Tennessee can hurt Alabama in this area of the game
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The numbers aren’t in Tennessee’s favor. The Volunteers enter Saturday’s matchup against No. 1 Alabama as a 34.5-point underdog and haven’t defeated the Crimson Tide since 2006. It doesn’t help that Alabama also leads the SEC in total offense, scoring offense, rushing offense, scoring defense and rushing defense.
There is one stat, however, where Tennessee can look to expose Alabama.
Tennessee ranks No. 7 in the nation averaging 27.64 yards per kick return this season. The Volunteers are led by freshman running back Ty Chandler, who is averaging 32 yards per return, including a 91-yard touchdown return against Indiana State. Tennessee also has senior defensive back Evan Berry, who has returned two kicks for a combined 86 yards this season, an average of 43 yards per return.
Those averages are quite a bit more than Alabama is used to giving up on special teams. The Tide ranks second in the SEC and No. 20 nationally, allowing 17.48 yards per return. In fact, Alabama has given up just one kick return of more than 25 yards this season, a 63-yard return from Fresno State receiver Da’Mari Scott in Week 2.
“I think that kickoff coverage has been pretty good for the most part,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban said. “I think it's top in the league in terms of the way we've covered but this team that we're playing also leads the league in kick returns, so this is going to be a real challenging game for that particular unit on special teams, in terms of what they do and how they do it.”
Alabama’s biggest defense in stopping Tennessee’s dangerous return game comes in the powerful right leg of punter JK Scott. The senior is averaging 63.72 yards per kickoff this season and is tied for No. 6 nationally with 29 touchbacks.
Of course, simply booming the ball out of the back of the end zone will give Tennessee the ball at the 25-yard line. Plenty of times, Alabama believes it can do better than that.
“I think ball placement and hang time are really important depending on the coverage pattern that you use and how you're sending your guys down the field and how they're dodging blocks,” Saban said. “When you don't get the ball placed the right place or you don't get to a certain yard line before the guy catches it, it makes the coverage more difficult.”
If Alabama does allow Tennessee a chance to return the ball, it has the playmakers on special teams to chase down the Volunteers’ shifty returners. Running back Josh Jacobs and freshman defensive back Daniel Wright both earned special teams players of the week honors from Alabama coaches on Monday after both made stops on special teams.
Wright leads Alabama with 10 stops on special teams and has been named a special teams player of the week three times, including the past two weeks.
“He’s right behind me, and I pretty much play off him,” cornerback Anthony Averett said of Wright. “I just watch him every time. He’s just running full speed down that kickoff. Even if he doesn’t make a tackle, he’s hitting the guy that’s blocking him hard. He’s just an animal out there.”
Alabama will host Tennessee at 2:30 p.m. Saturday inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. The game will be televised nationally by CBS.