TUSCALOOSA — Junior left tackle Andre Smith says he doesn’t want to think about the NFL draft. Not right now, not when his team is ranked No. 2 in the country. But his family sometimes comes up to Smith and tells him what draft experts say about him, that he is a potential first round pick.
“I’m always like, ‘Don’t come to me and tell me that,’” Smith said. “It doesn’t matter. I’m worried about this game this week. All that will take care of itself. I’m really just focused on the team. And us.”
• MORENO GOES WITH MOHAWK: Georgia running back Knowshon Moreno sported a slight Mohawk for Saturday. Unfortunately for Moreno, the new ‘do didn’t help him, as he had 34 yards on nine carries.
Moreno came into the game as a Heisman trophy candidate, but did not receive any carries in the fourth quarter. Georgia’s inability to run the ball made it difficult for the Bulldogs to use one of its favorite weapons: the play-action pass.
“We could play seven-man fronts and stop their runs,” Saban said. “So that means the defensive line did an outstanding job.”
• TIFFIN NOT A TACKLER: Kicker Leigh Tiffin doesn’t want to hang around on kick offs. He would like to boot the ball, watch someone else make the tackle and get off the field. That has rarely happened this year for Tiffin.
He has often found himself as one of the last lines of defense on kick coverage. Against Tulane, Green Wave linebacker Travis Burks knocked Tiffin into a daze on a kick return. He left after the play, then returned in the second half.
It happened to Tiffin again Saturday against Georgia. Though he never left the game, he said he is starting to think that maybe he needs to work a little more on his tackling.
“Coach says you’ve got to beat them with speed and you’ve got to avoid (blockers) the right way,” Tiffin said. “That’s important — avoiding to the ball. You’ve got to be smart about it. It’s an effort play, you’ve got to run hard down there.”
Tiffin has tried to avoid tackling this year by kicking the ball farther on kick offs. Tiffin has averaged 62.7 yards per kick this year. Last year he averaged 60.0 yards per kick.
“You’re looking at hang time and location. Those are two big factors,” Tiffin said. “You don’t always try to just rip the ball. Things can go haywire when you try to just kill the ball.”
• TIDE ANNOUNCE PLAYERS OF WEEK: The Crimson Tide announced its players of the week Monday. On offense, quarterback John Parker Wilson, wide receiver Julio Jones and running back Roy Upchurch were all recognized. On defense, linebacker Rolando McClain and safety Rashad Johnson were honored.
Kicker Leigh Tiffin, who kicked two field goals Saturday, was the Tide’s special teams player of the week.
• MCCOY HURTS HAMSTRING: Alabama might be without one of its starting wide receivers for Saturday’s game against Kentucky. Wideout Mike McCoy pulled his hamstring Saturday against Georgia and wore a non-contact jersey at practice. He was joined on the exercise bike by tight end Preston Dial who had arthroscopic surgery on his knee last week.
Freshman running back Mark Ingram bruised his knee against Georgia but was not limited in practice Monday.
— Josh Cooper
Monday, September 29, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
Cooper's take
Cody Effect
It’s tough to say who Alabama’s MVP is through the first four games, but right now it might be nose tackle Terrence Cody.
None of Alabama’s opponents have had an answer for the giant junior college transfer as he has stuffed up the middle and opened up lanes for the Tide’s defensive players.
Arkansas, with its All-America center Jonathan Luigs, still needed to double-team the 6-foot-5, 365-pound Cody. Going against a ground attack like Georgia’s with running back Knowshon Moreno will be a challenge.
Said Georgia coach Mark Richt, “I don't think we will knock him back."
Air Tide
Quarterback John Parker Wilson hasn’t been the most productive player on offense, but then again he hasn’t needed to be.
So far the Crimson Tide has out-rushed its opponent 947-220. Meanwhile, Alabama’s opponents have thrown for more yards, 753 to 603. In his first two years at Alabama, Wilson showed the ability to make plays throwing the ball, but this year Alabama coach Nick Saban has asked that his quarterback simply manage the game. The Bulldogs are ranked third in the country in rush defense, so if the run isn’t there, the Crimson Tide will ask Wilson to find receivers and beat Georgia that way.
“We're a good passing team,” Wilson said. “But when you're running the ball like you do, there's no need to throw the ball.”
— Josh Cooper
It’s tough to say who Alabama’s MVP is through the first four games, but right now it might be nose tackle Terrence Cody.
None of Alabama’s opponents have had an answer for the giant junior college transfer as he has stuffed up the middle and opened up lanes for the Tide’s defensive players.
Arkansas, with its All-America center Jonathan Luigs, still needed to double-team the 6-foot-5, 365-pound Cody. Going against a ground attack like Georgia’s with running back Knowshon Moreno will be a challenge.
Said Georgia coach Mark Richt, “I don't think we will knock him back."
Air Tide
Quarterback John Parker Wilson hasn’t been the most productive player on offense, but then again he hasn’t needed to be.
So far the Crimson Tide has out-rushed its opponent 947-220. Meanwhile, Alabama’s opponents have thrown for more yards, 753 to 603. In his first two years at Alabama, Wilson showed the ability to make plays throwing the ball, but this year Alabama coach Nick Saban has asked that his quarterback simply manage the game. The Bulldogs are ranked third in the country in rush defense, so if the run isn’t there, the Crimson Tide will ask Wilson to find receivers and beat Georgia that way.
“We're a good passing team,” Wilson said. “But when you're running the ball like you do, there's no need to throw the ball.”
— Josh Cooper
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Saban pays attention to Auburn
TUSCALOOSA — So Nick Saban says that he doesn’t pay attention to what Auburn does? Well, think again. The Alabama coach chuckled when asked about the Tigers’ 3-2 victory against Mississippi State last weekend. The laughter did not come at the expense of Auburn’s offense, but mostly because of its stellar defensive performance.
Saban talked about the Tigers’ opponents’ third down conversion rate (3-for-46) and said that he has never seen a team with a conversion rate like that three games into the season.
“I’m sure they’ll get their thing straightened out, but when you play good defense, you’re always going to play to keep from losing the game, and that’s probably a good way to win a lot of them,” Saban said.
• WILDER WATCHES PRACTICE: Olympic boxing heavyweight bronze medalist Deontay Wilder watched the end of Alabama’s practice Tuesday. Saban introduced Wilder, a Tuscaloosa native, to the team following practice.
— Josh Cooper
Saban talked about the Tigers’ opponents’ third down conversion rate (3-for-46) and said that he has never seen a team with a conversion rate like that three games into the season.
“I’m sure they’ll get their thing straightened out, but when you play good defense, you’re always going to play to keep from losing the game, and that’s probably a good way to win a lot of them,” Saban said.
• WILDER WATCHES PRACTICE: Olympic boxing heavyweight bronze medalist Deontay Wilder watched the end of Alabama’s practice Tuesday. Saban introduced Wilder, a Tuscaloosa native, to the team following practice.
— Josh Cooper
Monday, September 15, 2008
3 things
Three things Alabama should remember after its 41-7 victory over Western Kentucky
The real game begins: It's nice to be 3-0, but now it's time for the real part of the season to start. Clemson was a test, but wins at Arkansas and Georgia can validate whether you are for real.
Run the ball: It is pretty obvious that the strength of your offense is the running game. I know the offense strives for balance, but maybe you should consider tilting it a little more toward the rushing attack.
Stay consistent: Throughout the course of Nick Saban's tenure, Alabama has often backed up a good performance with a bad one. It can't fall into that trap with SEC play about to begin.
— Josh Cooper
The real game begins: It's nice to be 3-0, but now it's time for the real part of the season to start. Clemson was a test, but wins at Arkansas and Georgia can validate whether you are for real.
Run the ball: It is pretty obvious that the strength of your offense is the running game. I know the offense strives for balance, but maybe you should consider tilting it a little more toward the rushing attack.
Stay consistent: Throughout the course of Nick Saban's tenure, Alabama has often backed up a good performance with a bad one. It can't fall into that trap with SEC play about to begin.
— Josh Cooper
Accolades for Julio
Alabama's star freshman nabbed an SEC honor, which was announced on Monday. Here is the snippet from the SEC offices.
SEC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
JULIO JONES
Wide Receiver
ALABAMA
6-4 • 210
Foley, Ala. (HS)
• Jones caught five passes for 66 yards and a touchdown in Alabama’s 41-7 win against Western Kentucky.
• The score was the second of his career and was a 12-yarder in the third quarter, which gave the Crimson Tide its final victory margin, 41-7.
• Jones leads the Tide in receptions this season with 10 for 107 yards.
• He is one of two true freshmen to start the first three games and one of 15 to see playing time this season.
Here's how the other awards shook out ...
SEC FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK (Games of Sept. 13)
SEC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
MIKE HARTLINE
Quarterback
KENTUCKY
6-6 • 204 • Sophomore
Canton, Ohio (GlenOak HS)
• Hartline completed 28-of-47 passes for 254 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions’ in Kentucky’s 20-14 win over Middle Tennessee.
• Trailing 14-10 in the fourth quarter, Hartline led a 57-yard scoring drive, capped by a touchdown pass to Derrick Locke for the game winning score.
• On his next drive, Hartline led the Wildcats to a field goal to make the final margin, 20-14.
• Hartline has not thrown an interception this season and has a streak of 96 consecutive passes without throwing an interception dating back to last season.
SEC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
RENNIE CURRAN
Linebacker
GEORGIA
5-11 • 220 • Sophomore
Snellville, Ga. (Brookwood HS)
• Curran had six tackles, a forced fumble, sack and two quarterback pressures in Georgia’s 14-7 win at South Carolina.
• He forced a fumble at the Georgia goal line while South Carolina was threatening to score the game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter.
• The Bulldogs held South Carolina to just 18 yards rushing in the game.
• Curran leads the Bulldogs this season with 20 tackles, including a team-high three for losses.
SEC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
TRINDON HOLLIDAY
Return Specialist
LSU
5-5 • 164 • Junior
Zachary, La. (Northeast HS)
• Holliday returned four punts for 163 and one touchdown in LSU’s 41-3 win over North Texas.
• His 92-yard punt return for a score in the second quarter is tied for the second longest in LSU history.
• Holliday’s 163 total punt return yards rank second in school history and the sixth-highest total in SEC history.
• The yardage total is the most in the SEC since 1983, when LSU’s Norman Jefferson had 169 punt return yards against Ole Miss.
• Holliday is now one of only four players in LSU history to score TDs on punt and kickoff returns in a career.
SEC OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK
CHRIS SCOTT
Tackle
TENNESSEE
6-5 • 310 • Junior
Riverdale, Ga. (Lovejoy HS)
• Scott graded the best of a Vols offensive line in Tennessee’s 35-3 win against UAB.
• Tennessee finished the game with 548 total offensive yards, the best for the Vols in 24 games. In the game, UT had 282 passing yards and 266 rushing yards.
• The Vols now lead the SEC in total offense, averaging 457.0 yards per game.
SEC DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK
JESSIE BOWMAN
Defensive Tackle
MISSISSIPPI STATE
6-1 • 305 • Senior
Brookhaven, Miss. (HS/Copiah-Lincoln JC)
• Bowman posted a career-high eight total tackles with 3.5 for losses, in Mississippi State’s 3-2 loss to Auburn.
• Among his stops was a fourth-quarter forced fumble that the Bulldogs recovered.
• Bowman helped lead a Bulldog defense that kept Auburn out of the end zone.
• Bowman leads the SEC with four pass deflections and ranks tied for fourth in the SEC in tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
OTHER OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES FROM WEEK 3
OL ANTOINE CALDWELL (Alabama) -- Helped clear the way for Alabama offense to gain 557 total yards and 30 first downs against Western Kentucky.
LB TRAY BLACKMON (Auburn) -- Led Auburn with six tackles and a tackle for loss against Mississippi State.
TB KNOWSHON MORENO (Georgia) -- Rushed for 79 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown and also had two catches for 13 yards and a 32 yard punt return against South Carolina.
P/K TIM MASTHAY (Kentucky) -- Averaged 52.7 yards on three punts and had two touchbacks on kickoffs against Middle Tennessee.
RB CHARLES SCOTT (LSU) -- Rushed for 102 yards on seven carries and two touchdowns against North Texas.
DL PERIA JERRY (Ole Miss) -- In his first start of the season, registered six tackles and two for losses against Samford.
P BLAKE McADAMS (Mississippi State) -- Averaged 38.1 yards on 10 punts and had three downed inside the 10-yard line against Auburn.
WR MOE BROWN (South Carolina) -- Had career-highs in receptions (7) and reception yards (130) and a touchdown against Georgia.
WR LUCAS TAYLOR (Tennessee) -- Caught nine passes for 132 yards against UAB.
PR/KR/DB D.J. MOORE (Vanderbilt) -- Accounted for 206 all-purpose yards against Rice (84 punt return, 54 kickoff return, 37 rushing and an interception for 31 yards).

SEC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
JULIO JONES
Wide Receiver
ALABAMA
6-4 • 210
Foley, Ala. (HS)
• Jones caught five passes for 66 yards and a touchdown in Alabama’s 41-7 win against Western Kentucky.
• The score was the second of his career and was a 12-yarder in the third quarter, which gave the Crimson Tide its final victory margin, 41-7.
• Jones leads the Tide in receptions this season with 10 for 107 yards.
• He is one of two true freshmen to start the first three games and one of 15 to see playing time this season.
Here's how the other awards shook out ...
SEC FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK (Games of Sept. 13)
SEC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
MIKE HARTLINE
Quarterback
KENTUCKY
6-6 • 204 • Sophomore
Canton, Ohio (GlenOak HS)
• Hartline completed 28-of-47 passes for 254 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions’ in Kentucky’s 20-14 win over Middle Tennessee.
• Trailing 14-10 in the fourth quarter, Hartline led a 57-yard scoring drive, capped by a touchdown pass to Derrick Locke for the game winning score.
• On his next drive, Hartline led the Wildcats to a field goal to make the final margin, 20-14.
• Hartline has not thrown an interception this season and has a streak of 96 consecutive passes without throwing an interception dating back to last season.
SEC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
RENNIE CURRAN
Linebacker
GEORGIA
5-11 • 220 • Sophomore
Snellville, Ga. (Brookwood HS)
• Curran had six tackles, a forced fumble, sack and two quarterback pressures in Georgia’s 14-7 win at South Carolina.
• He forced a fumble at the Georgia goal line while South Carolina was threatening to score the game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter.
• The Bulldogs held South Carolina to just 18 yards rushing in the game.
• Curran leads the Bulldogs this season with 20 tackles, including a team-high three for losses.
SEC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
TRINDON HOLLIDAY
Return Specialist
LSU
5-5 • 164 • Junior
Zachary, La. (Northeast HS)
• Holliday returned four punts for 163 and one touchdown in LSU’s 41-3 win over North Texas.
• His 92-yard punt return for a score in the second quarter is tied for the second longest in LSU history.
• Holliday’s 163 total punt return yards rank second in school history and the sixth-highest total in SEC history.
• The yardage total is the most in the SEC since 1983, when LSU’s Norman Jefferson had 169 punt return yards against Ole Miss.
• Holliday is now one of only four players in LSU history to score TDs on punt and kickoff returns in a career.
SEC OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK
CHRIS SCOTT
Tackle
TENNESSEE
6-5 • 310 • Junior
Riverdale, Ga. (Lovejoy HS)
• Scott graded the best of a Vols offensive line in Tennessee’s 35-3 win against UAB.
• Tennessee finished the game with 548 total offensive yards, the best for the Vols in 24 games. In the game, UT had 282 passing yards and 266 rushing yards.
• The Vols now lead the SEC in total offense, averaging 457.0 yards per game.
SEC DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK
JESSIE BOWMAN
Defensive Tackle
MISSISSIPPI STATE
6-1 • 305 • Senior
Brookhaven, Miss. (HS/Copiah-Lincoln JC)
• Bowman posted a career-high eight total tackles with 3.5 for losses, in Mississippi State’s 3-2 loss to Auburn.
• Among his stops was a fourth-quarter forced fumble that the Bulldogs recovered.
• Bowman helped lead a Bulldog defense that kept Auburn out of the end zone.
• Bowman leads the SEC with four pass deflections and ranks tied for fourth in the SEC in tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
OTHER OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES FROM WEEK 3
OL ANTOINE CALDWELL (Alabama) -- Helped clear the way for Alabama offense to gain 557 total yards and 30 first downs against Western Kentucky.
LB TRAY BLACKMON (Auburn) -- Led Auburn with six tackles and a tackle for loss against Mississippi State.
TB KNOWSHON MORENO (Georgia) -- Rushed for 79 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown and also had two catches for 13 yards and a 32 yard punt return against South Carolina.
P/K TIM MASTHAY (Kentucky) -- Averaged 52.7 yards on three punts and had two touchbacks on kickoffs against Middle Tennessee.
RB CHARLES SCOTT (LSU) -- Rushed for 102 yards on seven carries and two touchdowns against North Texas.
DL PERIA JERRY (Ole Miss) -- In his first start of the season, registered six tackles and two for losses against Samford.
P BLAKE McADAMS (Mississippi State) -- Averaged 38.1 yards on 10 punts and had three downed inside the 10-yard line against Auburn.
WR MOE BROWN (South Carolina) -- Had career-highs in receptions (7) and reception yards (130) and a touchdown against Georgia.
WR LUCAS TAYLOR (Tennessee) -- Caught nine passes for 132 yards against UAB.
PR/KR/DB D.J. MOORE (Vanderbilt) -- Accounted for 206 all-purpose yards against Rice (84 punt return, 54 kickoff return, 37 rushing and an interception for 31 yards).

Monday, September 8, 2008
SEC Players of the Week
Both Alabama and Auburn got one this week. Here's the list from the SEC offices.
SEC FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK (Games of Sept. 6)
SEC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
KNOWSHON MORENO
Tailback
GEORGIA
5-11 • 207 • Sophomore
Belford, N.J. (Middletown South HS)
• Moreno rushed for 168 yards on 18 carries and a career-high tying three touchdowns in Georgia’s 56-17 win over Central Michigan.
• Moreno also had three catches for 30 yards.
• He scored three touchdowns for the second week in a row and leads the SEC and tied for second in the nation in scoring (36 points).
• He had a 52-yard TD run and also had a 29-yard run in which he hurdled an opposing player.
• Moreno was part of an offense that racked up 552 total offensive yards.
SEC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
PATRICK BENOIST
Linebacker
VANDERBILT
6-0 • 222 • Junior
Southlake, Texas (Carroll HS)
• A second-year starter, Benoist turned in a career-best performance in Vanderbilt’s 24-17 victory against #24 South Carolina.
• Benoist contributed 15 total tackles, including a six-yard quarterback sack, a two-yard tackle for loss and a pass deflection against the Gamecocks.
• His performance helped the Commodores limit South Carolina to a lone second half score and 325 total offensive yards.
SEC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
JAVIER ARENAS
Return Specialist/Cornerback
ALABAMA
5-9 • 198 • Junior
Tampa, Fla. (Robinson HS)
• Arenas had five punt returns for a school-record 147 yards and a TD in Alabama’s 20-6 win against Tulane.
• His 87-yard return for a score was the fifth longest in school history.
• The punt return record had stood for 61 years, since Harry Gilmer had 122 yards against Georgia in 1947.
• Arenas now has four punt returns for TDs in his career, tying him with David Palmer for the school record.
• He finished with 212 all-purpose yards and 3 tackles.
SEC OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK
JASON BOSLEY
Tackle
AUBURN
6-4 • 273 • Senior
Huntsville, Ala. (Grissom HS)
• In 70 plays, Bosley graded out at a team-best 94 percent in Auburn’s 27-13 win against Southern Miss.
• Against the Golden Eagles, Bosley tallied five “rodeo” blocks and two “cockroach” blocks.
• Bosley has moved from center to right tackle, playing exclusively at that position for the first time in his Auburn career.
• Auburn tallied 380 total offensive yards for a 5.1 yard per play average in 75 plays.
SEC DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK
JERMAINE CUNNINGHAM
Defensive End
FLORIDA
6-3 • 250 • Junior
Stone Mountain, Ga. (Stephenson HS)
• Cunningham logged nine total tackles (five solos) with two for losses (-10 yards), including a sack (-8 yards) in Florida’s 23-3 win against Miami (Fla.).
• The Gator defense held Miami to three points, the fewest the Gators have allowed the Hurricanes since 1960 (UF, 18-0).
• The Gator defense held the Hurricanes to just 140 yards of total offense and forced nine punts.
SEC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
JOE ADAMS
Wide Receiver
ARKANSAS
6-0 • 175
Little Rock, Ark. (Central Arkansas Christian)
• Adams led Arkansas with seven catches for 89 yards in the Razorbacks’ 28-27 win over Louisiana-Monroe.
• Adams’ seven catches were the most by a Razorback in a single game since 2005 (7 by Peyton Hillis vs. Auburn).
• Two of his catches came to aid Arkansas’ fourth-quarter comeback, netting first downs on each catch.
• He also recorded a nine-yard rush against the Warhawks.
SEC FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK (Games of Sept. 6)
SEC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
KNOWSHON MORENO
Tailback
GEORGIA
5-11 • 207 • Sophomore
Belford, N.J. (Middletown South HS)
• Moreno rushed for 168 yards on 18 carries and a career-high tying three touchdowns in Georgia’s 56-17 win over Central Michigan.
• Moreno also had three catches for 30 yards.
• He scored three touchdowns for the second week in a row and leads the SEC and tied for second in the nation in scoring (36 points).
• He had a 52-yard TD run and also had a 29-yard run in which he hurdled an opposing player.
• Moreno was part of an offense that racked up 552 total offensive yards.
SEC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
PATRICK BENOIST
Linebacker
VANDERBILT
6-0 • 222 • Junior
Southlake, Texas (Carroll HS)
• A second-year starter, Benoist turned in a career-best performance in Vanderbilt’s 24-17 victory against #24 South Carolina.
• Benoist contributed 15 total tackles, including a six-yard quarterback sack, a two-yard tackle for loss and a pass deflection against the Gamecocks.
• His performance helped the Commodores limit South Carolina to a lone second half score and 325 total offensive yards.
SEC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
JAVIER ARENAS
Return Specialist/Cornerback
ALABAMA
5-9 • 198 • Junior
Tampa, Fla. (Robinson HS)
• Arenas had five punt returns for a school-record 147 yards and a TD in Alabama’s 20-6 win against Tulane.
• His 87-yard return for a score was the fifth longest in school history.
• The punt return record had stood for 61 years, since Harry Gilmer had 122 yards against Georgia in 1947.
• Arenas now has four punt returns for TDs in his career, tying him with David Palmer for the school record.
• He finished with 212 all-purpose yards and 3 tackles.
SEC OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK
JASON BOSLEY
Tackle
AUBURN
6-4 • 273 • Senior
Huntsville, Ala. (Grissom HS)
• In 70 plays, Bosley graded out at a team-best 94 percent in Auburn’s 27-13 win against Southern Miss.
• Against the Golden Eagles, Bosley tallied five “rodeo” blocks and two “cockroach” blocks.
• Bosley has moved from center to right tackle, playing exclusively at that position for the first time in his Auburn career.
• Auburn tallied 380 total offensive yards for a 5.1 yard per play average in 75 plays.
SEC DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK
JERMAINE CUNNINGHAM
Defensive End
FLORIDA
6-3 • 250 • Junior
Stone Mountain, Ga. (Stephenson HS)
• Cunningham logged nine total tackles (five solos) with two for losses (-10 yards), including a sack (-8 yards) in Florida’s 23-3 win against Miami (Fla.).
• The Gator defense held Miami to three points, the fewest the Gators have allowed the Hurricanes since 1960 (UF, 18-0).
• The Gator defense held the Hurricanes to just 140 yards of total offense and forced nine punts.
SEC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
JOE ADAMS
Wide Receiver
ARKANSAS
6-0 • 175
Little Rock, Ark. (Central Arkansas Christian)
• Adams led Arkansas with seven catches for 89 yards in the Razorbacks’ 28-27 win over Louisiana-Monroe.
• Adams’ seven catches were the most by a Razorback in a single game since 2005 (7 by Peyton Hillis vs. Auburn).
• Two of his catches came to aid Arkansas’ fourth-quarter comeback, netting first downs on each catch.
• He also recorded a nine-yard rush against the Warhawks.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
TIde learning to rely in Ingram
TUSCALOOSA — With 4:41 remaining in the third quarter, Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban ditched his running back rotation and went with freshman Mark Ingram as the feature back.
The move proved fortuitous, as Ingram rushed for 39 yards on the drive, including a touchdown run where he swept to the left, found a hole and ran in for the 15-yard score.
“He certainly made some outstanding runs when there wasn't much there,” Saban said. “Mark has probably been our most consistent guy with the ball in his hands and hopefully he can continue to improve.”
For the second consecutive game, Alabama primarily used Ingram, who led the Tide with 63 yards on 11 carries, and Glen Coffee who had 55 yards on nine carries. Saban said that he tried to use running back Terry Grant more, but couldn’t after Alabama got out of its gameplan. Grant had one reception for nine yards.
• Offensive line gets makeover: Alabama played Saturday’s game against Tulane with three new offensive linemen. Well, that’s not really the case, but that was the way Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban saw it.
With starting left tackle Andre Smith injured, Alabama began the game with Mike Johnson at left tackle, David Ross at left guard, Antoine Caldwell at center, Marlon Davis at right guard and Drew Davis at right tackle.
Then when Marlon Davis went down in the first half with a hamstring injury, Saban moved Ross from left guard to right guard and inserted Brian Motley at left guard.
“We had Motley playing a different place, David Ross playing a different place and Mike Johnson playing a different place, so you actually had three different people playing from what we were last week,” Saban said. “We kind of lost our continuity on the offensive line.”
• Newcomers show their stuff: Those looking for a big game out of freshman wide receiver Julio Jones were disappointed. One week after his four catch, 28-yard performance against Clemson, Jones made one catch — a 13-yard grab — against Tulane.
Jones might be the most recognizable member of the freshman class — his introduction Saturday elicited the loudest cheers from the fans — but several other newcomers played roles in Alabama’s win against Tulane. Linebacker Don’ta Hightower finished with 10 tackles and Mark Barron filled in at Alabama’s extra defensive back slot after cornerback Javier Arenas went out with a head injury in the third quarter.
• Tide jump up two spots in AP poll: Alabama moved up two spots in the Associated Press poll and one in the USA Today Coaches Poll on Sunday.
Alabama went from No. 13 to No. 11 in the AP poll and from No. 17 to No. 16 in the coaches poll.
— Josh Cooper
The move proved fortuitous, as Ingram rushed for 39 yards on the drive, including a touchdown run where he swept to the left, found a hole and ran in for the 15-yard score.
“He certainly made some outstanding runs when there wasn't much there,” Saban said. “Mark has probably been our most consistent guy with the ball in his hands and hopefully he can continue to improve.”
For the second consecutive game, Alabama primarily used Ingram, who led the Tide with 63 yards on 11 carries, and Glen Coffee who had 55 yards on nine carries. Saban said that he tried to use running back Terry Grant more, but couldn’t after Alabama got out of its gameplan. Grant had one reception for nine yards.
• Offensive line gets makeover: Alabama played Saturday’s game against Tulane with three new offensive linemen. Well, that’s not really the case, but that was the way Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban saw it.
With starting left tackle Andre Smith injured, Alabama began the game with Mike Johnson at left tackle, David Ross at left guard, Antoine Caldwell at center, Marlon Davis at right guard and Drew Davis at right tackle.
Then when Marlon Davis went down in the first half with a hamstring injury, Saban moved Ross from left guard to right guard and inserted Brian Motley at left guard.
“We had Motley playing a different place, David Ross playing a different place and Mike Johnson playing a different place, so you actually had three different people playing from what we were last week,” Saban said. “We kind of lost our continuity on the offensive line.”
• Newcomers show their stuff: Those looking for a big game out of freshman wide receiver Julio Jones were disappointed. One week after his four catch, 28-yard performance against Clemson, Jones made one catch — a 13-yard grab — against Tulane.
Jones might be the most recognizable member of the freshman class — his introduction Saturday elicited the loudest cheers from the fans — but several other newcomers played roles in Alabama’s win against Tulane. Linebacker Don’ta Hightower finished with 10 tackles and Mark Barron filled in at Alabama’s extra defensive back slot after cornerback Javier Arenas went out with a head injury in the third quarter.
• Tide jump up two spots in AP poll: Alabama moved up two spots in the Associated Press poll and one in the USA Today Coaches Poll on Sunday.
Alabama went from No. 13 to No. 11 in the AP poll and from No. 17 to No. 16 in the coaches poll.
— Josh Cooper
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
New rankings
The new polls are out, and there's good news and bad news.
Alabama moved up four spots to No. 17. That, for the Alabama fans, would be the good news. The bad news? Well, if you can call it that, is that for right now, the Tide will not get a shot at the No. 1 team in the country in a few weeks.
After Southern Cal's impressive win over Virginia, Georgia slipped to the No. 2 spot.
Here is the USA Today/ESPN poll
Alabama took the biggest move in the Associated Press poll, moving up 11 spots. Georgia fell in this one, too.
Read about it here.
Alabama moved up four spots to No. 17. That, for the Alabama fans, would be the good news. The bad news? Well, if you can call it that, is that for right now, the Tide will not get a shot at the No. 1 team in the country in a few weeks.
After Southern Cal's impressive win over Virginia, Georgia slipped to the No. 2 spot.
Here is the USA Today/ESPN poll
Alabama took the biggest move in the Associated Press poll, moving up 11 spots. Georgia fell in this one, too.
Read about it here.
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