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Alabama Beats Florida Atlantic, 41-0
Team Notes and Quotes
Alabama went to 2-0 on
the season as the game ended with 7:53 left on the clock in the fourth
quarter by mutual agreement between the school's athletics directors
due to inclement weather. Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban
Opening statement:
"There
were a couple firsts for me today. It’s the first time I’ve ever had a
game called off, and it’s the first time I ever beat the media to the
press conference.
"I would have liked to go back out there and
finish the game, and I know our players would have liked the same
thing. More players probably would have had the opportunity to play.
Some of the guys that were getting to play, and certainly need to play
to gain experience, would have been able to finish the game. I think
the circumstances were such that we would have had to wait a
significant amount of time to be able to go back out there because of
the lightning and storms. I think everybody made a good decision to
just end the game.
"I was really proud of the way our players
competed in the game today. I thought we went out and improved some as
a team. I think we played fast. I liked the intensity that we played
with. I think that there are a lot of things that we did well, but I
also think that mistakes that we made were critical. Whether it was
what we did right before the end of the half, such as taking a sack
when we could have kicked a field goal, or calling the wrong play and
fumbling the ball on the opening drive of the second half. Some of
those things are not the types of things that you would like to happen,
but there are opportunities for our players to learn.
"Amari
Cooper played an outstanding game again today. Our offense didn’t punt
all day, but we also didn’t finish drives in the red area, which is
something that we definitely need to continue to work on.
"Defensively,
we probably played a little better today, but still didn’t wrap up on
some tackles and tried to butt people into the ground instead of
tackling properly. Those are things that we definitely need to work on
and improve.
"Looking ahead, that’s what the focus needs to be
for our team. We need to continue to improve. It was good that we got
to play both quarterbacks in the game today. Blake (Sims) played well
except for one play. Jake (Coker) got some experience, and I think that
experience should help his confidence and his ability to play with a
little better rhythm. He did some very good things today as well."
On Jake Coker’s performance :
"I
thought he did well in the second half. We wanted to go out in the
second half like we were playing any game – whether we were ahead or
behind. We put a pretty good drive together [to start the half] and
messed it up on the 2 yard line. We wanted to give both quarterbacks an
opportunity to play and I thought Jake played just as well in the
second half as he did in the first half. He played a little better as
time went on. I’m sure nobody feels worse than him for missing the guy
in the flats in the redzone wide open. He’ll definitely get
better because of it."
On the offensive line’s play:
"The
offensive line has done a really good job. The way we are playing
offense now helps them, because we sell the run plays [when the defense
loads the] box. That’s why there are always a lot of quick passes and
[screens] – those type of things. I think there’s a lot of things we
need to improve on, but our offensive line has done a good job two
weeks in a row."
#6 Blake Sims, Quarterback
On the efficiency of the offense:
"I’m
very happy about the way things went. The coaching staff did a good job
with play calling and the players did very well executing the plays.
On Amari Cooper and what it’s like having him on the field:
"It’s
good because with him out there you can’t just focus on the running
game. You also can’t forget about the other players we have because
they can make plays just as well as he can. Congratulations to him on
tying the record."
#26 Landon Collins, Defensive Back
On the mentality of the defensive and how they played as a group:
"As
a group, we were all focused on our keys and our concepts, and we were
all one defense. As a whole, we had a lot of talking going on and
keeping each other on the right page and that’s the type of defense
that we want. Once we do that we are going to make unbelievable stops."
On Eddie Jackson’s return to the lineup:
"He
looked phenomenal. That’s the Eddie (Jackson) that we know. That’s the
Eddie that’s going to come out and hit somebody and that’s what he did
today. He came to show everyone that he’s ready to play and that he’s
back."
#79 Austin Shepherd, Offensive Lineman
On the performance of the offense:
"They
loaded the box on us so we were (throwing) smoke screens out there and
letting the receivers do their job. Both quarterbacks did a great
job, and I was really proud of both of them."
On taking every game one at a time:
"The
way we look at it, every opponent is a faceless opponent. Coach tries
to put it as, don’t even worry about what their logo is or what their
team name is. We just approach every week like it’s a game and no
matter who’s out on the field, we just need to go play Alabama
football."
FAU Head Coach Charlie Partridge
Opening Statement:
"Obviously our administrations ended up calling the game short.
"We
just got done playing against one of the best football teams in the
country. They play at a high level and they've got players all over the
field.
"The thing that excites me coming out of the game –
without seeing stats and things like that – there are things we did
early in the game poorly, but we did them better as the game went on.
We had several true freshmen on the field that were going against the
likes of (Alabama wide receiver) Amari Cooper and some of the best
players in the country.
"They showed that they have the chance
to develop into the kind of team and program that, at some point, will
be able to perform better for a points comparison against the likes of
Alabama. This is a great football program.
"All credit goes to
coach (Nick) Saban and his crew for what they were able to do today.
Now we will restart as we get ready to play our home opener against
Tulsa."
On the difference between (Blake) Sims and (Jacob) Coker:
"They
are both good players. My first reaction to it is that one is a little
bit more dangerous with his feet than the other. Sims made us pay with
his feet early in the game. They are both talented. Quite honestly, I'm
sure Coach (Nick) Saban was taking this opportunity, when they got up a
couple of touchdowns ahead of us, to give Coker a chance to show what
he could do. I'm not speaking for him, but now he has a chance to
compare the two, but they are both good players."
On what types of problems Amari Cooper presented:
"He's
one of the best receivers in the country. He's someone that's going to
keep your hands full. He's someone you have to account for, but as soon
as you roll over and start to account for him then you're starting to
lighten the box. When you're light in the box, you see they have
tremendous running backs in the backfield. Coach (Lane) Kiffin is doing
a very nice job. Honestly, I'm happy that he did his two-minute drill
at the end of the first half because just as it was for them, it was an
opportunity for us to execute that drill. At the end of the day, we
will both, as teams, be better as the season goes on for having gone
through that moment."
#6 Greg Hankerson, Quarterback
On moving the ball well, but not scoring:
"I don't know what it was. We were moving, but just weren't finishing the drives and executing. Alabama just executed."
On his preparation for this week:
"I
felt like I was ready because I've been practicing the whole spring and
had a hold of the offense. I felt like I was ready to play. I had a
mindset already, and I knew I was going in."
#18 Christian Milstead, Defensive Back
On challenges from the Alabama offense:
"From
a scheme point of view, they're a pretty simple scheme team. They're
pretty much based off of ‘Our players are better than yours. You know
what we're going to run. Let's see if you can stop it.' They're a great
team. They do what they do on offense and there's a reason why they win
the way they do."
On what Alabama did to make them successful:
"They
watch film just like everybody else. They saw a couple of things we did
bad last week, and that's what they tried to go after. They were
successful on some of those things, but on other things that we
struggled on last week we did better with this week. They played good
football."
GENERAL NOTES
GAME
CAPTAINS: Alabama’s captains for today’s game against Florida Atlantic
were Denzel Devall, Jalston Fowler and Ryan Kelly. The Crimson Tide won
the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff.
HOME
OPENER: Alabama improved to 74-11-2 (.862) all-time in 87 home-opening
games, garnering the Crimson Tide’s 13th home opening win in a row
SERIES
HISTORY: Alabama leads the series with Florida Atlantic 2-0 after
today’s win. The Crimson Tide also won the 2012 meeting against the
Owls, 40-7, in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
DEFENSE
STANDS STRONG: The Alabama defense limited Florida Atlantic to 145
yards of total offense in today’s game (88 passing, 57 rushing). The
Owls were 2-10 in third down attempts and had nine first downs.
HOLDING
OPPONENTS UNDER 300: In head coach Nick Saban’s 96-game tenure at
Alabama, the Crimson Tide has limited opponents to under 300 yards of
total offense 61 times, or 63.5 percent of the time.
HOLDING
OPPONENTS UNDER 200: During head coach Nick Saban’s last 83 games at
the Capstone (since the start of the 2008 season), the Crimson Tide
defense has held the opposing offense to fewer than 200 yards of total
offense 31 times as Alabama held FAU to 145 total yards on Saturday. In
2013, Alabama held four opponents under 200. In 2012, Alabama did so
five times, and in 2011, the Tide accomplished the feat eight times,
limiting Kent State to 90 yards and LSU to only 92 yards in the BCS
Championship Game (the second and third times a Saban defense limited
its opponent to less than 100 yards of total offense). Alabama’s best
came in 2009 when the Tide held Chattanooga to 84 yards of total
offense. The Tide held opponents under 200 yards three times in 2010,
four times in 2009 and six times in 2008.
10 POINTS OR FEWER:
With a shutout of FAU on Saturday, Alabama’s 10th shutout over the last
40 games, the Crimson Tide during the Saban era (since 2007) has held
opponents to 10 points or fewer 50 times since the start of the 2007
season. Alabama held 9-of-13 opponents to 10 points or less in 2013
with three shutouts. The Tide limited seven of its opponents to 10
points or less in 2012, four of which were shutouts. The Tide was
successful in holding opponents in the 0-10 point range in nine games
in 2011 and eight times in 2010. Alabama limited opponents to that
range seven times in both 2008 and 2009, and in 2007 posted two games
in which it held opponents to 0-10 points. Alabama has shut out the
opposition 14 times during the Saban era.
FIRST HALF SHUTOUT:
With a shutout at the half against FAU, Alabama held its foe scoreless
at the break for the 12th time in its last 19 games. In addition to
Saturday’s game, the Crimson Tide shut out Chattanooga (Nov. 23, 2014),
Mississippi State (Nov. 16, 2013), Tennessee (Oct. 26, 2013), Arkansas
(Oct. 19, 2013), Kentucky (Oct. 12, 2013), Georgia State (Oct. 5,
2013), Ole Miss (Sept. 28, 2013), Colorado State (Sept. 21, 2013),
Notre Dame (Jan. 7, 2013), Auburn (Nov. 24, 2012) and Western Carolina
(Nov. 17, 2012) during the first two quarters of play.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
COOPER
TIES SINGLE GAME RECEPTION RECORD: With his 13th catch coming in the
third quarter, junior Amari Cooper tied DJ Hall’s record for receptions
in a single game. Hall achieved the feat in 2007 against Tennessee.
COOPER
OVER 100 AGAIN; SETS CAREER HIGHS: Junior Amari Cooper finished the
game with a career-high 189 yards receiving on a career-best 13
catches, thanks to a 97-yard first quarter against Florida Atlantic. He
has eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the fourth straight game and ninth
of his career. The record for consecutive 100-yard receiving games is
five set by DJ Hall in 2006.
RACKING UP THE YARDAGE: Finishing
with 620 total yards on Saturday against FAU, Alabama surpassed the
500-yard mark in total offense for the third straight game dating back
to a 516-yard outing against Oklahoma in the 2014 Sugar Bowl (The
Crimson Tide had 538 yards in its season-opening win over West Virginia
on August 30 in Atlanta). Saturday’s outing also marked the fifth
consecutive game in which Alabama has surpassed 400 yards of total
offense. The 620 total yards against FAU ranks 8th all-time in Alabama
history for total offense in a single game.
A PASSING
PERFORMANCE TO REMEMBER: Both Alabama quarterbacks that played against
FAU surpassed the 200-yard mark in passing yards as Blake Sims passed
for 214 yards and Jake Coker passed for 202. The 416 yards ranks second
in Alabama history for passing yards in a game behind the 484 yards
against Auburn in 1969.
SCORING STREAK CONTINUES: With senior
Blake Sims’ 7-yard keeper in the first quarter, Alabama has scored in
171 consecutive games – the longest streak in program history.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
GRIFFITH
OFF TO A HOT START: Placekicker Adam Griffith was successful on both
field goal attempts on Saturday against FAU, connecting from 22 and 28
yards out. That performance moved Griffith to a perfect 6-for-6 in
field goals for the 2014 season after he was accurate on all four
attempts on Aug. 30 in the win over West Virginia. Griffith also has
been flawless on extra-point attempts this season, connecting on all
seven conversion kicks this season.
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