Spring Break
Arkansas helped by element of suprise against 'Bama
Matt Watson
Issue date: 9/12/07 Section: Sports
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"I think the big focus for our team is to improve, prepare well all week so that we have the best chance to execute the plan against a very good football team and some great football players," Saban said.
Whether it's the "Wildcat formation," the "WildHog" or just the "501," the Razorbacks have a lot of options coming out of the backfield.
After operating from a limited playbook before conference play against Troy and being idle last Saturday, the defensive-minded Saban doesn't have much film of Lee's offensive package to study, which he's been preparing since joining the Hogs' staff again in February.
If there's anything Saban does know for certain, it's that McFadden will touch the ball.
Lee told the Associated Press at the beginning of the year, "I'm not stupid here. I'm going to feed the studs."
In last year's match with Alabama, McFadden carried the ball 25 times for 112 yards and a touchdown, which is nothing for the Tide defense to be ashamed of.
"These two guys, Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, if they're not first round draft picks, I don't know who is-both of them," Saban said. "Both guys gained well over 1,000 yards last year. They're versatile. They're very dangerous on kickoff return as well. They've both been back there and they've both had big returns. It's going to be a real challenge to us from that standpoint."
For Lee, it's not his first look at a Saban-coached defense.
"I've gone against Nick Saban's system in pro football when he was with Miami," Lee said. "It's so sound, and he's got so many answers to everything you want to do."
Lee also coached against Saban when Lee was a quarterbacks coach at Arkansas and Saban was at LSU.
Lee credited the Crimson Tide coaching staff for the significant amount of improvement of the defense in one week between their opener against Western Carolina to their victory over Vanderbilt Saturday.
"I just hope they don't improve that much again against us," Lee said.
As if the chess match between two experienced coaching minds like Lee and Saban isn't enough, Alabama's long-standing tradition of smash-mouth defense and Arkansas' Heisman frontrunner in the backfield promise an entertaining game this weekend.
"I think that every game we play we find out about ourselves. We find out what we need to improve," Saban said. "This game will be no different than that. And this is going to be a totally different type of game relative to what this team does. So it'll be a real challenge for our players."
Whether it's the "Wildcat formation," the "WildHog" or just the "501," the Razorbacks have a lot of options coming out of the backfield.
After operating from a limited playbook before conference play against Troy and being idle last Saturday, the defensive-minded Saban doesn't have much film of Lee's offensive package to study, which he's been preparing since joining the Hogs' staff again in February.
If there's anything Saban does know for certain, it's that McFadden will touch the ball.
Lee told the Associated Press at the beginning of the year, "I'm not stupid here. I'm going to feed the studs."
In last year's match with Alabama, McFadden carried the ball 25 times for 112 yards and a touchdown, which is nothing for the Tide defense to be ashamed of.
"These two guys, Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, if they're not first round draft picks, I don't know who is-both of them," Saban said. "Both guys gained well over 1,000 yards last year. They're versatile. They're very dangerous on kickoff return as well. They've both been back there and they've both had big returns. It's going to be a real challenge to us from that standpoint."
For Lee, it's not his first look at a Saban-coached defense.
"I've gone against Nick Saban's system in pro football when he was with Miami," Lee said. "It's so sound, and he's got so many answers to everything you want to do."
Lee also coached against Saban when Lee was a quarterbacks coach at Arkansas and Saban was at LSU.
Lee credited the Crimson Tide coaching staff for the significant amount of improvement of the defense in one week between their opener against Western Carolina to their victory over Vanderbilt Saturday.
"I just hope they don't improve that much again against us," Lee said.
As if the chess match between two experienced coaching minds like Lee and Saban isn't enough, Alabama's long-standing tradition of smash-mouth defense and Arkansas' Heisman frontrunner in the backfield promise an entertaining game this weekend.
"I think that every game we play we find out about ourselves. We find out what we need to improve," Saban said. "This game will be no different than that. And this is going to be a totally different type of game relative to what this team does. So it'll be a real challenge for our players."
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