Quote Originally Posted by BigShotBill:
Jimmy, I really respect your opinion on Bama and you seem like you are always on the right side with them. I have a few questions for you though that worry me with Bama. I hope you can ease my concerns.
1. Can Bama really pressure Mallett into mistakes? Bama only has 2 sacks this year but I watched the Penn St game and they were in Boldens face alot. However, Arkansas has only given up 2 sacks all year.
2. Is Bama's young secondary vulnerable?
The answer to both of your questions are "yes." I will go into depth regarding some of the problems Bama has had on the defensive side of the ball when I post my writeup (probably tomorrow).
With respect to your first question, Saban always gets irritated when people bring up the question of sacks. He has said over and over again that getting sacks is not the primary objective. The primary objective is to "effect" the QB. That's what you saw in the Penn State game.
Saban uses different schemes against different QBs. For example, in last year's SECCG the plan was not to sack Tebow, but to force him to throw from the pocket. If you watch that game you'll see that the pass rushers did not attack Tebow. What they did was make him feel uncomfortable, and cut-off all avenues of escape. In other words, they contained him in the pocket
Mallet is not Tebow. He is a classic immobile 5 to 7 step passer (Bama has seen mostly 3 step drops in the first three games). He's not going to pull the ball down and run. In short, he is basically a sitting duck for Bama's front 7.
In the first three games Saban kept things very vanilla on defense and rarely blitzed. He has only utilized about 10% of the defensive playbook thus far. Against Arky he will release the hounds just like he did last year. They will be coming after Mallet from every conceivable angle. I would expect to see about 5 sacks in this game.
The seconday is extremely athletic, and they do an outsatnding job in man coverage. Where they are struggling is in picking up Saban's complex zone coverages. Right now they are thinking a lot instead of playing fast and loose. That has made thm late reading or getting to the play in some instances. That will come with more experience. They are also missing a lot of tackles. Bama fans got a little spoiled with Javy Arenas and Kareem Jackson because they were both sure and devastating tacklers.
Mallet is a very, very good QB with a huge arm. He is a legit 1st rounder. I expect him to make some plays in this game. But I expect Bma's defense to make more. I also don't think Arky will have a chance in hell of keeping pace with Bama's offense who I think will push the 40-point mark.
Arky was embarrassed last year in Bryant-Denny Stadium, and they are determined to not let that happen again, especially in their house. Unfortunately for the Razorbacks, their best efforts notwithstanding, they won't be able to stop the ass-whoopin' they are on a collision course with.
BOL to you bro!!! 
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