The Iron Bowl is the game that makes the Yellowhammer State stand still one day out of the year. Stores shut down, schools give no homework, and even the toughest of bosses give their employees the day off work.
Third-ranked Alabama will take on Auburn in Jordan-Hare Stadium at 2:30 p.m. CT today for the 86th Iron Bowl. Nick Saban has his team ready to walk into the Plains expecting a victory.
The Tide are already in the SEC Championship regardless of the game’s outcome. However, possible playoff implications are on the line, and Auburn is looking to derail Bama’s chances of being one of the top four teams.
Alabama controls their own destiny for the playoffs, and a win today over arch-rival Auburn would put them one step closer to their goal.
If the crimson squad wants to get past this last bump in the regular-season road, they will need to execute three key things in this game.
Secure the pocket
Alabama’s only loss this season came at the hands of Texas A&M. What the Aggies did successfully was rush the passer.
Bryce Young is a Heisman front-runner and a superb quarterback, but if he does not have time to throw, he would prefer to forgo using his legs. Texas A&M played off of that by bringing the pressure more than any team the Tide has faced so far this season.
Auburn’s defense under Derek Mason is designed to be a bend-but-don’t-break scheme. This could bode well for Alabama, but if Auburn decides to bring the house even a few plays, the Bama offensive line will need to be ready.
Their line is more than capable, but with the loss of Landon Dickerson and more from last year, it is not the same sturdy line we are used to seeing.
Watch for Auburn to bring more than a three-man rush after an embarrassing comeback loss to Mississippi State two weeks ago. Alabama will be prepared for any type of rush the Tigers bring, but it will still be a challenge to give Young enough time in the pocket to go through his progressions like he is accustomed to doing.
If Young has ample time in the pocket, he will be able to pick apart the Auburn secondary with ease in this one.
Disrupt the Tigers’ backup quarterback
Yes, T.J. Finley played for LSU last year and led his team to victory over Georgia State this year. However, LSU will be absent from the field and Georgia State’s defense is not on the same planet as Alabama’s.
Alabama needs to make sure Auburn’s backup is as uncomfortable as possible. That starts with the defensive linemen for the Tide, but will most likely require Will Anderson and Henry To’oTo’o to come on some designed blitzes from the linebacker position.
Finley has played relatively well for the Tigers as a backup when needed. However, with Bo Nix out for the season, he performed poorly in his first start against South Carolina on the road last week.
He completed 17 of his 32 passes for 188 yards against the Gamecocks and struggled handling pressure from the defense.
Alabama’s defense can and should present a bigger issue for the former backup quarterback. Pete Golding, Alabama’s defensive coordinator, will be doing everything he can to make the Tigers’ signal caller feel uncomfortable in the pocket.
A mix of blitz packages and disguised coverages will be enough to keep the opposing quarterback on his toes during his second start with the Tigers.
Eyes on the prize
No team should ever look ahead or past any certain matchup. However, Alabama has a lot at stake with this game and needs to get through Auburn to stay in a position to make the College Football Playoff.
While it is a very uncommon thing to say that looking ahead is good for a team, the Tide have a lot to look forward to, and can use that as extra motivation to defeat their in-state rival if for whatever reason there needs to be any extra motivation.
Of course, there is also the flip side to that. Auburn has nothing to lose and will play very free in this matchup. This could be a problem for the Tide considering that Auburn can attempt any outlandish scheme they wish against Alabama.
Saban always has his teams ready for anything though, and this game will be no different. Additionally, the Tide needs to play smart and not let emotions get the best of them in a game that means more for them on a national scale.
In the 86th edition of the Iron Bowl, the Crimson Tide will be looking for their 48th victory over the Tigers to extend their all-time lead to 11.
Hayden Crigler is a contributing college football and college basketball writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him through email: [email protected] or on Twitter: @hayden_crigler.
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