By Michael Casagrande
Correspondent
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Dont’a Hightower chose his words carefully when discussing the differences between the offenses of the Penn State and Duke football teams.
The smashmouth style of PSU’s Nittany Lions was more to the Alabama linebacker’s liking, he indicated, though Duke’s contrasting spread offense creates more of a chance to show his versatility. Improving his pass-coverage skills was an offseason focus.
In a win over Elon and last week’s loss at Wake Forest, the Blue Devils averaged 354 passing yards and 44.5 points. Alabama’s first two opponents attempted 33 fewer passes combined and averaged just 121 passing yards a game.
Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. EDT regional ABC game should be a decent barometer for gauging how far the young Tide secondary has come a week before they face Arkansas and one of the most potent passing games in the nation.
Seeing the Blue Devils’ big passing numbers, regardless of their opposition, excites Alabama safety Robert Lester. It just presents more opportunities for interceptions, said the first-year starter who already has two pickoffs in 2010.
Duke quarterback Sean Renfree threw three interceptions in the 54-48 loss to Wake Forest. He said Alabama’s defensive backfield, despite its youth, will be one of the best he’ll face all year. Still, there are weaknesses the Devils have identified, he said.
“It’s not a whole lot more complex,” Renfree said of the Tide defensive scheme. “What they do, they do very, very well. They do like to blitz and stunt a lot. A lot of what they do is similar to what our defense does. They’re very multiple. The biggest thing about them is they’re very well coached and they play hard.”
The Alabama defense hasn’t surrendered a touchdown yet this season. San Jose State and Penn State each managed just a field goal in a lopsided loss. But the Nittany Lions found a rhythm throwing the ball on several occasions before turnovers blew excellent opportunities to make it more of a game.
“We had a few mental errors that were costly, especially on third down, whether they were technique-type things or errors in assignment, which were not as prevalent as the week before, but we certainly made progress,” Tide coach Nick Saban said.
Penn State quarterback Rob Bolden did the most damage when he had time in the pocket. Renfree won’t likely have the same comfort with Alabama’s star defensive end Marcell Dareus coming off a two-game suspension.
“As soon as they say ‘hut,’ he’s back there with the quarterback regardless if it’s a handoff or a pass,” Hightower said of Dareus. “He’s a great run stopper. He’s one of the best. Pass rush – that’s unbelievable to see the guy move the way he does to be that size.”
Part of Penn State’s success came by way of using different formations and strategies than Alabama’s scouting report read. There isn’t as much room for major variations this week from the Blue Devils, who Saban said ran about 90 percent of their plays from spread formations.
By spreading defenders all over the field, Duke has averaged 160.5 rushing yards per game.
That’s where the discipline comes in.
“Eye control is about knowing your assignment and not straying from that regardless of where you think the ball is going,” Tide safety Will Lowery said. “Because it could be a halfback pass and you run up to tackle and they’re throwing the ball over your head.”
Contact Michael Casagrande at sports@timesfreepress or (423) 757-6273.