Good news for the Alabama Crimson Tide is Nico Iamaleava is no Diego Pavia

It is difficult to gauge Tennessee's chances of beating the Alabama Crimson Tide for one key reason. The reason is, how well or how poorly Tennessee QB, Nico Iamaleava will play. Tennessee's reportedly $8M investment in the Iamaleava was probably money well spent. He has a big arm, fast feet, and impressive field poise for such an inexperienced QB. Comparing his arm strength and speed, Iamaleava poses a bigger threat to the Alabama Football defense than Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia.

Fortunately for the Alabama Crimson Tide, Iamaleava, eight starts into his college career does not come close to stressing a defense as Pavia. Iamaleava can run if needed, but that part of his game is not integral to Tennessee's offense.

The Alabama Crimson Tide defense could only produce a 25% 'Stop Rate' against Vanderbilt. That horrible performance came against an unusual hybrid, pistol-option, triple-option, and sometimes I-formation system that kept Alabama discombobulated for nearly the entire game.

Josh Huepel's offense, though far more praised than Vandy's, is less complex. Schematically, it is also easier to defend. Heupel's wide sets open up running lanes in the middle of the field. Dylan Sampson has feasted in that extra space, rushing for 699 yards, at a clip of 5.9 yards per carry. Sampson's least productive game was against Oklahoma when a 3.8-yard average produced 92 rushing yards. Sampson gained 132 yards against Arkansas and 112 yards against Florida.

Alabama Football must limit Sampson's success, but the Crimson Tide will not have to shut him down completely. That is unless Nico Iamaleava suddenly produces a performance against the Crimson Tide that resembles his considerable potential. Josh Pate called such a result as the Vols offense suddenly "clicking." That possibility exists but in recent games, Iamaleava has not been clicking.

Alabama Crimson Tide Defense and Nico Iamaleava

In three games against SEC defenses, Iamaleava's completion rate is 60.5%, which makes him the SEC's eighth most accurate passer behind Payton Thorne, LaNorris Sellers, and Michael Hawkins Jr., none of whom are intimidating passing quarterbacks. Diego Pavia's SEC completion rate is 73.8%.

There is a flip side to the possibility of Iamaleava and the Vols clicking. In its three SEC games, the Alabama Crimson Tide is No. 12 among SEC teams in allowing opponents to complete 65% of their passes.

Tennessee fans have reason to believe Iamaleava will prosper against the Alabama defense. The Crimson Tide cannot let that happen. The Crimson Tide's defensive keys are slowing Dylan Sampson and frequent pressure on Nico Iamleava.

Note: Player stats also provided by ESPN.