After making costly mistakes against the Louisiana State University Tigers, The University of Alabama Crimson Tide defense is looking to correct those errors in the upcoming game against the Texas A&M Aggies.
Defensive back Ha’Sean Clinton-Dix said he is looking for the Tide to improve its tackling during Saturday’s game. The team focused on tackling around the perimeter and fixing other mistakes it made during the game against LSU during Monday’s practice, the sophomore said.
The defense is working to contain Aggie quarterback Johnny Manziel. Clinton-Dix said Manziel’s ability to create plays when it seems like there are no options open poses a threat the Tide must step up and handle.
“He’s a great runner,” Clinton-Dix said. “He can run and pass at the same time. So, we just have to contain him and hold him down and get off the field on third down.”
Clinton-Dix said the defense is also preparing to cover Ryan Swope, an Aggie wide receiver. Swope has the ability to find openings and plays a physical game the Tide is prepared to match, the defensive back said.
Tide motivated for Aggies coming off Tiger victory
Right tackle D.J. Fluker said the win against the Tigers last Saturday added more motivation for the team to make preparations for future opponents.
“We’ve learned to come with a better mindset coming to practice,” Fluker said. “We can’t take any team lightly. You never know what could happen. With that type of attitude you will come out and work every single day just to get better.”
The junior said this attitude and the time spent with his fellow offensive linemen has allowed the line to improve since September and will be important during this Saturday’s game against the Aggies.
“We’re a lot more aware of things going on, and we’re communicating a whole lot more on a whole new level basically,” Fluker said. “That’s a great thing.”
This connection between the linemen allows them the ability to motivate each other like Fluker did on the sideline during the last minutes of the Tide’s game against the Tigers.
“We all talk to each other,” Fluker said. “When everybody’s like ‘let’s pick it up’ when one of us does it, everybody picks it up. It’s like being little catfish.”
Fluker said he knows the Aggie defense is a hard working unit that puts in a lot of effort on the field. The Tide offense must have the right footwork, Fluker said, as well as pay attention to detail as it goes up against Texas A&M.
Although the Aggies will be playing their tenth game of the season, the Tide is not expecting a tired team. Alabama is focused on playing its game confidently against a great team, Fluker said.
