Alabama football notes: Crimson Tide defense starts slowly against Tennessee Volunteers

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The slow-starting Alabama defense didn’t allow a big play in the opening moments, but still trailed during the first quarter.

Tennessee took a 3-0 lead eight minutes into the game after an 11-play drive on the second possession of the game. The Vols converted a third-and-14 with a 15-yard draw play early in the drive, then got an 11-yard reception on a fourth down at the Tide 35.

Both Florida and Ole Miss scored touchdowns thanks to passing plays of 65 and 59 yards respectively while Vanderbilt drove deep into Tide territory before missing a field goal.

Of the 49 points surrendered by the Alabama defense through seven games, 27 came in the first quarters.

Second quarter slip-up

The Tide hadn’t allowed a point in the second quarter when opponents crossed the 50-yard line just four times all season. Then came Saturday night.

Tennessee not only crossed midfield, but it scored in the second 15 minutes.

A 11-play, 46-yard drive ended with a Michael Palardy 52-yard field goal to tie the game at 6-6 with 5:03 left in the first half.

Alabama was outscoring foes 64-0 in second quarters before Saturday night.

Fourth-down follies

Tennessee didn’t hold back much Saturday night.

Twice it was successful on fourth down attempts in the first half, once with a fake punt.

Palardy threw a quick pass to Anthony Anderson for a five-yard gain when it only needed four. Palardy went on to kick a field goal to cap the drive and tie the game at 6.

Vol quarterback Matt Simms converted the other with an 11-yard pass at the Tide 35 on a drive also ending in a field goal.

The Vols pressed their luck early in the second half with a fourth-and-a foot from their own 40. Simms lunged forward, but was stopped cold. One play later, Alabama led 20-6 on a Kenny Bell touchdown pass of 40 yards.

One streak extended

Alabama’s season of interceptions continued against the Vols with another contributor.

Dont’a Hightower became the third linebacker to record one in the fourth quarter when he stepped in front of a Simms’ pass. The return took it to the Vol 10-yard line, and Trent Richardson did the rest to give the Tide a 37-6 lead.

Eight different Alabama players now have at least one of the Tide’s nine interceptions. Nico Johnson and Courtney Upshaw were the other two linebackers credited with creating the turnovers earlier this season.

The win against North Texas was the only Alabama game without an interception.

Interception streak ends

Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron’s streak of passes without an interception ended on his second throw of the night.

Vol Austin Jackson stepped in front of the pass following a play action fake on the fifth play of the game.

McCarron hadn’t been intercepted since the season opener against Kent State, ending a string of 152 consecutive attempts without a turnover. It was the third longest streak in school history trailing only Brodie Croyle (190) and Jay Barker (155).

McCarron answer back two possessions with 69-yard completion to Marquis Maze on the first play, but two straight incompletions forced a field goal.

McCullough starts

Alfred McCullough earned his first start of the season at right guard in place of the injured Anthony Steen.

Once a defensive lineman, McCullough started five times last season filling in for right tackle D.J. Fluker.

Earlier in the week, Alabama coach Nick Saban said Steen could play if he tested out following a concussion suffered a week ago at Ole Miss.

Crowd a factor

Though there were a few pockets of empty seats in Bryant-Denny Stadium, the noise reached rivalry levels.

The Vols were hit with three false start flags in the first half and had to call timeouts just before the play clock expired twice.

Third-quarter change

Tied at six, the halftime speaking lineup included more than coach Nick Saban.

Wide receiver Marquis Maze was among the vocal players in the locker room. Whatever was said, it worked. The three-touchdown third quarter put the game out of reach.

“Is saw something different in all of us,” Hanks said. “We all had the look like we wanted the game and we wanted to take the SEC and this is just the road.”

Loading up

Stopping the dangerous Alabama running game meant throwing a few new looks into Saturday’s game for Tennessee.

The Vols overloaded the formation to the tight end side of the line and regularly played eight men tight to limit running lanes.

“They had us outnumbered to the side we were running to most of the time,” Tide offensive lineman Alfred McCullough said.

Alabama finished with 143 rushing yards, its lowest total of the season.

This story was originally published October 23, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Alabama football notes: Crimson Tide defense starts slowly against Tennessee Volunteers."