Wilson still confident in Bama’s offense

TUSCLOOSA | University of Alabama junior quarterback John Parker Wilson was a little taken aback after Saturday’s game at Vanderbilt by all the questions from reporters about the passing game. Many of the “What went wrong?” inquiries made it almost seem like the Crimson Tide had lost.

Wilson had completed 14 of 28 passes for 150 yards with one interception, which was his lowest output as a starter, and the second worst passing-efficiency rating of his career, 87.86. Yet still Alabama won convincingly, 24-10.

“It wasn’t too totally bad when we ran the ball like we did,” Wilson said Tuesday evening. “We didn’t put up the numbers passing that we want to, but we need to keep doing what we’re doing. We’re blocking well, we’re protecting like we should and if we keep running like we did we’re going to be fine.”

Alabama’s ability to take over the game on the ground definitely contributed to the lower numbers, unlike last year when the Tide almost never had the luxury of not throwing.

Nevertheless, the passing game, which was supposed to be the team’s biggest strength this season, obviously wasn’t clicking.

“I think I looked good mechanically, I just missed a couple of guys,” said Wilson, who has yet to have a touchdown pass this season. “It wasn’t anything read-wise; there wasn’t an internal breakdown that we’re going to have to go back to ground zero.”

Wilson completed passes to only two wide receivers, senior DJ Hall and sophomore Mike McCoy, and six players overall.

There were two drops, two bad throws and two balls he threw away. Wilson also made the wrong decision on two attempts, trying to force passes to Hall and junior tight end Travis McCall when they were double-covered.

He missed on three deep balls, compared to the one pass he completed across the middle, a dump-off to sophomore running back Glen Coffee for a 14-yard gain. That contrast, which coach Nick Saban noted in his post-game press conference, was in part due to the game plan, as Alabama wanted to attack Commodore cornerbacks in single coverage.

In comparison, against Western Carolina the week before, Alabama’s quarterbacks attempted seven passes to a player on a crossing route, completing all but one — Hall’s drop on the first ball thrown his way.

“If he wants to throw the ball more over the middle, I think we’re going to start throwing the ball over the middle,” Wilson said.

The rest of Saturday’s incompletions had one significant trait in common — in nearly every case Wilson was being pressured.

“I think it just has to be considered an off day,” sophomore right tackle Mike Johnson said. “We know what everyone’s capable of on offense.

“Vanderbilt did a good job confusing us up front. They did a lot of things that we weren’t expecting, but we made adjustments through the game and were able to pick it up later.”

“There’s always something you can do better,” sophomore left tackle Andre Smith said.

Wilson attempted 11 passes out of shotgun, completing five, while there were four carries out of the formation. He attempted just two passes in the fourth quarter, and five in the third, when the Tide’s ground game began to dominate.

“When we get a defensive line on their heels and we’re knocking them off the ball, that’s what being an offensive lineman is all about,” senior left guard Justin Britt said.

Although he didn’t mention it, Wilson has reason to believe a strong bounce-back performance may be in order against Arkansas this Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Last year, he completed 16 of 20 passes for 243 yards — recording an off-the-charts efficiency rating of 231.56. Hall had 144 yards on six receptions, and senior Keith Brown contributed seven catches for 97 yards, but Alabama still lost in double-overtime, 24-23.

Considering that Arkansas defensive backs still like to use tight press-coverage, it wouldn’t surprise anyone to see Hall quickly get the 34 yards he needs to become Alabama’s all-time receiving leader (Ozzie Newsome, 2,070 yards, 1974-77).

“When we get a lot of press coverage, if you beat the man off the line, he’s beat,” sophomore wide receiver Mike McCoy said.

But like against Vanderbilt, Wilson will easily give up some passing opportunities and statistics, and take the resulting questions, in exchange for a win.

“You’re not going to go out and throw 100 percent every game, but how you respond to that is what determines how good a quarterback you are,” Wilson said.

Tide-bits

Senior “Jack” linebacker Keith Saunders wore black during Tuesday’s practice indicating no contact, as did Coffee (shoulder).

“I’ll be ready to go,” Coffee said about Saturday’s game.

Sophomore right tackle Mike Johnson (ankle) and junior running back Jimmy Johns (ankle) practiced like they normally would. Johnson’s ankle wasn’t even taped after practice. …

The team was forced inside when a thunderstorm blew through town just before 5 p.m., but it got in most of its work beforehand. …

As for which players are playing the roles of running backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones in practice this week, the key word is “players” because there’s more than one including Jonathan Lowe. For example, freshman wide receiver Kyle Pennington has been mimicking McFadden taking snaps and on option runs.

“Just doing my part, whatever I can do,” Lowe said. “Whatever it is, running, catching, passing, throwing, blocking, whatever. There’s a lot of different things.” …

Lowe talked with reporters for the first time since missing fall camp due to academic reasons, and said he was a little surprised to get game action so quickly.

“When you get into a situation like that, you have to uphold your end of the bargain, by staying in shape and condition,” Lowe said. “You never know what circumstances might come up. It’s somewhat difficult being behind on the plays, but actually it felt good being back out there.”

The Tide practiced as if 6-foot-6 senior receiver Marcus Monk will play Saturday. Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said on Monday that he wasn’t “counting” on either Monk (knee) or tight end Ben Cleveland (neck/shoulder) to be available.

Reach Christopher Walsh at christopher.walsh@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0196