Malzahn again refuses to name a starting QB for Iron Bowl

The Gators have clinched back-to-back SEC East titles under Jim McElwain the last two seasons but the bad news is that they will have to play Alabama in the SEC Championship game once again this season. Though coach Gus Malzahn and Johnson both said the right ankle he injured October 8 at Mississippi State is nearing 100 percent, it’s still not there yet. Johnson completed 14 of 19 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown last week against Alabama A&M. The Tigers lead the SEC in rushing, but face the nations best defense when it comes to stopping the run.

Alabama (11-0, 7-0 in the SEC) will host Auburn (8-3, 5-2) Saturday at 3:30 p.m.in Bryant-Denny Stadium. They made adjustments thought the year relative to issues that they have had on their team, whether it be injuries or whatever, but they still managed to score a lot of points. We know this because, if you put together a super cut of head coach Gus Malzahn saying that exact phrase from this season alone, it might be long enough to be a feature-length film. Jeremy Johnson replaced him as the starter against Alabama A&M, with John Franklin III also playing.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban can see that previous running back experience paying dividends this season at Auburn.

Auburn isn’t elite at quarterback, but does have a few guys who can scramble in addition to throwing. He trails Arkansas running back Rawleigh Williams by 103 yards for the SEC lead. Both have defensive fronts that can punish runners and quarterbacks alike, with playmakers in the secondary and linebackers who can cover some ground.

Auburn’s defense, however, allowed only 15 touchdowns in 11 games, limited opponents to about 118 rushing yards per game, and allowed an average of 334.5 yards in total offense, which is 18th-best in the country and fifth in the SEC. He’s the first non-quarterback this season to rush for four touchdowns and throw a touchdown pass in the same game. Many people may be looking for last-minute tickets or a place to stay, so if you’re looking, it’s important to take into consideration the high cost of not only tickets, but hotel and parking as well. The Tigers’ play was a designed pitch to running back Brent Fullwood, but Heisman Trophy victor Bo Jackson ran to the wrong end of the formation, allowing the Tide to easily make the tackle and seal the victory. In the five games he played during that span, Pettway was held under 100 yards just once – 61 in Auburn’s dizzying 18-13 win over LSU.

Pettway is tough to bring down and Auburn has one of the nation’s top offensive lines.

On the offense, Alabama football averages 225.2 yards in passing and 252.5 yards in rushing.

What is there to say about Alabama that hasn’t already been said. It was this annual battle that sparked the rivalry fire between the two teams, and winning the Iron Bowl has become a goal of both teams for many years now. “Wherever the ball goes, they have a lot of big physical guys”. That alone isn’t all that wild, but it’s the manner in which Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele has used Brown of late that has Williams in awe.

The Crimson Tide focused on fundamentals and corrections following Saturday’s 31-3 win over Chattanooga.

Hurts will likely be the biggest story line in this Iron Bowl. “They’re probably the most effective front we’ve played against all year”.