Tide, Gators start fast

TUSCALOOSA — Get out front. Stay out front.

While the devil is in the details, top-ranked Alabama and No. 2 Florida have followed this blueprint all the way to the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta on Saturday.

The Crimson Tide (12-0) has trailed for a total of 23:11 this season. Florida (12-1) has trailed in just one game this season — its 31-30 loss to Ole Miss — for a total of 15:38.

Alabama set the tone early for its surprising turnaround from last year’s 7-6 season. The Crimson Tide built up an 88-0 first quarter cumulative lead over its first six games.

For the season, Alabama has enjoyed a 123-20 advantage in the first quarter — and a 234-47 edge at halftime.

The Gators have been even better. Florida has outscored its opponents 160-10 in the first quarter — and 304-41 in the first half.
Florida coach Urban Meyer said early momentum can be worth 14 points in a game. But he said too much can be made of those numbers.

“Two years ago, we played Arkansas and we jumped all over it in the first half, and then they came back and took the lead in the second half,” Meyer said. “It’s a 60-minute game, however. Momentum shifts occur, I think a fast start is going to be a critical part, but it’s not the only part. ... It’s a marathon. It’s not a sprint.”

Alabama coach Nick Saban noted that his team has been inconsistent at times after jumping to those big leads.
“I think the most important thing is to be able to sustain a certain level of consistency throughout the game in terms of your ability to focus and play every play,” Saban said.

Crimson Tide quarterback John Parker Wilson said the key to this season has been Alabama’s ability to finish games.

“Getting off to a fast start helps out a lot — getting points on the board early, and putting the other team in a situation where they’re doing things they don’t want to,” the senior from Hoover said. “But finishing the game and staying strong the rest of the game is I think the key.”

Still, a fast start against a high-flying, speedy Florida team would be welcome.

“It’s going to be huge to start fast,” senior center Antoine Caldwell said. “That’s the way we approach every game. The fast starts are always crucial and it will be no different in this game Saturday. We’ll definitely have to start fast and start early.”
Wilson tried to explain those fast starts.

“I don’t know, kind of the mindset we have, I guess,” the quarterback said. “e don’t really talk about it or put a lot of emphasis on coming out and scoring points early. It’s just kind of one of those things that have happened for us.”

Caldwell said it reflects how prepared the team is for each game.

“My offensive line coach (Joe Pendry) does a great job with us preparing us during the week for what we’re going to see,” Caldwell said. “I think when we get out there on the field, it’s kind of like practice. We’ve just been really prepared. That’s what’s enabled us to start fast.”

Florida cornerback Joe Haden is aware of Alabama’s fast-starting reputation. He also said the Gators want an early knockout.
“It’s going to be real big to get off to a good start. That’s what we’ve been thriving on, just coming out and playing our hardest at the beginning of the game,” Haden said.

“That kind of sometimes takes the life out of the other team. So, basically, you want to come out and keep doing what we’ve been doing — executing, playing hard defense, getting the ball from the defense to the offense, just keep exploding, keep them from putting up points and scoring high like they do. So that’s going to be real key for us.”

Florida’s defense takes a back seat to its offense in attention, but not in efficiency. The Gators’ first-team defense has not allowed a touchdown in five of the last six games. They have intercepted 23 interceptions this season.

Alabama leads the SEC in scoring defense (11.5 points per game) and rushing defense (73.6 yards per game). Florida is second in scoring defense (12.2 ppg) and third in rushing defense (102.8 ypg).

“We’ve just got to run straight at them. We’ve got to get north and south with the ball quick,” Alabama running back Glen Coffee said. We’re not going to change what we’ve been doing all year. We’re going to keep the same game plan.”