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SEC Preview: Opposites Attack

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By MICK ELLIOTT | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 3, 2008

GAINESVILLE - The storyline of Saturday's SEC Championship Game between Florida and Alabama appears to be as obvious and contrasting as "American Idol" meets "American Bandstand," or rotary dial and cellular service.

No. 1 Alabama has gone 12-0 with a throwback, smash-mouth running game combined with a stout, opportunistic defense.

The Crimson Tide's offensive philosophy is simple: Our big guys - tackle Andre Smith (6-foot-4, 340 pounds) and center Antoine Caldwell (6-3, 305) - are bigger than yours, meaning we expect to run the ball straight over you candy canes. Bama's defensive philosophy might be even less complicated. An opponent that can't score doesn't win, and the Tide is allowing 11.5 points a game.

It is football in its most basic form.

The 11-1 Gators, meanwhile, are seen as the techno attack, high-flying and performing without a net.

Operating from the spread offense, with speed, finesse and imagination, Florida averages 46.3 points a game, third-highest in the nation. UF's defense compares favorably with Alabama's, giving up 12.2 points a game, but it goes about it with the same aggressive style as its offensive counterpart, using speed and a ball-hawking mentality.

From afar, it seems the two teams could hardly come from more opposite directions.

Florida coach Urban Meyer doesn't buy it. He sees similarities.

"The thing about football is, the best teams win," Meyer said. "When you tackle well, play good defense, play excellent special teams and you manage the offense, you usually win. Different styles. I think it's kind of neat to say those things, but at the end of the day, do you tackle well, do you contain the football on defense, and on offense are you efficient? I'd have to say both teams are very strong in those areas."

Each team has playmakers. Quarterback John Parker Wilson is efficient in operating an offense that features junior running back Glen Coffee, who averages 103 rushing yards. Freshman receiver Julio Jones, with 46 catches, provides variation.

But Florida has the glitz of Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow and killer speed.

Still, it's a game of basics.

"Leverage in the ball, tackling well, being in good, contained positions, all of those things are very, very important," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "To control the line of scrimmage is going to be a really critical factor."

Reporter Mick Elliott can be reached at (813) 281-2534.

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