Saban, Alabama break down Georgia's running game
When Alabama coach Nick Saban looks at Georgia, he sees a reflection of sorts.
The way the Bulldogs are constructed -- physical offense powered by a strong running game along with an aggressive defense -- is how the Crimson Tide's championship teams were built.
"I would say they look a lot like some of our teams of the past," Saban said Monday. "Very physical, don't make a lot of mistakes, don't beat themselves much. And they play with a lot of toughness and they're very aggressive on both sides of the ball. That's the kind of team that we've always sort of aspired to have here. And it certainly looks like that's the kind of team they have developed there."
Saban and Alabama (3-1) will get their shot at Georgia (4-0) in Sanford Stadium on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS. Alabama hasn't played in Athens, Ga., since 2008, when they won 41-30. The last time the two programs met came in the 2012 SEC Championship Game, a 32-28 victory for the Tide.
Offensively, things start with sophomore tailback Nick Chubb for the Bulldogs.
Chubb ranks second in the SEC and No. 6 in the nation with 149.75 rushing yards per game. Chubb has carried the ball 71 times for 599 yards (8.44 yards per carry) and six scores. He also has one receiving touchdown.
"Nick Chubb is very strong, physical, fast, explosive. He's got power," Saban said. "He is a complete back in every sense of the word. He's effective in their screen game so you can't discount him as a receiver in any way, shape or form either. This guy is by far the best back we've played against all year long."
With 12 consecutive games of 100 or more rushing yards, Chubb tied Herschel Walker's school record. He'll try to surpass the legend against the Tide. If Chubb is to break the record, he'll becomes just the 11th opposing player to rush for 100 or more yards against Alabama during Saban's tenure.
"If that's one of his goals, I hope he gets his goals, but it's going to be very tough against our front," Tide linebacker Reggie Ragland said. "But if he get it, he get it. If he don't, he don't. But he's a very good running back and we have to play tough against him because he's liable to break and go at any time. So you have to be very physical at any time we're out there playing."
Alabama ranks first in the SEC and fourth in the country allowing just 56.75 rushing yards per game. The Tide is holding teams to less than two yards per carry and has only allowed two rushing touchdowns.
Tide cornerback Cyrus Jones said he had the "utmost confidence" in the ability of Alabama's defensive front when it comes to stopping the run.
"I think we've got two great linebackers in Reggie and Reuben (Foster)," Jones said. "Our front seven, it goes without saying how good they are. I think we just have to be ready to go out there and play. We can't make this more than what it is. It's a football game, and we have to be ready to execute."
Outside of Chubb, Saban said "don't discount No. 1 either, the next guy that comes in, because he's a pretty good player as well."
No. 1 being Sony Michel, Georgia's other talented sophomore running back. Michel has rushed for 223 yards and four touchdowns this season, including two scores last week against Southern. He's averaging 7.0 yards per carry. Then there's senior Keith Marshall who gives the Bulldogs a three-headed attack on the ground. Marshall has scored three touchdowns and is averaging 5.7 yards a carry.
Ragland said Alabama's defense loves when it can go strength-on-strength against an opponents run game.
"They have 3-4 good running backs so we have to come out and just bow our necks and play good defense," Ragland said. "There's going to be a lot of two-gapping this week so we have to strike blocks and hit people this week. It's going to be a physical game."
Contact Anniston Star Sports Writer Marq Burnett at mburnett @Marq_Burnett.
This story was originally published September 28, 2015 at 10:29 PM with the headline "Saban, Alabama break down Georgia's running game ."