With head coach Mike Shula gone, life goes on for the Alabama Crimson Tide (6-6). The lame duck coaching staff has guided the team through its first practices before heading to Shreveport, La. to face Oklahoma State (6-6) in the Independence Bowl on December 28 th e.
Some have said that this game features two teams with the same record, yet that are heading in the opposite direction. ‘Bama was 10-2 a year ago and won the Cotton Bowl against Texas Tech, while Oklahoma St. missed out on a bowl after going 4-7.
The Crimson Tide were actually 3-0 to start the year, but a heartbreaking loss to Arkansas set them back. Moving down the field has not been the problem for them, as they have racked up 340 yards of offense per game. It's the getting into the end zone that has been the difficult part, with Alabama only putting up 22.2 points per game. The Crimson Tide leads the SEC with 49 trips inside the 20-yard line but has scored only 17 touchdowns on those red zone opportunities.
Alabama's defense has been solid in keeping the team in games. They allow 287.6 total yards per game, 117.8 rushing yards and 18 points per game and ranks second in the SEC with 25 takeaways this season. Unfortunately for the Alabama pass rush, they only have 12 sacks on the season.
Leading rusher Kenneth Darby, has gained 820 yards this season, but has yet to find the end zone. QB John Parker Wilson has thrown for 211.6 ypg, and 16 touchdowns this season. His favorite target D.J. Hall has been out of practice of late, trying to recover from nagging shoulder problems. Despite missing a game, Hall still leads the team with 57 catches and five touchdowns on the season.
Oklahoma State may be ahead of schedule from where most people put them at this point in a rebuilding process. A roster littered with freshmen, led the Cowboys to three wins in Big 12 play (two more than last season). The young faces made an immediate difference in the lineup. Especially when Dantrell Savage, a Juco transfer, emerged as Oklahoma State's feature back from a three-man mix that also included Mike Hamilton and Keith Toston.
The Cowboys' offense has been stellar, as they rank 16 th in the nation with 409 yards per game. And it's a balanced attack, gaining over 200 yards through the air, with QB Bobby Reid, and on the ground.
Defensively, the youth has taken its toll at times on the Cowboys. Big plays have been the problem this year, as the inability to stop opposing offenses has led Oklahoma St. into wild shootouts.
Holiday Bowl
Cal vs. Texas A&M
Things went sour for Cal late in the season. Losing games to Arizona and USC in back-to-back weeks would likely do that to a team. The Golden Bears will get a shot at redemption at the Holiday Bowl against Texas A&M on December 28.
The star of the Cal offense is running back Marshawn Lynch. The junior has yet to decide if he'll be back for his senior season in Berkeley. Lynch has run for 1,245 yards and nine touchdowns this season, while gaining a very solid 6.1 yards per carry. He is also a threat catching the ball, making 31 receptions and four touchdown catches on the season.
Cal QB Nate Longshore really struggled down the stretch, but fans have to remember that he is only a sophomore. Longshore completed less than 50-percent of his passes in each of his final three games of the regular season. He still finished the year averaging 232.2 yards through the air each game, and 23 touchdowns passes.
Although the Bears have the 90 th ranked defense in the nation, Cal has been better than the numbers show. Not many teams have an all-conference player at every level of defense like Cal -- DT Brandon Mebane, LB Desmond Bishop and CB Daymeion Hughes.
The Texas A&M defense has been the story in College Station in 2006, especially after the big upset over in-state rival Texas. The Aggies only gave up 230 yards of offense to the Longhorns in that game. They were also able to tally four interceptions on the day. The Aggies are young, but senior SS Melvin Bullitt, has been one of the big reasons why the unit has excelled.
On offense, the Aggies may pose a big problem for Cal, as not too many teams on the Bears' schedule this season have run the option—or have had a mobile quarterback for that matter. The attack features QB Stephen McGee (635 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns), RB Mike Goodson (785 rushing yards, four touchdowns on the ground), and the big RB Jorvorskie Lane (689 rushing yards, 19 rushing touchdowns).
The question in the Holiday Bowl will likely turn into this: Will Cal be able to stop Texas A&M's rushing attack? If not, it will likely be a long day for the Bears. Also, one has to wonder if they will be into this game after missing out on a BCS Bowl after a real tough couple of losses late in the season..
Douglas Kroll can be reached at dckroll@hotmail.com
