Missed tackles are inevitable when a team plays a lot of young players, and despite Nick Saban’s disappointment in that regard to the media, according to sources he was actually pleased with how the new faces performed last week at Bryant-Denny Stadium versus Fresno State.
Quarterback Chason Virgil tested Alabama’s secondary with a number of screen passes and quick throws, but safety Ronnie Harrison was one of few guys that made secure tackles throughout the game.
No matter if it was in coverage or run support, not a single Bulldog got away from the junior defensive back. Harrison led the Crimson Tide in solo tackles (five), while sharing the team lead in total tackles with eight.
He was one of three players to record a tackle for loss (-2) — wrapping up Fresno State’s running back Ronnie Rivers behind the line of scrimmage in the third quarter. Five of Harrison’s eight stops came in the second quarter, as he helped Alabama limit the Bulldogs to 58 yards rushing, 274 total yards (63 plays) and three third down conversions on 11 attempts.
He was one of the team leaders in tackles against Florida State, collecting five stops, one tackle for loss and a sack in the Crimson Tide’s 24-7 victory at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
After finishing second in tackles with 85 in 2016, the Tallahassee, Fla., native currently holds a team-high 13 tackles through two games this season.
Harrison and the Tide will remain at home this week to face Colorado State.
Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
