Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper (9) runs toward Missouri safety Braylon Webb (9) during their game, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014, in Atlanta.ATLANTA – Alabama gave up 630 yards in last Saturday’s chaotic 55-44 victory over Auburn, so this past week wasn’t the best to be a Crimson Tide defender.
With a chance at atonement Saturday afternoon at the Southeastern Conference championship game, Alabama wasn’t perfect but looked vastly improved from the Iron Bowl. The Crimson Tide gave up 63- and 47-yard pass plays from Maty Mauk to Jimmie Hunt in the third quarter but were otherwise stout in a 42-13 whipping.
“We executed our game plan and played like we’re supposed to play,” Alabama senior linebacker Xzavier Dickson said. “We took it among ourselves to fix what happened last week. The coaches were on us, but we knew we had to step it up for ourselves.”
The Tide racked up a season-high 11 quarterback hurries Saturday, Dickson leading the way with a career-high four. Alabama now has 53 hurries this season, with its previous high of 10 occurring in the 52-12 win over Southern Miss on Sept. 13.
Sophomore noseguard A’Shawn Robinson led Alabama with a career-high nine tackles and three tackles for loss. Junior safety Landon Collins added seven tackles and a tackle for loss, and he caused a fourth-quarter fumble that he also recovered.