Without a doubt, one of the main sticking points for the Alabama Crimson Tide defense will be how well it performs against spread-based offenses this season.

After stumbling against spread teams in the past — most notably the University of Oklahoma, Auburn University and Texas A&M — the Tide didn’t fare all that much better against the game West Virginia Mountaineers in the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Classic in the season opener.

A portion of that may had to do with the fact that WVU was coming off a 4-8 season causing the Tide to take them lightly (although I warned against it). When you have an entire offseason of people saying West Virginia would be a glorified scrimmage, it’s not out of the realm of possibility for that to creep into a college kid’s psyche.

Now facing the Florida Gators — who are coming off a triple-overtime win, at home, against the “lowly” Kentucky Wildcats — Bama is being presented with a chance to overlook another opponent who is perceived to not be on its level.

Well I’m here to tell you; the Gators are talented enough to beat even a motivated Bama squad. Taking them lightly could derail this season in one fell swoop.

Florida is physical, fast and schemed up to the max…and that’s just on defense. When you add in its new offensive scheme, you can plainly see the gravity of the situation.

This should be a great one.

The Kurt Roper Effect On Driskel And The Pass Game

Quiet as kept, with all the attention that has been given to Alabama with its high-profile hiring of offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, it may be Florida’s Kurt Roper that has the biggest effect on an offense.

Once Florida lured him away from Duke University, where he served as offensive coordinator under the great David Cutcliffe, you just had the feeling that he had the chance to make a major impact on a team that was in clear need of a scheme adjustment.

Under former coordinator Brent Pease, the Gators employed a more of a methodical pro-style approach. Quarterback Jeff Driskel — who was originally recruited to play in former coach Urban Meyer’s spread — was charged with the task of  executing NFL-type reads along with 3-, 5- and even 7-step drops from under center.

Now he’s back in a “Shotgun-centric” offense that’s tailored to fit his strengths. At 6’4″, 230 pounds, running a reported 4.5 40-yard dash, he’s the perfect blend of size and athleticism.

He’s a physical runner with an absolute cannon for an arm; Roper has him getting the ball out a ton faster, too.

DriskelQuickHitch

Here we see Driksel delivering an absolute frozen rope on a stick route. Although he eyes his target the entire way, his release is quick enough to not only make the throw, he’s actually able to beat the back-side blitz.

Another thing the Tide must prepare for is Driskel’s ability to improvise with his legs. Thus far Roper hasn’t unleashed Driskel in the designed-run game, nor has he been an authentic option in the Gators’ read-option scheme.

But that doesn’t mean the Gators won’t throw the kitchen sink at Bama in an effort to slow down the Tide’s vaunted pass-rush.

Roper’s offense is one that likes to stretch defenses horizontally in an effort to loosen up explosive plays. He has a ton of receivers that have excellent zero-to-50 quickness; all of them can turn a hitch into an explosive play.

Sophomore receiver DeMarcus Robinson is looking like the next Amari Cooper (Bama’s receiver who is the very best in the nation). He’s a nightmare for corners in both the short and long game.

Bama struggled to stop WVU receiver Kevin White (9 catches for 143 yards) as the Mountaineer senior had a field day against corner Bradley Sylve — who was filling in for an injured Eddie Jackson.

With reports that Jackson is running with the second-string this week in practice, due to a quad injury suffered in the Tide’s last game against Southern Miss, stopping the opposition’s No. 1 threat may once again be an issue.

Tide freshman corner Tony Brown may be charged with the task of stopping Robinson, which would be the perfect way for the highly touted prospect to begin his career.

Brown-vs-Cannon

Brown is a pure press-man corner who has an excellent “mirror technique.” He has superior change-of-direction skills and will compete on a snap-by-snap basis.

Here we see Brown matched up with Baylor’s K.D. Cannon, who is tearing up college football as a freshman, at a camp. Brown’s ability to stay in a receiver’s hip pocket is evident as is his competitiveness.

Cyrus Jones, the Tide’s incumbent starter, has seen an improvement in his play as well.

He was always a great athlete, now he’s matching athleticism with technique. He and whoever is manning the nickel back position — incumbent Geno Smith may have to play free safety with normal starter Nick Perry serving a first-half suspension for an on-field infraction — will have to be on their respective “A” games as the Gators have a host of viable options at receiver.

It will be imperative for the Tide to generate an organic pass-rush, as sending a ton of manufactured pressure may make the task even more difficult for a shaky secondary. If Bama does send fabricated pressure, a simple nickel-back send may be its best option.

With Driskel’s one and two-read progressions, he’s often oblivious to pressure being sent off the edges.

But with that being said, if Florida can’t establish its run game Bama will be able to dedicate more bodies to pass coverage. If Bama can’t stop the Gators’ rushing attack this game may be a lot more closer than the pundits think.

Generating Power Out Of “11” and “12 Personnel”

When most people think of spread attacks, they think of an accompanying finesse rushing schemes. Usually it will be one back trying to get to the perimeter and outrun the defense on most plays.

Well, don’t group Florida in with that theory.

Florida possesses a smashmouth run outfit with one of the very best running back corps in the nation:  junior Matt Jones (6’2″, 235 lbs), sophomore Kelvin Taylor (5’10” 209 lbs) and senior Mack Brown (5’11”, 209 lbs).

What makes Florida’s run game difficult to defend is that it doesn’t do a ton of substituting. Working out of “11” or “12 personnel,” with a dedicated H-back (Clay Burton), the Gators can provide a plethora of looks with the same personnel grouping.

So where the H-back is a fullback on one play, he can be flexed out wide on the very next play which causes conflict of assignment.

Alabama may want to keep its speed personnel on the field — where the Tide has defensive end Jonathan Allen as an interior 3-technique — just in case the Gators go pure pass out of “12 personnel.”

But then they run the risk of being gashed — by a beast like Jones — with the Gators inside power game.

MattJonesPhysicalRun2

Here’s a taste of what Bama can expect out of Florida’s run game; Jones is fronted by a pulling guard and a trap-blocking H-back.

These type of formation/personnel groupings keep defenses on its heels as they initially look like passing formations. The fact that it’s actually a part of the power game can be a bit unnerving for coordinator’s looking to match personnel.

Additionally, Jones shows that he may be the most physical back in the conference — outside of Georgia’s Todd Gurley with whom he shares a striking on-field resemblance with — as he will always seeks contact rather than avoiding it.

Better buckle your chinstraps, boys; both sides are bringing the hammer as far as the run game.

Conclusion 

Tackling will be of the essence for Bama as Florida will try to get its playmakers out in space. The Tide may not want to employ all of the manufactured-pressure schemes they are known for as the Gators have a ton of quick-hitters that can get their players to the second and third levels.

Gap integrity and patience will be the key to shutting down the Gators’ run game. If Bama can force the Gators to try to win exclusively through the air it will be curtains for the road team.

Although this game won’t be as easy as some believe, the Tide should roll in Tuscaloosa. Florida is a team on the come up, but its not ready to beat the most talented team in the nation.

I’m taking Bama 24-14 (as heard on BAMS radio).