Dak Dillon-US PRESSWIRE
The bye week is over and the Alabama Crimson Tide are gearing up for their trip to Columbia to take on SEC newcomer Missouri. These two schools haven’t met on the gridiron since 1978 – a 38-20 triumph for the Crimson Tide.
It’s been a rude beginning for the Tigers in their first year in the SEC, as they have dropped their first three games against conference foes on their way to a 3-3 start overall. Missouri’s first two losses to Georgia and South Carolina were forgivable defeats, but their 19-15 loss at home to Vanderbilt last week is not as easily explained away. If they can’t beat Vanderbilt at home, then who can they beat within the conference?
It’s looking more and more likely that Missouri misses a bowl game in their first year in the SEC with games against Alabama, Florida, Tennessee and Texas A&M to go. It would take at least one upset for Missouri to garner bowl eligibility at this point.
Prior to the season, this matchup at Memorial Stadium looked like a trap game for the Crimson Tide. Some pundits compared it to Alabama’s game against South Carolina in 2010 where the Tide was ambushed by the Gamecocks on the road.
It looked like a scary matchup due to Missouri’s up-tempo offense and it being a new road environment that no current Alabama player had ever experienced. The fear of Alabama being upended by the Tigers went away as the season started and Missouri suffered blowout defeats at the hands of Georgia and South Carolina, and then an upset became downright laughable to suggest after Missouri’s loss to the Commodores last week.
It looks like an uphill battle for Missouri this week, and even more so now with the news that junior starting quarterback James Franklin had been ruled out for the game after suffering a knee sprain against Vanderbilt.
With Franklin sidelined, head coach Gary Pinkel turns to freshman Corbin Berkstresser to take the reins against arguably the best defense in college football. Berkstresser came off the bench and seriously struggled last week by completing just 9 of his 30 pass attempts. To his credit, he still managed 189 yards and a touchdown without throwing an interception. But, if he struggled that much against Vanderbilt’s defense, that can’t bode well for the Tigers against the juggernaut that is Alabama.
Missouri’s high-powered offense has struggled in the SEC so far this year. They rank 76th in passing yards, 85th in rushing yards, 95th in total offense, and 81st in scoring offense. That’s bad news as they go against the No. 1 ranked total defense in America on Saturday afternoon.
Gary Pinkel isn’t afraid to let the freshman Berkstresser air the ball out despite the lack of experience. This is going to be his second start of the season and his third game with extended playing time. He came off the bench and threw 30 passes last week, and in leading Missouri to a win over Arizona State, he aired it out 41 times. Don’t expect Pinkel to play it conservative with his young signal caller.
While Pinkel will air it out, Missouri can run the ball effectively when they try to led by senior Kendial Lawrence. Lawrence has averaged 5.7 yards per carry this season on his way to 487 yards and five touchdowns. Lawrence has filled in nicely for 1000-yard rusher Henry Josey, who suffered a devastating knee injury last year.
Lawrence will get most of the carries out of the backfield, but sophomore Marcus Murphy will get some run as well. Berkstresser will run the ball as well from the quarterback position, but he’s not quite the runner that James Franklin is.
Missouri has a strong group of wide receivers who will seriously test an Alabama secondary that is dealing with some injuries right now. Junior Deion Belue’s status for Saturday’s game is uncertain so junior John Fulton and true freshman Geno Smith will see a bump in playing time, and neither of those guys have much experience in meaningful situations.
Missouri’s leading receiver, Marcus Lucas, will command a lot of attention from the Crimson Tide’s secondary, and All American hopeful Dee Milliner may be tasked with shadowing him for the majority of the afternoon. The 6-foot-5 junior has caught 30 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns in 2012.
While Lucas is the big and physical receiver, senior T.J. Moe is the smaller more dynamic guy on the outside. Moe has 24 receptions for 231 yards and a touchdown this year.
Missouri’s sheer size at wide receiver is the biggest concern. Along with the aforementioned Lucas, the Tigers have 6-foot-4 junior L’Damian Washington and 6-foot-6 freshman Dorial Green-Beckham.
Green-Beckham has been a bit of a disappointment this year after so much recruiting hype. He’s caught only 7 passes for 128 yards, and caught his first collegiate touchdown pass two weeks ago against Central Florida. Still, he has a ton of talent and is a guy Alabama will have to keep an eye on this week.
The Tigers brought back four experienced offensive lineman this year, but they have given up 14 sacks through six games, which ranks 85th in the country. Look for Alabama to put pressure on the freshman quarterback to force him to make quick decisions that could lead to mistakes against a turnover-savvy defense like Alabama’s. In five games, the Crimson Tide’s defense has forced 15 turnovers.
Alabama’s game against Ole Miss two weeks ago should have better prepared the Crimson Tide to take on Missouri’s up-tempo offense. Missouri’s offense is fast paced and they don’t huddle very often – much like that of the Rebels. Alabama’s defense fared very well against Colonel Reb’s fast paced attack, holding them to just over 200 yards of total offense.
Missouri’s offense has firepower, but it’s not likely they will have much success running the ball against Alabama’s stingy run defense, and they should make life very tough for freshman Corbin Berkstresser on Saturday afternoon.
If Alabama’s defense puts together a performance we are accustomed to seeing, then the Crimson Tide should leave Faurot Field with their unblemished record and #1 ranking intact.
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