Alabama working on pass defense

Without a defensive back in sight, University of Alabama linebacker Ryan Anderson was the closest one to the final target last Saturday in Fayetteville, Ark., but even he couldn’t stop it from flawlessly unfolding.

Arkansas quarterback Austin Allen, his team trailing by 14 points late in the first quarter, launched a 24-yard pass down the right side of the field to a wide-open Jeremy Sprinkle.

There was a short, clear path to the end zone.

"The first touchdown, the tight end catches the ball and there’s nobody around," Alabama coach Nick Saban said on Monday. "We busted the coverage. Miscommunication. A very simple, easy thing."

That happened a number of times in Alabama’s 49-30 victory.

Although the Crimson Tide put pressure on the quarterback 12 times, forcing him to make quick decisions, it finished with just five pass breakups. Allen completed 25 of 48 passes, with a long pass of 57 yards.

"There were several opportunities where we had a chance to make the decision you always have to make: Do I intercept the ball, do I swat hook the guy, do I break down and tackle this guy?" Saban said. "We didn’t do that very well."

The only player who successfully accomplished the first option was defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick. He picked off three passes, which he returned for 114 yards and a score.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound ball thief received multiple player-of-the-week honors, but even he isn’t fully satisfied with his performance.

"None of us had a perfect game – even though we had some big plays and turnovers," Fitzpatrick said. "I know I didn’t have a perfect game."

Arkansas turned 16-yard and 10-yard receptions into touchdowns. The later was a third-and-10 play, too.

Through six games, Alabama has forced 40 three-and-outs to rank second in the nation. It only made Arkansas punt after three plays a total of three times, however.

Arkansas converted 8 of 16 third-down conversions, too. Half were due to complete passes.

"I was kind of getting frustrated," Fitzpatrick said. "I said something to team like, ‘We got to get off the field, man. I’m tired. We got to get off the field.’"

Over the course of 84 plays, Arkansas became one of three teams, including Clemson and Ole Miss (twice), in the last two seasons to accumulate more than 400 offensive yards against Alabama.

In fact, Allen did that all on his own last Saturday. He threw for a solid 400 yards, the most any Arkansas quarterback has totaled.

"We have the talent, we have the athleticism that nobody has in the country," Fitzpatrick said. "We should be able to execute and keep teams under at least 200 receiving yards."

Although that specific number was one he just threw out there, Fitzpatrick admitted it would be perfect. Alabama has done it in half of its game this season.

Also, compared to two rushing scores, the Crimson Tide has allowed seven touchdown receptions.

"We’re having a meeting (Monday) talking with the DBs about how we need to execute and get back to that national-championship secondary," Fitzpatrick said.