Even with spread offenses changing the way the SEC looks on Saturdays in the fall one tenant remains the same. The SEC is a line of scrimmage league. What has and still separated the SEC from other conferences is the size and speed of defensive front sevens, and two of the best in the entire country will be on display this Saturday in Atlanta.
In the last month Florida has struggled to get anything going, passing or rushing, against much lesser defenses.
“We just can’t sit there and be target practice for these creatures,” Jim McElwain said on Monday. “They’ve got creatures.”
McElwain uses the term as one of endearment and Alabama’s front seven certainly fits the bill. Defensive linemen A’Shawn Robinson, Jarran Reed, Jonathan Allen and D.J. Pettaway have combined for 26 tackles for loss, pushing opponents back 113 yards on the season. As a unit, the Crimson Tide defensive front seven has accumulated 68.5 tackles for loss this season.
The Tide defensive line talented, sure, but what really sets them apart is their depth. When asked about Alabama’s front four, McElwain scoffed.
“I think his front 30, how many guys they’ve got,” Mac said. “I just hope our offensive line, their knees don’t crack together from shaking as they got to play against those guys. They just keep rolling them through there.”
Florida’s unit, albeit a walking wounded group at the moment, is no slouch either. Anchored by senior Jon Bullard Florida’s defensive front has tallied 56 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. The depth of both team’s lines is what has set their defenses apart from the rest of the conference and most of the nation.
Every defense needs a field general and the Florida Gators and Alabama Crimson Tide both boast two of the best linebacker in the country. Chuck Bednairk finalist (the best defensive player in the country) Reggie Ragland and Antonio Morrison command their respective defenses like General George S. Patton. These two are throwback football players, made of nails, the kind of players that haunt the dreams of running backs and quarterbacks alike.
There isn’t a defense in the country that allows fewer rushing yards a game (78.9) than Alabama. Florida’s rush defense is no slouch, ranked seventh in the nation (111.25 yards per game) but pales in comparison to the Tide.
Florida will need to try and run the ball this week, putting additional pressure on the offensive line, a group that has held together for the most part this season will face their toughest test of the season on Saturday.
“[Offensive line coach Mike Summers] is trying to coax them out of the meeting room after they watch them [on film],” said McElwain. “We put carrots in front of them today, they started following him a little bit.”
There hasn’t been an offensive line this season that has been able to keep the Crimson Tide in check. Florida thinks they have an advantage that every other team doesn’t have — they’ve had to face the Florida defensive line every day since spring camp.
“It’s good we get that look, we get that one-on-one look every week for these past 14 weeks,” senior tackle Mason Halter said. “So I mean, we’re definitely prepared, and coach Mac prepared us all through camp and everything like that. It’s definitely and advantage and we just have to go out there and prove it.”
Fancy spread offenses have grown like a California forest fire in the middle of July and they’ve even touched the hallowed football grounds of the south. This Saturday will be different. It’s back to the roots when these two teams kickoff in the Georgia Dome at 4 pm.
Creatures, glass eaters and fire breathers will rule the day on Saturday. Buckle your chinstrap, this is what the SEC Championship is all about.