For the fourth time under Nick Saban, Alabama’s hopes for a huge postseason and an opportunity to play for a national championship hinges on the Iron Bowl versus Auburn.
While the Tigers enter the matchup with a strong defense, making smart plays and performing with a sense of urgency and precision will decide the game. The Crimson Tide will have Mac Jones make his first start at quarterback against Auburn and for its defense, the plan will be to take correct angles to the football and tackle in space. Despite it having three losses, the Tigers are one of the best teams in the sport and it has derailed the Tide from its ultimate goal on some occasions.
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Aside from earning a close victory at Jordan-Hare Stadium in 2009, Alabama’s shot at playing for a Southeastern Conference title was shattered by Auburn in 2013 and 2017.
An unbelievable ending, known as the “Kick Six” crushed Saban’s group in 2013, while the Tigers outplayed Alabama in 2017 to a 26-14 win.
Regardless of it playing for a College Football Playoff title in 2017, this year’s Auburn squad is highly confident that it can knock the Tide out of playoff contention.
Defensive linemen Marlon Davidson and Derrick Brown both plan on ‘waking Jones up,’ in terms of creating pressure and sacking him a lot.
“I feel like we have the best defense in the country and I feel like we’re going to wake him up.”
—Marlon Davidson on facing Mac Jones in the Iron Bowl pic.twitter.com/ZDbyD8ngd4
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 28, 2019
The tandem combines for 21.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks.
A boisterous crowd awaits the Tide on Saturday, so hopefully the communication will be crisp both offensively and defensively.
Also, Alabama cannot afford many penalties. If it finds itself behind the down and distance, Kevin Steele (Auburn’s defensive coordinator) will bring pressure.
It all comes down to the Iron Bowl and for the most part, the Tide plays its best when most people are not in favor of it.
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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 @CoachingMSmith.
