Auburn vs. Alabama: Iron Bowl features top runners, defenses
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) – The Iron Bowl scenario is familiar: a clash of star tailbacks and unyielding defenses. For No. 2 Auburn, there’s Carnell Williams, Ronnie Brown and the nation’s top scoring defense. Alabama, meanwhile, hopes the combination of Kenneth Darby and the No. 2 overall defense will be enough to win Saturday’s Iron Bowl.
Evan Mathis does the math – three of the Southeastern Conference’s top five rushers, the league’s best running teams and two of the nation’s stingiest defenses – and comes up with a definite conclusion.
“This will be an old-fashioned Iron Bowl,” the Alabama guard predicted. “This will be a game where both teams will need to be effective running the ball. Auburn does a great job of it and I think we do a pretty fine job of it as well.”
It almost certainly will be that kind of game if the Crimson Tide (6-4, 3-4 Southeastern Conference) manages to dictate the style. The Tigers (10-0, 7-0) are tied for second in the national rankings with Oklahoma and have proved capable of riding either Jason Campbell’s passing or the running and receiving of Brown and Williams to victory.
“I haven’t seen anybody stop them so far, so it’s going to be really hard,” Alabama safety Roman Harper said. “You never know what they’re going to do, what they’re going to throw at you. They do a couple of trick plays here and there. They’re always trying to keep you off-balance.”
Campbell is the nation’s fourth-rated passer but will be facing the top passing defense. Williams and Brown have combined for 1,703 yards rushing, ranking fourth and fifth in the league. And the Tigers, who are averaging 34 points, are 15-0 when each rushes for at least 50 yards.
“They’ve got the total package,” Tide defensive end Wallace Gilberry said. “Obviously two of the best running backs in the nation, much less the SEC. Their wide receiver corps is awesome. Jason Campbell sits back in the pocket and he’s awesome. The offensive line is great.”
What will Alabama do to defend Williams and Brown?
“The same thing we’re doing to all the other running backs in the SEC: Just hit them and hit them hard,” Gilberry said.
There’s no secret to Alabama’s offense – other than the occasional chicanery, usually involving speedy receiver Tyrone Prothro. Injuries have forced Mike Shula’s squad into a one-dimensional unit, a sort of Darby derby.
The sophomore has carried 71 times in the past two games, racking up 1,042 yards and eight touchdowns this season despite starting only four games.
Darby will be facing a defense that has allowed only one rushing touchdown all season. Quarterback Spencer Pennington, leader of the fifth-worst passing attack in Division I-A, is injured (ribs, nonthrowing shoulder) from the LSU game but will play.
“You play with pain in a game like this,” Pennington said. “I’ve grown up dreaming about this game.”
Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said the Tigers will stick to what they’ve been doing defensively no matter how much the Tide like to run.
“You’ve got to do what you do best,” Tuberville said. “You can’t let an offense dictate what you do. The best thing that you can do is go out and do what you do the best and play hard, which we have all year.”