Tide should see improved UT quarterback

An expert was talking about Alabama’s football team this week.

“I love the style that they play with. I think they play extremely physical. They play in your face. They come downhill at you,” the analyst said.

Before you hand him a crimson-and-white shaker, understand that’s what Tennessee football coach Lane Kiffin said about the Crimson Tide this week. And he wasn’t done. “That’s what we’re going to be someday.”

Alabama coach Nick Saban said he appreciated the comment, but praised — no, really — the Vols’ toughness and resolve in Kiffin’s first season.

“I think those characteristics are probably the most important in building a program,” Saban said. “You build a foundation with the intangibles that you need to create the work ethic and the toughness and those kinds of things. I see that happening with their team.”

So much for the war of words this week. The on-the-field battle, at least, will be more entertaining.

One key question for the Vols centers around the continued improvement of Tennessee senior quarterback Jonathan Crompton. Crompton had a career day — 20-for-27 passing for 310 yards and four touchdowns — in the Volunteers’ victory over Georgia two weeks ago.

Kiffin said his quarterback’s accuracy and better play by his receivers were the keys to that win.

“We need to continue to build on that, but we need to make plays for him, we need to continue to be accurate with him,” the coach said. “He was phenomenal on the run. … It’s almost impossible to find something he did wrong as you watch those 27 throws.”

Certainly, Saban has dissected those, as well as others that weren’t as successful in losses to UCLA, Florida and Auburn. The Alabama coach said the Vols’ game plan had him moving more than UT had shown.

“They moved the pocket a lot with a lot of boots and sprint-outs and things like that,” Saban said. “He did a nice job of executing those things, and it really complemented their running game.”

Saban said Tennessee’s running game, which is the strongest Alabama has faced to this point, helped open up the passing lanes for Crompton. Senior Montario Hardesty has rushed for at least 89 yards in each of the Vols’ six games this season. He ran for at least 140 yards in two of those games. Heralded true freshman Bryce Brown has rushed for 250 yards in the backup spot.

“They made a lot of plays on Georgia with play-action passes,” Saban said. “Obviously, that works best when you run the ball effectively, which they have been doing all year long.”

Kiffin said it is crucial that Tennessee does a better job on third downs against the top-ranked Crimson Tide.

“We’ve seen that happen in games where we have not done a good job of doing that,” he said. “No. 1, we’re not very deep and No. 2, we’re small. We’re a small defense that’s built more on speed. We can’t stand to play a ton of plays as more big, physical teams can.

“You saw it happen in the Auburn game. We did a very poor job of third downs (4-of-17). We kept our defense out there too much. We’ve got to find a way to make first downs versus these guys and keep our defense off the field.”

That’s the plan. But executing it and moving the ball against Alabama’s touted defense is up to Crompton and his teammates.

Number changes: Alabama, which changed punter P.J. Fitzgerald’s number from 97 to 7 earlier this season, is making a few more changes.

Linebacker Jerrell Harris will wear No. 10 instead of No. 5, and defensive back Chris Rogers will be No. 1 instead of No. 8.

“It’s a special teams issue,” Saban said. “You can’t have two guys with the same number on special teams. We had a couple of guys we wanted to work in on special teams and maybe have a role.”

Harris and Rogers had been sharing numbers with other players. Roy Upchurch now has sole possession of No. 5 and Julio Jones is the Tide’s only No. 8.

Injuries healing: Saban said the several players slowed or sidelined by injuries have improved. Javier Arenas (bruised ribs) has practiced all week, as has Dre Kirkpatrick (back spasm). Josh Chapman (abdominal strain) and Michael Bowman (patella tendon) have also worked.

“A couple of other guys, nicked up a little bit, Chris Jordan and Cory Reamer, bumps and bruises, but working their way through it,” Saban said.