Misc. Bama things.. and Javy closing in on the record books

AIR DEFENSE: Alabama’s defense has smothered almost every aspect of opponent offense in 2009, and while a lot of the attention goes to the Tide’s suffocating rushing defense, Alabama has also limited some very dangerous passing attacks. The Tide boasts the nation’s No. 4 overall defense, allowing just 242.22 yards per game, but Alabama also ranks third in the country in pass efficiency defense, surrendering a 90.43 opponent passer rating. The Tide is tied for 16th in interceptions (12) and ranks 17th in pass defense (174.00 ypg). The Tide limited Virginia Tech’s Tyrod Taylor to just 45 percent passing, 91 yards and an 82.22 passer rating. Arkansas’ Ryan Mallet, who is 12th nationally in passing yards, managed a 34.29 completion percentage and a 76.40 passer rating. Mississippi’s Jevan Snead completed only 32.35 percent of his passes vs. Alabama and threw four interceptions for a 43.41 passer rating while South Carolina’s Stephen Garcia connected on 43.5 percent of his passes with an interception and no touchdowns. LSU quarterbacks completed just 51.9 percent of their passes and threw on interceptions.

Opposing Quarterbacks vs. Alabama
..................................... C A-Yds Comp Pct. TD-INT QB Rating
Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech 9-20-91 45.00 0-0 83.22
Paul McCall, Florida International 16-32-189 50.00 1-0 109.93
Nathan Tune, North Texas 16-23-126 69.56 1-0 129.93
Ryan Mallett, Arkansas 12-35-160 34.29 1-1 76.40
Mike Hartline, Kentucky 17-31-168 54.84 1-3 91.65
Jevan Snead, Mississippi 11-34-140 32.35 0-4 43.41
Stephen Garcia, South Carolina 20-46-214 43.48 0-1 78.21
Jonathan Crompton, Tennessee 21-36-265 58.33 1-1 123.78
J. Jefferson/J. Lee, LSU 14-27-158 51.85 1-1 105.82


ARENAS NEARING SEC & NCAA PUNT RETURN YARDAGE RECORD: Senior cornerback and return specialist Javier Arenas is quickly sneaking up on the all-time great punt returners in college football history. He has already broken all of the Crimson Tide punt return records, and now has his sights set on the SEC and NCAA records as well. He is the NCAA active leader in career punt returns, yards, touchdowns, returns per game and yards per game. Arenas, who has 1,590 career punt return yards on 112 returns, is just 106 punt return yards away from breaking Lee Nalley’s long-standing SEC record of 1,695 (102 returns for a 14.4 ypr average). Nalley set that record from 1947-49 and it stood for 54 years as the NCAA record until Texas Tech’s Wes Welker broke it in 2003. Welker finished his Tech career with 1,761 punt return yards and Arenas needs 172 yards to break his record and become the NCAA’s all-time leader in punt return yards.

NCAA CAREER PUNT RETURN YARDS
1. 1,761 Wes Welker (Texas Tech) (152 returns) 2000-03
2. 1,695 Lee Nalley (Vanderbilt) (109 returns) 1947-49
3. 1,677 Ryne Robinson (Miami-Ohio) (121 returns) 2003-06
4. 1,646 David Allen (Kansas State) (103 returns) 1997-2000
5. 1,599 Steve Breaston (Michigan) (127 returns) 2003-06
6. 1,590 Javier Arenas (Alabama) (116 returns) 2006-Present
7. 1,471 Leodis McKelvin (Troy) (112 returns) 2004-07
8. 1,424 Antonio Perkins (Oklahoma) (113 returns) 2001-04
9. 1,347 Jim Leonhard (Wisconsin) (105 returns) 2001-04
10. 1,333 Greg Myers (Colorado State) (000 returns) 1992-95

SEC CAREER PUNT RETURN YARDS
1. 1,695 Lee Nalley (Vanderbilt) (109 returns) 1947-49
2. 1,590 Javier Arenas (Alabama) (116 returns) 2006-Present
3. 1,332 Tony James (Mississippi State) (121 returns) 1989-92
4. 1,253 Damien Gray (Georgia) (114 returns) 2000-03
5. 1,229 Brandon James (Florida) (104 returns) 2006-Present
6. 1,170 Thomas Bailey (Auburn) (125 returns) 1991-94
7. 1,163 Bobby Majors (Tennessee) (117 returns) 1969-71
8. 1,142 Junie Hovious (Mississippi) (117 returns) 1938-41
9. 1,126 Domanick Davis (LSU) (94 returns) 1999-02
10 1,119 Harry Gilmer (Alabama) (83 returns) 1944-47