The Tide's midseason report card

TUSCALOOSA - Sometimes, you just have to go back to the beginning.

For Nick Saban and the University of Alabama football team, that would be Jan. 4, the day he was formally introduced as the 27th coach of the Crimson Tide. It’s when he delivered the “Be a champion” speech, fans first heard about “the process,” and the focus of the program suddenly centered around two words.

“Mental toughness.”

“We want to be a big, physical, aggressive football team that is relentless in the competitive spirit that we go out and play with, week in and week out,” Saban said. “What I would like is for every football team that we play to sit there and say, ‘I hate playing against these guys. I hate playing them, their effort, their toughness, their relentless resiliency on every play, focus on the next play and competing for 60 minutes. I can’t handle it.’

“That’s the kind of football team we want. It takes a lot of conditioning, it takes a lot of preparation and it takes the mindset that you’re going to play hard for 60 minutes regardless of what the scoreboard says.”

Midway though the 2007 season, Saban’s message hasn’t fluctuated as he continues to search for that “critical mass” of players who will put everything on the line each and every Saturday. In fact, players are hearing about mental toughness more than ever.

“We won’t win any games this year [just] because we’re Alabama,” Saban said this week. “Not one. We won’t.”

However, for whatever reason, that attitude hasn’t carried over to games the way Saban wants. Although the Crimson Tide is 4-2, just like last year at this point, the last four games have essentially come down to the final play, with Alabama winning two and losing two (one in overtime). Twice it had big leads early in the game, like 23-0 at the end of the first quarter against Houston last week, only to see the opposition come back and nearly steal the win away.

“I hate it,” senior linebacker Darren Mustin said. “Who wouldn’t hate it? You look up and they’re down to one touchdown and they have the ball driving. You’re, ‘Oh my goodness, here we go again.’

“It’s very difficult, but you have to learn not to do it. We’ve done it twice this year and it almost came back and hurt us. We can’t do that. We have to play every play like it’s the last play and play every play like it’s the first play. We just have to keep playing.”

Consequently, there are two ways to look at this year’s squad so far:

1. Either the Tide isn’t living up to its potential, or,

2. The team is still coming together and hasn’t played its best game yet.

Considering the 2006 team was barely hanging on at this point, and would go on to lose five of the final six games, the optimistic approach seems to be the correct one in evaluating the midterm grades.

Quarterbacks

Although junior John Parker Wilson set numerous school passing records last season, his overall efficiency is down despite success in the two-minute offense. Wilson guided last-minute touchdown drives against No. 16 Arkansas and No. 22 Georgia, completing 9 of 12 passes for 107 yards in the process.

However, there is cause for concern, particularly because the offense has stalled at crucial times. Twice he errantly turned the ball over while trying to force a play, and he couldn’t get into a rhythm against Florida State until the Seminoles went into a prevent defense.

Also, Alabama ranks second in the SEC in first downs, but is last in third-down conversions at 37.4 percent.

The reasons why are numerous, varying from not looking off defenders, overthrows and pressure, but a lot of it likely has to do with working with a new coaching staff, and things haven’t quite clicked yet with the play-callers.

“I think the biggest thing for us is that we have to go practice harder,” Wilson said. “We can’t try to show up Saturday and try and turn the switch on because it doesn’t happen like that.”

Grade: C

Running backs

This might be the statistic of the year so far for Alabama — this time last year the Tide was averaging just 135.5 rushing yards per game. This season, it’s up to 183.3 yards.

Although junior Jimmy Johns has all but vanished from the stat sheet, Alabama feels it has three running backs who can all start, the oldest being a sophomore. Redshirt freshman Terry Grant has been the most explosive, with 531 yards on 85 attempts, averaging 6.2 yards per carry, for five touchdowns.

“Basically it’s all healthy competition back there,” said sophomore Glen Coffee, who made his first start last week and had 121 yards on 30 carries. “I mean we don’t know going into week to week who is going to be the featured back. We just know that we all have different things to bring to the table. Whatever the coaches decide is the best thing we need to win, that’s what we are going to roll with.”

Sophomore Roy Upchurch has also forced his way into the rotation, and all three backs have caught passes out of the backfield.

“My chance is hopefully coming,” Upchurch said. “I’ve been busting my butt in practice.”

Grade: B

Receivers

This time last year, Keith Brown was leading the SEC with 6.0 receptions per game, and DJ Hall was second in receiving yards at 96.8.

Hall has been stable this season, with 26 receptions for 439 yards (16.9 average) and three touchdowns, but Brown lost his starting job to sophomore Mike McCoy, who has 20 catches for 150 yards and one touchdown.

One of the reasons for Wilson’s decrease in passing efficiency is that Alabama hasn’t been able to hit most of its deep balls. Also disappointing is the lack of yards after the catch. Last week, the Tide accumulated 78 yards after the catch, 42 of which came on screen or shovel passes, which can signal a lack of separation on routes.

On the positive side, 15 different players have had at least one reception, senior Matt Caddell has been a top option for Wilson in clutch situations (like the game-winning touchdown against Arkansas), and both McCoy and junior Nikita Stover have made impressive blocks.

Also, years of waiting for the tight ends to be more involved in the passing game are over. Led by junior Nick Walker, they have 14 catches for 121 yards, two touchdowns and a two-point conversion.

Grade: C

Offensive line

Although sophomore Mike Johnson won the starting job at right tackle, the unit returned virtually intact, which is finally reaping rewards. Also, junior tight end Travis McCall occasionally blocks as well as a lineman.

“Chemistry is probably the most important thing you can have on the offensive line,” junior Antoine Caldwell said. “When you build a trust with one another, you also build chemistry on and off the field. Trusting a guy who is going to go to class when he is supposed to and trusting a guy who is going to do the right thing each day. Chemistry is what brought this whole unit together. Being able to trust in one another and seeing guys grow up, with one more year of experience than before.

“It’s like I said, it’s probably the most important thing you can have in an offensive line and this offensive line has come a long way.”

Alabama has yielded nine sacks for 47 yards, and at times the line has dominated an opponent (late against Vanderbilt and early vs. Houston, for example), but more consistency is needed.

“It’s pretty much up to us to go out there and do our job,” sophomore left tackle Andre Smith said. “We have to go out there and continue to work hard, have fun and show that killer instinct.”

Grade: B-

Defensive line

The unit thought to be the Tide’s weakness has held up, despite using four different freshmen at times (Brian Motley, Milton Talbert, Josh Chapman and Alfred McCullough).

The line is also beginning to see some depth with sophomore Brandon Deaderick filling in for injured end Bobby Greenwood.

Opponents have just five rushing touchdowns and are averaging just 3.5 yards per carry, and which is pretty impressive considering Alabama has already played Arkansas and Georgia.

As for sacks, the five against Houston last week got Alabama out of the SEC cellar.

“Sacks come in bunches and hopefully I started something, and they pile up, pile up, pile up,” senior end Wallace Gilberry said.

Perhaps a more telling statistics is Alabama has 40 tackles for a loss. Gilberry leads the unit with 37 tackles, 9½ tackles for loss, two sacks and one forced fumble.

Grade: B-

Linebackers

Who knew? Mustin might be the emotional heart of the defense. Junior Ezekial Knight has shown some real flashes and has 37 tackles, 5½ for a loss and two sacks despite just nine career games on defense. Senior Keith Saunders has been solid despite playing through an injury and really gave up his body against Arkansas. Sophomore Prince Hall forced his way back on to the field after losing his starting job.

Nevertheless, the player who has opposing coaches talking the most is true freshman Rolando McClain, who leads the Tide with 42 tackles despite not starting last week.

“His size and strength [stand out],” Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said. “You can’t believe is a freshman.”

Considering only Hall had a previous start at linebacker prior to this season, this group’s progress has been impressive, but there doesn’t appear to be much depth.

Grade: B+

Defensive backs

If there was a most-improved award for the unit, it would go to freshman cornerback Kareem Jackson, who has been solid, with senior safety Marcus Carter second.

But the two key players are still senior cornerback Simeon Castille and junior safety Rashad Johnson.

“He’s been playing awesome,” Castille said about Johnson. “I mean light’s out, and we’re going to need that.”

Johnson is second on the Tide in tackles with 41, including an impressive 22 solo stops (tying with Gilberry), and tops the team with three interceptions.

Overall, the Tide has seven picks, which is down from last year’s 10, but look for improvement in the second half of the season.

“There are a lot more games to play, a lot more balls to get,” Castille said.

Botched assignments bump the grade down, though the secondary is a big reason why Alabama is second in the SEC in turnover margin (turnovers gained minus lost) at plus-five.

“It’s just something that you have to think about all the time while you’re out on the field practicing,” Johnson said. “When you’re tired, you just need to just try and focus a little more mentally and not make mistakes. On Saturday, once the defense got a little fatigued, we started making mistakes here and there. The coaches are going to keep reminding you, but on Saturday it’s all left up to the individual player to do the right things even when they’re tired.”

Grade: B

Special teams

Sophomore punter P.J. Fitzgerald (38.5 average) and sophomore kicker Leigh Tiffin (9-for-14 in field goals) both need to be consistent, but the coverage units have been solid, especially on punts. Opponents are averaging 17.1 yards on kickoffs, and 5.4 yards on punts (although Saban would like to see improvement from the non-gunners).

As the finest form of flattery, teams are now kicking away from Javier Arenas, who is averaging 13.3 yards per punt return.

“Now I have to make that adjustment,” Arenas said.

Junior snapper Brian Selman has hardly been noticed, exactly the way coaches want.

Grade: B-

Overall

The final grade, B-, is the same from last year, but for different reasons. While the 2006 Tide was a heartbeat away from a collapse, and lost five of its last six games, this squad is still coming together and might still surprise some people.

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