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Coming off an impressive win at Texas A&M, Alabama gets back into action this weekend with the Tennessee Volunteers coming to Tuscaloosa. The Vols are a disappointing 3-3 so far this season after some picked them to contend for the SEC East title. But they are still loaded with young talent who could cause problems for good teams such as the Crimson Tide. Here’s a look at five Alabama players who could have a big impact on Saturday’s game.
Alabama RB Kenyan Drake — Drake’s production has dipped a bit in recent weeks, coinciding with Derrick Henry surging into the Heisman race and getting more carries. But the Tide doesn’t want to overwork Henry, and when you have a talent such as Drake it doesn’t have to. In the long run, it’s going to help if Drake gets back to being a major piece of the rushing and passing games. That could start this week.
Alabama CB Cyrus Jones — Jones was a preseason All-SEC pick but so far in 2015, he’s been overshadowed by younger players in the defensive backfield such as Minkah Fitzpatrick and Eddie Jackson, who have combined for 7 interceptions and 15 passes defended. Jones has slipped under the radar in part because he hasn’t given up the big plays this year, which is an improvement over last season. But if Tennessee wants to throw the ball away from the turnover-causing safeties, it might look to pick on Jones this week.
Alabama LB Reggie Ragland — Ragland was expected to be the leader on defense after he declined to enter the NFL Draft and came back for his senior season. He hasn’t disappointed a bit, but his past two games in particular have been marvelous. Joshua Dobbs is the kind of dual-threat quarterback who could give the Tide a bit of trouble, but Ragland, with 59 tackles this season, is an important piece of the puzzle both as a pass rusher and somebody who can keep Dobbs contained when he scrambles.
Alabama QB Jake Coker — When the Tide has thrived on offense, it’s been when Coker has stayed within himself and eliminated mistakes. The past few weeks have been good for Coker, who has completed 62 percent of his passes for 11 touchdowns with 6 interceptions this year. When Coker has avoided forcing the ball to covered receivers or throwing off his back foot, he’s been good at managing the offense and mixing in the occasional deep ball. But he must stay composed if the Vols manage to get some pressure on him.
Alabama WR Calvin Ridley — It’s likely no coincidence that Henry and others on the Crimson Tide offense started putting up bigger numbers as Ridley emerged as a go-to threat at wideout. The freshman has been solid from the start, but the past few games have seen him explode onto the scene as a deep threat and somebody who can help the Tide move the chains at any time. Ridley’s emergence has opened up the field for everyone else. If he can keep it up against Tennessee, the Tide should be able to put plenty of points on the board.
Shane Mettlen is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers Texas A&M, Missouri and Alabama.
