Deep passing game takes blame at Alabama

By Ray Glier

For the AJC

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabama is an uneasy 8-0. The Crimson Tide has gone from humbling opponents to scratching their heads and wondering where their beast of a team has gone.

All fingers are pointing at the downfield passing game as the slacker.

The Crimson Tide threw for 230 yards against Virginia Tech and 291 yards against Arkansas, but has averaged only 128 yards passing in wins over Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Suddenly, playing in the ferocious SEC is not enough of an alibi when an offense struggles.

“Coaches told us in the off-week, they stressed it to us, teams need to fear us more in the passing game,” said Darius Hanks, a junior receiver from Norcross. “If they don’t fear us, they will keep stacking people in the box, like Tennessee did.”

In Alabama’s 12-10 win, the Vols had a crowd of eight defenders waiting for Alabama running back Mark Ingram, who rushed for 99 yards after rushing for 140, 172, and 246 yards, respectively, in the previous three games.

No. 9 LSU (7-1) probably will arrive here Saturday with the same game plan it used to hold Florida to 13 points, which is to allow the short passes and load up on the run. Hanks said the remedy is to win one-on-one matchups outside in the passing game.

“We’re going to see a lot of single coverage; we just need to get the ball out there to us,” said Hanks, who has 12 receptions for 177 yards and one touchdown. Julio Jones, an All-SEC split end, likely will see double coverage if he takes a route deep, which means Hanks and the other wideout, Marquis Maze, have a chance to be productive.

LSU's defense is not as disciplined as Tennessee's, and it might be that short throws to Hanks and Maze will free up a deeper slant pattern later in the game off a play-action to Ingram. Nothing radiates more confidence than a zinger thrown 15 yards down field.

“Our quarterback still has to develop enough confidence to go to us,” said Hanks, who says he has played about 85 percent of the snaps this season. “That will come as the year goes along. He’s a new guy. It hasn’t built up.”

Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy has completed 60 percent of his passes this season, but the statistics include victories against overmatched Florida International and North Texas. In his past three games, which were against SEC teams, McElroy has completed 51 percent of his passes.

“Our passing game needs to improve,” said Alabama coach Nick Saban. “I think that it starts with the protection. In the last few weeks we’ve gotten a little more pressure than what we got earlier in the season.

“Everything needs to improve, and it certainly starts up front because that’s what I think can affect the quarterback the most, in terms of him feeling like he has the time to make good choices and decisions in the passing game and getting the ball to the right place.”

This Alabama offensive line is not as good as the offensive line that was identity of the 2008 team, one led by NFL first-round pick Andre Smith and third-round pick Antoine Caldwell. Another issue is McElroy’s timing and footwork. He has not taken the proper drop on some pass plays; other times he is a click late releasing the ball.

McElroy also was hurt by dropped passes in the narrow win over Tennessee, which included a dropp at the goal line by Jones.

“There are some mistakes he is going to make, and they are expected because this is his first season,” said Hanks, who used the off-season to go from 175 pounds to 185 pounds and became a better blocker in the run game. “We have to get better. You get frustrated from time to time.”