Between Alabama’s defensive line and Arkansas’s offensive line, it’s about to get physical come Saturday.
Last year against Arkansas, the Crimson Tide won but it was a close game with a final score of 14-13.
“It was fun for us, honestly,” defensive lineman Jonathan Allen said. “We weren’t worried about winning or losing. We were just having fun out there competing.”
Both Allen and linebacker Ryan Anderson remember it as a physical game. The physicality of that game – and what he expects out of this weekend’s game – is Anderson’s favorite part about playing teams like Arkansas.
“These kind of games mean a lot to me, “ Anderson said. “That’s why I came here, to play against teams that [are] gonna line up – two tight ends, two backs – and run the ball. No fastball, none of that stuff. Just physical teams.”
Arkansas running back Alex Collins leads his team with 656 rushing yards. He averages 131.2 yards per game.
“He’s a one-cut runner,” Anderson said. “He sets you up. He can bust the big runs. He can [get] in and get you the short yardage, too. He’s an every-down back.”
The Razorbacks have 1,020 rushing yards so far this season, and are averaging 204 yards per game. On the other side of the line of scrimmage, Alabama’s defense allows an average of 84 rushing yards per game.
Anderson remembers the Arkansas offensive line clearly.
“They’re a pain,” he said. “They’re a pain to deal with. Last year, playing against those guys, it was tough.”
Behind that offensive line is quarterback Brandon Allen, who has completed 93 of 141 passes for eight touchdowns and 1,360 yards.
“We’re going to have to really do a good job of focusing and trying to keep him in the pocket and make his throws from there, instead of us scrambling out after him, because that’s where big plays usually are made,” Allen said.
The rest of the Crimson Tide feels confident in its defensive line. It’s been a rock for the team so far this season. It stopped Georgia’s Nick Chubb last weekend, who is ranked No. 2 in SEC rushing and it plans to stop Collins the same way this weekend.
The defensive line has also totaled up 13 sacks this season. The talent within the Alabama defensive line has been talked about outside of the team as well, but regardless of the amount of talk – good or bad – it goes in one ear and out the other.
“Coach Bo [Davis] does a good job of keeping us humble,” Allen said. “We really don’t worry about what people say about us. We let our play do the talking.”
As long as the team feels it had good preparation the week prior, it’ll have a good game Saturday.
“Games are won on Mondays and Tuesdays, and throughout the season,” Allen said. “That’s what we pride ourselves on, that good work ethic.”
