florida defensive back jumping up and down waving his arms trying to capture the attention of the DB on the other side of the field. That DB – more often than not Marcus Roberson – never saw the signals. Muschamp said as much talent as the secondary has, it’s young and has trouble communicating with each other. Five games into the season, that problem came to the forefront and looks like it could be a serious issue. Roberson plays on an island and has shown moments of how good he will be one day. He has also shown moments proving that he’s only a true freshman and has a lot to learn. Saturday night was one of those moments. He needs to be aware of the entire field and not just the receiver he’s covering. That will come with time, but with the schedule Florida has ahead of it, that time is now.
If you want a silver lining, it’s that Florida knows exactly what it needs to work on after that game. Just a few items are: tackling, linebackers filling the gaps, tackling, composure, tackling, communication in the secondary, and tackling. This team has talent, but that talent broke down in situations against one of the nation’s best. It’s not necessarily a surprising loss, but with Florida facing teams of that caliber consistently through the season, it’s something that can’t continue to happen.
Coming next: special teams.