Gators vs. Alabama's Creatures No Easy Task
Thursday, December 1, 2016 | Football, Scott Carter
Florida's offense must find a way to move ball against an Alabama defense that appears allergic to allowing touchdowns.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida head coach Jim McElwain first used the description a year ago when preparing to face Alabama's defense in the SEC Championship Game.
He used it again this week.
"They've got a bunch of creatures,'' McElwain said.
"The Creatures from Tuscaloosa" could become an ESPN 30-for-30 film if top-ranked Alabama continues to play defense the way it has over the past month.
The Crimson Tide have not allowed a touchdown since Texas A&M quarterback Trevor Knight threw a 25-yard scoring pass to Christian Kirk early in the third quarter of Alabama's 33-14 victory. That was Oct. 22, or five games ago.
"We take pride in stopping teams,'' linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton said.
Alabama has outscored opponents 122-18 in its last four games, starting with a 10-0 win at LSU on Nov. 5. Six measly field goals in four games, and four of those came from Auburn kicker Daniel Carlson in Alabama's 30-12 Iron Bowl victory last week.
"Here's the other thing I think that probably helps their creatures play at a high level consistently, is they've got a creature behind him, which is competition at positions,'' McElwain said. "They know if they don't, someone will."
Alabama leads the country in rushing defense (68.7 yards per game), scoring defense (11.7 points per game) and overall defense (246.8 ypg).
The No. 15-ranked Gators (8-3) have a long list of challenges on Saturday to upset the undefeated Crimson Tide (12-0), none greater than finding yards and points. Florida was limited to a season-low 207 yards in the loss at Florida State and McElwain and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier are busy devising ways to improve that production.
Alabama's defense is big, fast, strong and deep. That has been a trademark of the program under the direction of head coach Nick Saban. McElwain witnessed it on a daily basis his four seasons as Alabama's offensive coordinator from 2008-11.
In last season's 29-15 loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game, the Gators managed just seven first downs and 180 total yards.
That won't be good enough on Saturday in the 25th anniversary edition of the SEC Championship Game.
"We just want to go out there and show that we are still the force that we were at LSU,'' said sophomore offensive lineman Fred Johnson, alluding to the offensive line's performance in the Gators' SEC East-clinching win over the Tigers two weeks ago. "Not let the 'Bama mindset get to you. They have guys who have been doing this many, many years, and many, many snaps."
While few give the 20-plus point underdog Gators a chance on Saturday at the Georgia Dome, they plan to put up a fight. The Gators were a 17.5-point underdog in last year's game and kept the game closer than expected before wearing down as Heisman winner Derrick Henry rushed 44 times for 189 yards.
Henry is gone but those who doubt the Gators remain.
"I've been an underdog and we've come out and beat a lot of teams. I feel we can beat anybody,'' safety Marcell Harris said.
"Anything can happen'' offensive lineman Tyler Jordan said. "It's going to be tough and physical game and we've got to grind it out."
The scariest of Alabama's creatures is senior defensive lineman Jonathan Allen, a 6-foot-3, 291-pound force with the strength of a lion and quickness of a cheetah. Allen has 52 tackles, 13 quarterback hurries, 11.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
That is scary.
So is 6-foot-2, 319-pound nose guard Da'Ron Payne. And his backup, 6-4, 315-pound Joshua Frazier. Opposite Allen at the other end spot is 6-3, 305-pound Dalvin Tomlinson. The list goes on.
Gators All-American cornerback Teez Tabor tried to put in perspective why playing Alabama is different than other teams.
He started by recalling last year's matchup.
"Those guys really brought it to us,'' Tabor said.
As Tabor continued on a conference call with media members, he was asked specifically what makes Alabama different from other teams.
He mentioned perhaps it's Saban and the way he prepares them, or maybe it's the program's strength and conditioning program. He grasped at the perfect answer before finally giving up.
"It's kind of hard to explain,'' he said. "It's something you've got to see for yourself."
Maybe McElwain is onto something. Alabama has creatures while others have players.
