Containing Kruger on Tide's to-do list

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jan 2, 2009 | by Andrew Aragon Deseret News

NEW ORLEANS -- Pose the question to most college football followers, and especially non-Utes fans, and the answers would probably come back sarcastically.

What does Alabama need to do to defeat Utah in the 75th Sugar Bowl tonight?

Show up? Be sure traffic doesn't make the Crimson Tide late for the showdown in the Louisiana Superdome?

Not quite, according to Alabama coach Nick Saban. He said in his final press conference prior to the Sugar Bowl on Thursday that the Utes are deserving of their top-10 ranking and that his team is in for a big-time challenge tonight. He characteristically bristled while dealing with the media when one person suggested that most people expect the Tide to roll in the Sugar Bowl.

"This game will get decided on the field by the players," Saban said. "Our players need to be ready to play their best football of the season if they want to be successful regardless of what y'all think, because I don't think you have the proper respect for the team that we're playing."

So in honor of Saban, let's look at three things the Crimson Tide need to do to prevail in tonight's Sugar Bowl:

Block Kruger

One of the best projected individual bowl matchups of the season was wiped off the slate when Outland Trophy winner and Alabama left tackle Andre Smith was suspended for tonight's game. Smith was to block Utah standout defensive end Paul Kruger in a duel that would have been worth the price of admission.

Now the responsibility of keeping Kruger in check falls on Mike Johnson, who's moving from left guard to replace Smith. All eyes will be on Johnson tonight and his ability to slow Kruger, as Alabama's offense monumentally sputtered in the game it played without Smith this season. The Tide defeated Tulane 20-6 while generating just 172 yards of offense.

"Their whole defense is really fast," Johnson said. "Their defensive end (Kruger) can get up the field. He plays with quickness, and he's a big, strong guy. He's got a lot of stats this year, and they're well-deserved. He's a really good player."

And if Johnson can't block him, the tide could turn in Utah's favor in tonight's game.

Get Julio hopping

Everyone knows the Crimson Tide will try and pound the ball with their ground game and running back Glen Coffee tonight. That's what Alabama does.

To defeat the Utes, without Smith in the lineup and against the 14th-ranked run defense in the nation, Alabama has to make some plays in its passing game. Quarterback John Parker Wilson must complete passes to Julio Jones, who's widely regarded as the best freshman receiver in the nation.

Jones, who caught 51 passes for 847 yards during the season, will mostly be guarded by Utes cornerback Sean Smith in another important one-on-one matchup in tonight's game. If Jones can get loose for some big gains, it greatly increases Alabama's chances of winning.

Pressure Johnson

Utah quarterback Brian Johnson has earned the utmost respect from Saban and the rest of the Crimson Tide.

"Offensively, I think their quarterback is as good as we have played against as a passer," Saban said. "Their passing efficiency has probably been the strength of their team."

The Crimson Tide have to disrupt that efficiency and pressure Johnson in order to win tonight. BYU couldn't do it in Utah's last game, and Johnson shredded the Cougars, completing 30 of 36 passes for 303 yards and four touchdowns.

Alabama is obviously much better equipped to harass Johnson than BYU was with players such as All-American nose guard Terrence Cody and All-SEC linebacker Rolando McClain. If the Tide can force some early mistakes by Johnson and his offense, tonight's game could get ugly -- in Alabama's favor.

E-mail: aaragon@desnews.com