Morning Kickoff: Crimson Tide News 9/18
By Chris Hale
Get your day started with the Morning Kickoff. All of your Crimson Tide news in one place.
Alabama football: Saban says Tide has improved in affecting the passer
"Alabama coach Nick Saban has long preached about the importance of affecting the quarterback over getting sacks and piling up statistics.Through the first three games, the Crimson Tide’s defense has excelled at both.“I think that we have (improved at affecting the passer) in general in these first three games,” Tide coach Nick Saban said. “I think we knocked the quarterback down 12 times last week and affected him 12 times in the pocket by getting very, very good pressure. He may have still gotten the ball off, but he got hit when he threw it, and it affected the throw.”"
It’s been tough going to get to the quarterback during the first few games with the hurry up offenses Alabama has faced. Those quarterbacks get the ball out just as soon as the it’s snapped. Expect to see the numbers go up, possibly even this weekend.
Alabama freshman CB Tony Brown ‘will play a lot’ against Florida
"Next up in Alabama’s revolving door of cornerbacks? Five-star freshman Tony Brown.With sophomore Eddie Jackson nursing a bruised quadriceps and still working his way back from knee surgery, Brown is in line for his most playing time yet Saturday against Florida."
A lot of fans have been wanting to see Tony Brown get more playing time, and it looks like that chance is coming this weekend. I can’t say that I’m not excited as well.
Savor the Alabama-Florida matchup: It doesn’t happen enough
"Alabama and Florida don’t have a rivalry as much as they do a series. So goes Southeastern Conference football scheduling.But the teams, which meet Saturday in Tuscaloosa, came to define the early years of the modern SEC.The Crimson Tide and Gators met in the first three, and four of the first five, SEC championship games, matching upset-minded Florida and brash coach Steve Spurrier against the conference establishment.The games were grand theatre that helped sell the idea of a league title game, and they produced two national champions: Alabama in 1992 and Florida in 1996."
I agree with this 100 percent. I love the Alabama and Florida games. There has been some great memories over the past several years from Antonio Langham’s interception in 1992 in the SEC Championship game to Tebow tears just a few years ago in 2009. It will be a fun weekend.
H-word no longer banned at Alabama football practice as extreme heat becomes a concern
"There was a time when you couldn’t even say the word.H-O-T was the eighth word you couldn’t say on TV if you were an Alabama football player just a few years ago. That was during preseason camp, however, not before a crucial SEC game.A long way from Junction, the Crimson Tide will face Florida at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Nick Saban wants fresh players, so they adjusted the practice routine Wednesday. Rain clouds were far from Tuscaloosa, but Alabama went to the indoor complex."
I agree with Saban here. There’s no use in wearing out players a few days before the SEC opener. Truthfully, their conditioning and acclimation to heat probably wouldn’t have improved much at all if they practiced outdoors today.
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