Crimson Keys: Alabama vs. Arkansas

Bama Hammer looks ahead with Crimson Keys to this weekend’s matchup: Alabama vs. Arkansas.

Saturday night the eighth-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide (4-1) host the Arkansas Razorbacks (2-3) in a rematch of last year’s highly contested matchup. The Tide is coming off of a dominating performance over Georgia last week while the Razorbacks are coming off of their come from behind upset over Tennessee last week.

Next: Alabama Football Podcast - Alabama vs. Georgia

Stop The Run

Whenever anyone plays Arkansas, the first point in a defensive game plan is to stop the Hawgs running game. Arkansas running back Alex Collins is one of the best running backs in the country, having run for 656 yards and six touchdowns this season. Much like with Georgia, the Arkansas running game opens up the passing game for quarterback Brandon Allen who has thrown for 1,360 yards and eight touchdowns this year. Alabama did allow a 100-yard rusher in Nick Chubb last week, though 81 of those yards came on one play when the game was far out of reach, but still the Alabama defense was dominant for the majority of the game.

Wisconsin and Arkansas’ running games are very similar and Alabama used its deep and talented defensive line to shut the Badgers running game which the Tide will hope to do against Arkansas as well. Alabama freshman nose tackle Daron Payne has improved every single week this year and his ability to eat up blockers is allowing his teammates to run around and make plays which bodes well for the Alabama defense against the Razorbacks.

Let Henry Control the Game

As the Arkansas offense will attempt to pound on the Alabama defense all game long, the Tide offense will need to give the Alabama defense some rest during the game and that will include long scoring drives for Alabama. Running back Derrick Henry is the key in doing that as he will need 20-25 touches in the game to pound on that Razorback defense which has allowed more than 100 yards rushing only twice this year. The Razorbacks defense has been thrown on a lot, however, so Alabama will need to mix it up some, but Henry is the key to Alabama being able to control the clock.

Coker Continue to Improve

Quarterback Jake Coker had the best game of his career thus far last week against Georgia and was the most efficient at running the Alabama offense. He needs to continue to improve upon that this week and making sure that he takes care of the football as well. Opportunities will come in the passing game with play action passes as the Arkansas defense keys on Henry so Coker will need to take advantage of those opportunities.

Alabama plays Arkansas at 6:00 PM (central) on ESPN. Check out BamaHammer during and after the game for full coverage.

Alabama team leaders through five games:

PASSING

Jake Coker: 70-139 (56.8%), 976 yards, 9 TD, 4 INT; 21 carries, 73 yards, 2 TD

Cooper Bateman: 30-40 (75%), 244 yards 1 TD, 2 INT; 4 carries, 10 yards

RUSHING

Derrick Henry: 93 carries, 570 yards, 9 TD; 7 catches, 51 yards

Kenyan Drake: 43 carries, 215 yards, 1 TD; 8 catches, 141 yards, 1 TD

Damien Harris: 28 carries, 109 yards; 2 catches, 4 yards

Derrick Gore: 5 carries, 11 yards

Ronnie Clark: 3 carries, 9 yards

Bo Scarbrough: 2 carries, 5 yards

RECEIVING

ArDarius Stewart: 23 catches, 201 yards, 2 TD

Calvin Ridley: 22 catches, 245 yards, 2 TD

Richard Mullaney: 15 catches, 160 yards, 2 TD

OJ Howard: 13 catches, 183 yards

Robert Foster: 10 catches, 116 yards, 2 TD

Cam Sims: 3 catches, 21 yards

Ty Flournoy-Smith: 2 catches, 48 yards

Chris Black: 2 catches, 23 yards

Michael Nysewander: 1 catch, 19 yards, 1 TD

Daylon Charlot: 1 catch, 8 yards

DEFENSE

Reggie Ragland: 42 TKL, 1.5 TFL, 2 PBU, 1 QBH, 1 FF

Jarran Reed: 28 TKL, 2.0 TFL, 1.0 sack, 2 PBU, 3 QBH, 1 FR

Geno Matias-Smith: 23 TKL, 0.5 TFL, 1 INT, 1 PBU, 1 FR

Reuben Foster: 21 TKL, 2.0 TFL, 2 PBU

Minkah Fitzpatrick: 21 TKL, 3.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks, 4 PBU, 1 blocked punt, 1 TD

Eddie Jackson: 19 TKL, 1.0 TFL, 2 INT, 91 yards, 1 TD, 2 PBU, 1 FR, 1 FF

Marlon Humphrey: 19 TKL, 2.5 TFL, 1 INT, 2 PBU, 1 FF

Shaun-Dion Hamilton: 16 TKL

A’Shawn Robinson: 14 TKL, 1.0 TFL, 1 PBU, 5 QBH

Denzel Devall: 13 TKL, 3.0 TFL, 1.0 sack, 2 PBU, 2 QBH

Dalvin Tomlinson: 12 TKL, 5 PBU

DJ Pettway: 10 TKL, 3.0 TFL, 1.0 sack, 1 QBH

Cyrus Jones: 10 TKL, 1 INT, 3 PBU

Jonathan Allen: 9 TKL, 3.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks, 3 PBU, 2 QBH

Ryan Anderson: 8 TKL, 0.5 TFL, 3 QBH, 1 FR

Dillon Lee: 8 TKL, 1 PBU

Da’Shawn Hand: 7 TKL, 2.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 1 QBH

Tony Brown: 6 TKL

Ronnie Harrison: 5 TKL, 2 INT, 41 yards, 1 PBU, 1 QBH

Bradley Sylve: 5 TKL

Keith Holcombe: 5 TKL, 1 PBU

Michael Nysewander: 4 TKL

Tim Williams: 4 TKL, 2.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 PBU, 1 QBH

Daron Payne: 3 TKL, 1 PBU, 1 QBH

Maurice Smith: 3 TKL

Darren Lake: 3 TKL, 1 PBU

Josh Frazier: 3 TKL

Hootie Jones: 2 TKL

Damien Harris: 2 TKL

Dominick Jackson: 1 TKL

OJ Smith: 1 TKL

Ryan Kelly: 1 TKL

Cole Mazza: 1 TKL

Robert Foster: 1 TKL

OJ Howard: 1 TKL

Rashaan Evans: 1 TKL, 1.0 TFL, 1.0 sack

Shawn Burgess-Becker: 1 TKL

Derrick Henry: 1 TKL

SPECIAL TEAMS:

Adam Griffith: 4-8 FGs, 23-23 XPs

JK Scott: 24 punts, 39.4 YPP, Long: 54 yards

Cyrus Jones: 17 PR, 122 yards

Richard Mullaney: 1 PR, 22 yards; 1 KOR, 16 yards

Kenyan Drake: 8 KOR, 170 yards

Damien Harris: 3 KOR, 61 yards

ArDarius Stewart: 2 KOR, 30 yards

Chris Black: 1 KOR, 7 yards

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