"Johnny Manziel, a.k.a. Johnny Football, was arrested yesterday afternoon in Tuscaloosa, AL by the Crimson Tide defense." That's the story that will be running across the country tomorrow.
All I've heard since last week's close call in Baton Rouge, was how LSU exposed Alabama, and how Texas A&M freshman sensation Johnny Manziel would put the vaunted Crimson Tide defense through it's biggest test of the season. Really? Come on people. I know sports writers have to sometimes make up talking points just to keep the down time between football games interesting, but give Alabama some credit already.
The entire year has gone something like this for the Tide. Alabama plays someone. This team is hyped up by the media as being in a perfect spot to upset the No. 1 team in the country. Then Bama beats them by 30. The next week is spent talking about how that team wasn't "what we thought" and how Alabama's next opponent would prove a better test. Lather, rinse, repeat.
It happened with Michigan, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Miss. St. In fact, the only team to get any credit after playing the Tide was LSU.
I'll give credit to the Tigers. They played hard and really took Alabama down to the wire. But wasn't that expected? Baton Rouge is arguably the hardest place to play in all of college football and the atmosphere that night did not disappoint. Add in the recent rivalry these two teams have put together and the fact that the Tigers were playing with a BCS title game chip on their shoulder, and you had all the makings of a close game.
Such will not be the case in Bryant-Denny Stadium tonight. Expect the Tide O-line to push around the A&M defensive front and get the running game going early. As for the Alabama defense vs. Johnny Football, I'd expect a sort of feeling out process to occur much of the first quarter, until Tide Defensive Coordinator Kirby Smart tightens up his unit and really cracks down on the freshman QB. Sure, Manziel will scamper around, make a couple plays, and is probably good for a touchdown or two, but don't expect much more than that. His recievers are going to be covered up most of the game, and Bama has the speed to get to the outside and contain Johnny Football.
The Alabama faithful are going show up in droves tonight, as a win here clinches the SEC West and a spot in the SEC Championship game.
I like Manziel. He's a firecracker on the offensive side of the ball and will become a realistic threat in the SEC, but not tonight. No freshman is going to waltz into Tuscaloosa and take this special season away from the Tide.
Alabama wins big again.
Bama 42 - A&M 21
Until next time, Roll Tide!
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