Snead Is Next Up for Tide Beat Down

Jevan Snead, come on down. You’re the next highly regarded quarterback to take a crack at Alabama’s vaunted defense.

But first a word of warning: The other two took beat downs during their spin at the wheel.

Virginia Tech’s Tyrod Taylor completed only 9-of-20 passes for 91 yards and was sacked five times as the Tide spanked the Hokies 34-24 to open the season.

Arkansas sophomore Ryan Mallett was coming off a record-setting performance against Georgia – 408 yards passing and five touchdowns – and was the nation’s top passer when he went up against the Tide two weeks ago. Alabama treated him rudely, holding Mallett to only 12 completions in 35 attempts for 160 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He was sacked three times as the Tide rolled to a 35-7 victory.

Now, it’s Snead’s turn when he leads the No. 20 Ole Miss Rebels against the No. 3 Crimson Tide Saturday afternoon in Oxford, Miss.

Although Ole Miss’ junior quarterback has thrown a touchdown pass in 13 consecutive games, Snead has had a so-so start to this season. He is completing only 51.4 percent of his passes (54-of-105) for 728 yards with nine touchdowns and five interceptions. He was totally ineffective in the Rebels’ 16-10 loss at South Carolina two weeks ago, completing only 7-of-21 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown.

Snead is going to need a career day for the Rebels to upset the Tide, whose defense is vastly superior to South Carolina’s. Consider the following:

* The Tide has 15 sacks in five games, led by defensive end Marcell Dareus with 3.5 sacks and surprisingly cornerback Javier Arenas with three. Middle linebacker Rolando McClain is next with two sacks.

* The Tide has held 16 teams under 100 yards rushing over the past 19 games and has not allowed a 100-yard rusher since Ole Miss’ BenJarvus Green-Ellis went for 131 on Oct. 13, 2007, a span of 24 games.

* The Tide defense has been strong on third down, ranking seventh nationally and allowing just a 27.14 conversion rate (19 for 70).

* The Tide forced four turnovers, including three interceptions, in its 38-20 victory at Kentucky last week. The Tide has forced eight turnovers this season and has forced 57 turnovers in the first 32 games under head coach Nick Saban, an average of 1.78 per game.

* The Tide is allowing only 222.2 total yards per game this season to rank second nationally.

"I believe they will be the best defense we’ve gone up against, and I look forward to having the opportunity to play against them.” -- Jevan Snead

Snead knows what he’s up against. In a press conference earlier this week, Snead said the Alabama defense was solid at every position. “You look at their defensive line and they’ve got some big guys up there who can make big plays. Also, their linebackers and their secondary are extremely fast and extremely physical – not to mention the fact that they’re well coached. I believe they will be the best defense we’ve gone up against, and I look forward to having the opportunity to play against them.”

Arenas expects Snead to pose a threat to the Tide.

“This will be my second year going against him,” Arenas said. “It was a good competition against him last year. He’s a great athlete, smart, a decision maker and he carries all those attributes into this year. So it will be the same type of environment, the same type of everything. It’s another test.”

Another test the Tide’s defense will pass with flying colors … Alabama 34, Ole Miss 16.