| Each week during the season, Joel Buchsbaum highlights key college games.
In this issue, Buchsbaum previews Tennessee vs. Alabama. He breaks down each team,
provides a scout’s perspective on key players and picks a final score.
| Tennessee vs.
Alabama |
Saturday, Oct. 20
at Tuscaloosa, Ala. |
 |
Volunteers QB
Casey Clausen
|
This game will give a strong indication of how far Alabama has come under new head
coach Dennis Franchione, and if Tennessee is a legitimate threat to Florida in the
Southeastern Conference. There was a time when you could not beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa,
but last year’s team lost to Southern Mississippi and Central Florida at home and was
shut out by Auburn. Or put another way, the Crimson Tide was not only beaten, it was
humiliated.
Quarterbacks — Alabama still has a great deal of uncertainty at
the QB position, where Andrew Zow is the better passer but Tyler Watts is a better runner
and leader. However, Watts lacks a big-league arm. Neither one really looks like the
answer. Tennessee feels sophomore Casey Clausen is the long-term answer at quarterback,
but he is not an overly gifted player with a great arm and 4.6 speed.
Running backs — Alabama really does not have that one guy you
feature and build around. Despite being undersized and not so fast, senior Travis Stephens
has been very effective this year and has been able to stay ahead of the Volunteers’
very talented younger backs.
Receivers — For Alabama, having TE Terry Jones back and healthy
is a big plus. He is a big, blue-collar guy who is an effective position blocker and a
pretty sure-handed receiver. However, he is not a deep threat as a receiver or a masher
when it comes to blocking in-line. Outside, WR Freddie Milons is back to where he was two
years ago, but it should be pointed out he never had great speed. Jason McAddley has
big-time size and speed, but he has never really become much more than an adequate second
or third receiver and is not a natural receiver. For Tennessee, former pro baseball player
(four years in the Marlins’ system) Kelley Washington is a tremendous talent who had
a record-breaking game against Louisiana State, catching 11 passes for 256 yards and a
touchdown. He also may be the team’s most gifted quarterback but makes Clausen a lot
better when he catches his passes. Donte Stallworth is the Volunteers’ best receiver,
and Eric Parker is an effective receiver and returner. But Stallworth may miss this game
as he continues to rehab from wrist surgery.
Offensive linemen — Alabama has tremendous size but not a lot of
experience and leadership up front. The Tide does not have one senior starter. The
team’s two returning starters are 355-pound junior OLT Dante Ellington and 340-pound
sophomore OG Dennis Alexander. Losing OT Michael Munoz (knee) has hurt Tennessee, but the
Volunteers do get senior OG-C Fred Weary back after missing most of last year with a nasty
ankle injury. Weary is a massive widebody with good strength, but he is not really a mean,
dominating type. However, he is a killer compared to OLT Reggie Coleman, who is a great
cheerleader and says all the right things but has yet to show the necessary toughness to
be a good player. Coleman is questionable for this game with a sprained ankle.
Defensive linemen — Tennessee could have the best defensive
tackle in college football in John Henderson and a very good end in Will Overstreet.
However, Henderson has been slowed by a high ankle sprain, and Overstreet hurt his left
knee against LSU but is expected to play. Both Henderson and Overstreet also have had back
problems, which can crop up at any time. When Henderson plays low and with leverage, he
can be dominating and destructive. He is a powerful and athletic 300-pounder who is not
that quick or sudden off the ball but really runs well. Overstreet is an achiever who
plays with good pad level and leverage and takes good angles to the ball. His motor is
always going 100 mph, and he really seems to understand the game and knows what it takes
to play it. He can drop into coverage from his DE position or rush the passer, and he is
tough to block because he uses his hands so well to shed. Alabama’s best defensive
lineman is Kindal Moorehead, who can play inside or outside but missed last season with a
torn Achilles tendon. Moorehead, who was moved inside to tackle this year, is a good
athlete inside but is not as strong or stout as you would like. As an edge guy, he may be
a step slow, but he is quick.
Linebackers — Dominique Stevenson is a three-year starter at
middle linebacker for Tennessee. He is a shorter linebacker with very good speed and is
extremely aggressive. However, at times his angles to the ball are off, and he needs to be
protected by his line because he does not do a good job of taking on and shedding blocks.
As a freshman, Alabama’s Saleem Rasheed looked like a future great, but to say he
suffered from the sophomore jinx in 1999 would be an understatement. Rasheed is very
active but lacks size and power and must be protected by his defensive linemen to be
effective because he is not all that good at taking on and shedding blockers.
Defensive backs — Tennessee’s best defensive back is Andre
Lott, but he does not show special qualities as either a safety or corner. However, he is
a good player and leader who will start at one corner. Alabama has two returning starters
in senior Reggie Myles at free safety and CB Gerald Dixon, but Myles already has been
benched for poor play.
Special teams — This is generally a strength of the Volunteers,
and this year is no exception. PK Alex Walls is very good from 45 yards in and has made a
number of clutch kicks, but he is not a long-range kicker. Dustin Colquitt has a chance to
become a big-time punter. Speedy Leonard Scott and Washington are potential gamebreakers
in the return game, and Parker is a good returner who may be better at protecting the ball
than the others. Alabama’s Milons can be a dangerous return man, but he does not have
blazing speed. PK Neal Thomas and P Lane Bearden are veteran kickers for the Tide.
Prediction: Tennessee 31, Alabama 17 |
