Alabama linebackers get a boost

TUSCALOOSA — South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier knows the challenge of facing Alabama’s defense tonight. The specifics, however, not so much.

Asked about the problem Rolando McClain poses for the No. 22 Gamecocks, Spurrier thought a moment and said, “They’re all very good. He must be No. 32, is he?”

Told that McClain is No. 25, Spurrier said, “We’ve been watching No. 32 (Eryk Anders), trying to figure out who’s going to block him. But yeah, (McClain’s) a big, strong guy, looks a little bit like Jasper Brinkley in there, 6-4, 260 and so forth. Yeah, he’s one of many.”

The Crimson Tide’s linebacking corps, jolted with the season-ending knee injury to sophomore Dont’a Hightower, adds another this week when sophomore Jerrell Harris is eligible.

Related Information:

  · The Huddle: Alabama Edition
Alabama sports writer Ken Rogers and sports editor Jon Johnson preview the Alabama-South Carolina game.

 

·Ken Roger’s blog

Harris is competing with freshman Nico Johnson at the will linebacker spot. Alabama coach Nick Saban said both will likely play, but the rotation has not been determined.

Alabama players said South Carolina (5-1, 2-1 SEC with only a four-point loss at Georgia) presents a challenge on both sides of the football.

“Just like coach Saban said, they’re four points away from being an undefeated team,” senior defensive end Lorenzo Washington said. “I really think they’re an underrated team. The quarterback (Stephen Garcia) does a lot. He makes a lot of plays. They have pretty good receivers, too.”

Saban said Carolina’s defense under coordinator Ellis Johnson is much improved. The Gamecocks have two of the best pass rushers from the edge in the country in Eric Norwood and Cliff Matthews.

“They are very athletic,” Saban said. “Eric Norwood, obviously, is an outstanding player. They have a good pressure package and do a really good job.”
Alabama left guard Mike Johnson called Norwood a “game-changer.”

“They like to do a lot of different stuff with their front,” Johnson said. “They run some three down and bring 40 (Norwood) up and put him on the edge standing up or put his hand down and rush him on third down. ... They’re going to be a challenge this week.”

Spurrier said South Carolina’s defensive team speed will have to overcome a size disadvantage.

“We’re not real big in there,” the coach said. “Of course Shaq Wilson is about a 210-pound inside linebacker. He doesn’t look like most of the guys we play against but he does a good job once we keep those big linemen off of him.”

Clearly, the Gamecocks would love to force Alabama to throw the ball in down-and-distance situations.

“Cliff Matthews and Eric Norwood are the two best rush guys in the country. Everybody’s got a lot of good ones, but our two guys are as good as everybody,” Spurrier said. “Now, can we get Alabama in a throwing game? I don’t know. That would be fun if we could.”

Alabama is favored by about 17 points. Spurrier seems to enjoy the underdog role that he rarely faced when he was at Florida.

“Obviously we’re going to go give it our best shot and see what happens,” the coach said. “But there’s not a lot of pressure on us. ... There was more pressure on that Kentucky game. I can assure you of that. And the game next week, when we play Vanderbilt. Because we line up with those guys a lot better.”