TIDE, TAKE THREEThree tidbits regarding Saturday night’s game between Alabama and Michigan at Cowboys Stadium:1. Alabama enters having been ranked 65 consecutive times in the Associated Press poll, a streak that leads the nation. Boise State is next with 61.2. Michigan is a stout 23-6-1 against teams from the SEC, but its last such encounter was a 52-14 Gator Bowl loss to Mississippi State during the 2010 season.3. Alabama had been tied for the fewest scholarship seniors nationally with eight until long-snapper Carson Tinker was awarded one Aug. 20.
Nine months after turning LSU’s Jordan Jefferson from a dual-threat quarterback into no threat whatsoever, Alabama’s defense will try to do the same to Denard Robinson.
When the revamped Crimson Tide take the field Saturday night at Cowboys Stadium against Michigan, containing Robinson’s talents will be the chief objective. Alabama was last seen harassing Jefferson to the tune of 53 passing yards and 14 rushes for 15 yards in a 21-0 Tide trouncing in January’s BCS title game, but it wasn’t Jefferson who Tide coach Nick Saban evoked Monday when discussing the Wolverines.
“They have probably as significant a player as we’ve played against since maybe [former Auburn star] Cam Newton as far as the quarterback position in terms of what he can do in a game and how the offense is sort of built around and features him,” Saban said. “They have lots of good players, but he’s the guy. Whether it’s a zone-read play or a quarterback power or a pass play, he makes a lot of significant plays that impact a game.
“He’s become a better and better passer each game and each year, and I think that’s a real key.”