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defensive approach
in Diamondcraft - Registration Wed Dec 25, 2019 8:44 amby Cl11234566 • 420 Posts
COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Unable to stop Johnny Manziel, Alabama answered Texas A&M the only way it could: The top-ranked Crimson Tide just kept on scoring, hoping to have the ball last. When AJ McCarron took a knee to end it, Alabama was finally safe. There was nothing more Manziel could do. McCarron threw four touchdown passes, Vinnie Sunseri returned an interception 73 yards for a score -- sidestepping Johnny Football on the way to the end zone, too -- and Alabama paid back No. 6 Texas A&M with a 49-42 victory Saturday. Manziel was his spectacular self, throwing for a career-best 464 yards, running for 98 and throwing five TDs. His 562 total yards is the second-most in Southeastern Conference history, ranking only behind the 576 he had against Louisiana Tech. "We knew we were going to have play this way on offence to have a chance in this game," Tide coach Nick Saban said. "I didnt think they were going to score 42 points, but I kind of thought they would score some points and they did." Alabama (2-0, 1-0 SEC) spotted the Aggies (2-1, 0-1) a 14-0 lead, shades of last season when A&M jumped out to a 20-0 lead on the road en route to a victory that all but won the Heisman Trophy for Manziel. McCarron and the Tide didnt take as long to respond this time, ripping off the next 35 points. McCarron tossed three touchdowns in the first half to put Alabama up 28-14. Sunseris pick-6 made it 35-14 less than three minutes into the third. "Im so proud of our players for the resiliency they showed getting behind 14-0," Saban said. "Just slowly and methodically coming back in the game and building up the lead." The Manziel magic moment came in the second quarter, when he retreated 25 yards behind the line of scrimmage, pulling away from one pass rusher who had a handful of jersey and launching a deep ball down the middle with another Tide player in his face. Edward Pope came down with the alley-oop for a 12-yard gain that will make every highlight reel. But a couple of plays later Manziel was picked off in the end zone and the game swung the Tides way. "I will take that one on me," Manziel said. The Tide followed the pick with a long, slow drive capped by T.J. Yeldons 4-yard TD run. Yeldon popped up and looked toward the fans behind the end zone, rubbing his fingers together, mocking Manziels move, then finished off his celebration with sort of a double throat slash. Those antics earned Yeldon a 15-yard penalty and the wrath of Saban on the sideline, but Alabama still took a 28-14 lead into halftime. Manziels third-quarter pick and whiff on the tackle put the Aggies in a deep hole, but he kept bringing them back. "I thought his play was Johnny-like," coach Kevin Sumlin said. "Anybody whos seen him play, thats about right." Alabamas best defence was its offence. The Tide gained 568 yards and kept Manziel pacing on the sideline with a couple of long drives. "With the type of offence A&M has, you have to eat up some clock and pound the ball," said McCarron, who passed for 334 yards. This rematch of A&Ms 29-24 win in Tuscaloosa, Ala., last November was hyped for months, heightened by off-season drama about Manziel that culminated with the sophomore getting suspended for half of the opening game after an NCAA investigation into whether he was paid for signing autographs. Manziel only answered questions about the game afterward. He was one of many Aggies reminding everyone what happened to the loser of this matchup last year. "This wasnt the Super Bowl," Manziel said. "Alabama lost a game last year and still went on to win the national championship. Our season isnt over." Bama-A&M II lived up to the billing, but this SEC heavyweight matchup was no 9-6 Game of the Century. The offences were all but unstoppable. "Theyre unbelievable," Sunseri said. "Theres a reason he won the Heisman. Hes an unbelievable player, I dont care what he does off the field. He has great receivers and everything. We knew it was going to go back and forth and we just had to try to slow him down." A&Ms defence was leaky in its first two games against far weaker opponents. Against Alabama, even with the return of four key players from various suspensions, it put up little resistance. And while the Tides offence wore out the Aggies, its defence struck a big blow in the third quarter. Manziel threw deep down the middle to Malcome Kennedy, but Jarrick Williams had tight coverage for Alabama and tipped the pass into the air. Sunseri came down with it and was off in the other direction, stutter-stepping as Manziel slid on by while trying for a one-arm takedown. The safety broke another tackle on the way into the end zone and Alabama was up 35-14. Manziel walked slowly across the field to the A&M sideline, taking a couple of glances toward the end zone and Alabamas celebration. A crowd of 87,596 that was booming like a jet engine earlier fell silent. They were hoping to see the Aggies get their third victory against a No. 1 team, and second straight against Alabama. Alabama was poised to go up three touchdowns in the fourth quarter when Texas A&Ms defence slammed into Yeldon a couple of yards from the goal line, causing a fumble the Aggies recovered at the 5. Two plays later, Manziel found Mike Evans deep. The big receiver broke away from a tackler and went 95 yards for a score that made it 42-35 with 8:04 left. Manziel sprinted out of his end zone toward the other to celebrate. The crowd was alive again. In need of a time-consuming drive, leaned on Yeldon and McCarron. On third-and-goal from the 5, McCarron faked the hand off, rolled right and flipped to Jalston Fowler for the touchdown to make it 49-35 with 2:28 left. Manziel threw one more TD with 15 seconds left, but Alabama grabbed the onside kick and that was that. Sabans defence had given up 628 yards, the most ever allowed by Alabama, and 42 points. Evans finished with 279 yards on seven catches for the Aggies, but the Tide had won. "I know you tried to make it out (to be) a 61-year-old guy against that good quarterback but we didnt have much of a chance in that game," Saban said. "We had a lot better chance our team against their team. " And the Aggies found out just how tough it is to win two in a row against the Tide. In seven seasons under Saban, only LSU has done it. It was far from a typical Alabama victory, but the two-time defending national champions will take it. "We needed everybody all in today," Saban said. "Even though it got ugly at times, they competed and it was a great win for us." Kobe Bryant Shoes Sale . You can watch all the action on TSN2 beginning at 7pm et/4pm pt. Pineda won his second straight start last Wednesday against Chicago, as he held the Cubs to just four hits over six scoreless innings to run his record to 2-0, while lowering his ERA to 1. Yeezy 500 Sale . TSN 1290s coverage begins with Hustler & Lawless at 3pm. Rick Ralph hosts the Official Jets Pre-game Show at 5pm. https://www.wholesaleshoesforcheap.com/nike-kwazi-sale/. CBS Sports Jon Heyman is reporting that Santana will sign a one-year deal, likely in the next two days with one of a trio of suitors, with the Toronto Blue Jays believed to be heavily involved. Air Jordan 27 Sale . - Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors will coach the Western Conference in the All-Star Game on Feb. Nike Air Revaderchi Sale .com) - Rick Nash scored twice and Derek Stepan chipped in a goal with one assist as the New York Rangers claimed a 5-2 decision over Calgary at the Saddledome. TORONTO -- Scott Milanovich didnt have to look long or far for his new defensive co-ordinator. The Toronto Argonauts head coach needed just one phone call to find a replacement for Chris Jones, who left last month to become the Edmonton Eskimos head coach. On Thursday, the Argos unveiled Tim Burke, the former Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach, as their new defensive co-ordinator. "As soon as Chris left and I knew Tim was available he was the only one I talked to," Milanovich said during a conference call. "I think Tim and I see eye-to-eye on defensive philosophy in the CFL. "It was an easy decision for me. It took about 30 seconds on a phone call to Tim and when he said he was available that was the end of it." Milanovich and Burke certainly have a history together. They won Grey Cup titles with the Montreal Alouettes in 2009 and 10 as the offensive and defensive co-ordinator, respectively. "Scott and I are real good friends and we bounced a lot of ideas off each other during that time," Burke said. Burke came to the CFL in 2005 as a defensive backs coach with the Calgary Stampeders. He joined the Alouettes as the defensive co-ordinator under head coach Marc Trestman from 08 to 10 before heading to Winnipeg as its defensive co-ordinator in 2011. After helping Winnipeg reach the Grey Cup in 11, Burke was named interim Bombers head coach in August 2012 after Paul LaPolice was fired before becoming the full-time coach after the season. Burke was fired following the 2013 campaign after Winnipeg posted a league-worst 3-15 record. Overall, Burke compiled a 7-21 head-coaching record. The Bombers hired former Argos special-teams coach Mike OShea as Burkes successor on Wednesday. Burke left Winnipeg with time remaining on his contract, but sitting out the 2014 campaign wasnt an option. Burke said his prior experience as a head coach will help him in Toronto. "One thing I learned from other coaches whove been in this situation is they always thought you become a better assistant after youve been a head coach," Burke said. "Youve been in the head coachs chair before so you undersstand where hes coming from all the time.dddddddddddd. "You always understand theres a big picture and its not just about your defence or your position group. The other thing is Im much more aware of gametime decisions and seeing how everything works during the game." Toronto finished atop the East Division standings with an 11-7 record, thanks in large part to its pass-happy offence under the leadership of all-star quarterback Ricky Ray. Defensively, the Argos were a bend-but-dont-break unit, finishing third in fewest points allowed (25.4 points per game) despite being ranked last in yards allowed (390 yards) and passing yards (298.2) and second-last in sacks (38). During his time as a defensive co-ordinator in both Calgary and Toronto, Jones earned a reputation of being unconventional in his schemes and gameplanning. Jones was never afraid to either drop defensive linemen into coverage or bring players from any spot on the field to confuse offences or pressure quarterbacks. While Burke must still spend time evaluating Torontos defensive personnel, he said his defensive approach has some similarities with Jones. "Chriss basic philosophy would be to try and play as much man as possible," Burke said. "In that regard, you have to be able to play man in the CFL to win so that will be the base of our defence. "Chris is very inventive, Id say innovative, in what he does defensively. I tend to be more a guy who believes in a base defence that you have to be able to play when its a clutch situation. Its a defence you really believe in and were very technique oriented and were very fundamentally sound." Milanovich must still find a replacement for OShea, and is bracing for more possible departures as both Jones and OShea look to fill their respective coaching staffs. "Im so happy for Chris and Mike, I expected to lose some of these guys even a year ago," Milanovich said. "I think its a credit to our organization that were hiring the right people and clearly there are other organizations who want what we have and I think we have to take that as a compliment." ' ' '
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