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Defense, special teams still on scoring streak

Alabama defensive back Ronnie Harrison (15) returns an interception for a touchdown Saturday, October 15, 2016 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Alabama defensive back Ronnie Harrison (15) returns an interception for a touchdown Saturday, October 15, 2016 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Gary Cosby Jr. | The Tuscaloosa News)

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Eddie Jackson sent the text blast calling the meeting.

Players only.

Actually, defensive backs only.

It was a short meeting in a team room last Monday after Arkansas had lit up the University of Alabama for 400 passing yards. The Crimson Tide won the game, but its pass defenders weren't happy.

"We knew we were better than what we showed last week," said sophomore safety Ronnie Harrison. "We all came in there and we met and we talked about it."

Players challenged each other to prepare better. It showed in Saturday's 49-10 victory at ninth-ranked Tennessee at Neyland Stadium.

Harrison's preparation included film study. He saw a Tennessee formation late in the first quarter and recognized it as one the Volunteers had used to run a screen pass against Texas A&M and Florida earlier in the season.

When Tennessee ran that play, Harrison jumped the route and scampered 58 yards for a touchdown that put Alabama up two scores.

"When they were aligned like that we knew what was going to happen so we just played it the right way," Harrison said. "I made a play on the ball. It felt like he threw it straight to me."

Harrison knew what to do; what he had to do.

"I can't drop this," he said to himself. "I've got to score."

Harrison's score was Alabama's eighth defensive touchdown this season and 10th non-offensive score. UA added another in the fourth quarter when Jackson, a senior safety, returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown. The 11th non-offensive score gives Alabama one more than all of last season, with only seven games played so far. The Crimson Tide has scored at least one non-offensive touchdown in its last nine games, dating back to last season.

It's become a habit, and one that's catching. Seven of UA's 11 defensive starters have scored this season.

"I think confidence and players believing and having faith in what they're doing certainly contributes to their success," head coach Nick Saban said. "So when you have punt returns, I think guys that are blocking ... they think that if we do this right we're going to have a chance to make an impact on the game. I think it's the same thing with the defense.

"We emphasize stripping the ball out, we emphasize attacking the ball. ... It's a point of emphasis and when players start to get them (the others) start to think, 'I'm going to get me one.'"

Jackson had earlier called a fair catch on a punt that Alabama had tried to block. Saban thought he could have returned it, and told him so.

He sidestepped one would-be tackler on the touchdown return and out-raced Tennessee's coverage unit to the end zone.

"We just call it the Six Club," Jackson said. "So a guy scores a touchdown we just go like, 'Welcome to the Six Club.' That just keeps guys motivated and keeps them pushing."

At this point, it's no surprise.

"When we score, it's just like another thing that we do," Harrison said. "It's very contagious, it gets everybody going."

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