He made a pivotal play against Tennessee in the 2005 matchup in a 6-3 win for Alabama, but a former Crimson Tide safety was excited about how the Tide played last week versus the Volunteers.
Roman Harper, a College Football analyst for SEC Network, was proud of his Alma mater for its second-half adjustments at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Prattville (Ala.) native said he was ‘fired up’ by the performance of the defense to shut out Tennessee in the second half to earn a 34-20 victory. Harper was on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning, discussing his thoughts on Alabama’s seventh win of the season. He sees this team getting better each week and becoming dangerous at the right time.
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“Shutting a team out like Tennessee,” Harper said. “Not saying Tennessee is like world beaters but the way that they changed gears and were able to say okay we were like this on 1 part of the game and then we go to halftime and switch gears and take it up to another 3 or 4 notches.”
Alabama’s inside linebackers, Deontae Lawson and Jihaad Campell, played lights out against the Vols. Lawson led the team in total tackles (12) and had a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry. Campbell recorded 10 tackles, a tackle for loss, a fumble recovery, and a defensive touchdown. Lawson and Campbell shut down Tennessee’s run game and affected Joe Milton.
“The eye discipline, the physicality they played with,” Harper said. “The speed in which they played within that 2nd half really overwhelmed Tennessee. Gave Tennesssee nothing.”
Alabama is clicking at the right time, and the attention has shifted to LSU.
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The Tide defense has grown each week under Kevin Steele. Harper is very excited about Alabama going forward.
“It made me really excited because No. 1 that’s my team and No. 2 they were able to put more good film on tape,” Harper said. “Now you continue to let other teams know we’ve got other gears. We can still pick it up more and more and get better.”
Alabama is off this week, but it has started prep work for the Tigers.
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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.
