SEC West notebook

By

Posted 6:37AM on Thursday, October 21, 2004

ALABAMA: Alabama's defensive backs are shutting down opposing quarterbacks and shutting up the critics, both of whom heaped plenty of abuse on them in recent years. It's hard to find too much fault with a Crimson Tide defense that leads the nation in pass efficiency defense and ranks second in passing yards allowed per game. ``We'll take all the praise everybody's trying to give us,'' safety Roman Harper said. ``For the past couple of years, everybody's been trying to beat us down, talking about how bad we were and stuff like that. ``We're finally getting a hug every now and then so we'll take it. We're enjoying the love we're getting right now.'' The affection is hard-earned. Alabama ranked 72nd nationally against the pass last year and 10th in the Southeastern Conference. The group is benefiting from an offseason shuffle. Harper has thrived since moving from strong safety to free safety, with 42 tackles and two interceptions. Charlie Peprah switched from cornerback to strong safety. Ramzee Robinson, a backup last season, and Anthony Madison have been solid at cornerback. Opponents haven't tested them all that much, running 252 times and attempting only 149 passes while completing just eight per game. The Tide secondary will get its biggest challenge Saturday against Erik Ainge and No. 11 Tennessee. AUBURN: Here's Auburn's offensive modus operandi: Come out of the locker room. Score. Repeat. The third-ranked Tigers have scored on six of seven opening possessions this season, including five touchdowns. Auburn (7-0) has outscored opponents 81-9 in the first quarter and 68-10 in the second. What's the secret? ``I've preached the same things forever. We always talk about beating teams to the punch,'' offensive coordinator Al Borges said. ``But I've done that and had teams that didn't get up fast enough. ``If you're mentally ready to play, you do a better job. Some teams aren't mentally ready now matter what you tell them. These kids seem to be focused in the beginning.'' Quarterback Jason Campbell has been particularly strong early. He's completed 31 of 37 passes for 523 yards and four touchdowns before halftime in the past three games combined. ``It gets you in a rhythm and gets you going,'' Campbell said of the fast starts. ``You don't want to have a slow start.'' LSU: LSU is rested and a lot of injuries have healed after a week off. The Tigers (4-2) return to the field Saturday night. It's homecoming and Troy (3-3) visits. ``We had a pretty good week last week,'' coach Nick Saban said. ``I think we had a combination of some pretty decent practices and got a lot of repetitions with a lot of young players and got some guys healthier. It's important for us to build on the kind of competitive spirit coming out of our last game, which is kind of hard to maintain over a bye week.'' LSU rallied to beat Florida 24-21 before the week off. Quarterback Marcus Randall came on to lead the comeback. Saban refused to say if Randall would be the starter Saturday. Saban did go on to say that he wants to see JaMarcus Russell, who has shared playing time with Randall this season, and even Matt Flynn, a redshirt freshman, brought along. MISSISSIPPI: The novelty of the Rebels' unique three-quarterback rotation might be wearing off. Trying to keep Ole Miss' offense unpredictable, coach David Cutcliffe shuttled Ethan Flatt, Micheal Spurlock and Robert Lane in and out in Ole Miss' past two games. After a win at South Carolina and a loss to Tennessee, it may be backfiring. Cutcliffe said defenses have started to figure out the rotation. ``Becoming too predictable is something you always have to be aware of,'' Cutcliffe said. ``I don't know if we will continue to use three quarterbacks or not.'' Flatt, a pocket passer, was used in throwing situations. When Spurlock and Lane played, they were threats to run with it. Lane was Ole Miss' leading rusher with 44 yards against Tennessee. Cutcliffe said he plans to re-evaluate the position before the Rebels' game Oct. 30 vs. No. 3 Auburn. ``We will continue to look at what each player accomplishes in practice and what he can bring to the table on Saturdays,'' he said. MISSISSIPPI STATE: For the first time this season, the Bulldogs have three dependable receivers and a healthy quarterback to get them the ball. McKinley Scott has made progress rehabbing his nagging hamstring, and coach Sylvester Croom has no reservations about playing him Saturday against 20th-ranked Florida. He joins improving Tee Milons and trusty Will Prosser as targets for Omarr Conner, who returns this week after injuring a ligament in his right knee last month. ``It gives us some semblance of a receiving corps,'' Croom said. Despite injuring the hamstring during the preseason, Scott started the first two games at split end but re-aggravated it in Game 2 against Auburn. He sat out three games and played a few snaps two weeks ago against UAB. Milons, whose questionable work habits led Croom to bench him for the opener, has come on strong lately. He started the Bulldogs' last two games at split end and caught six passes for 42 yards. He will start ahead of Scott on Saturday. Milons ``has picked it up as the season has gone along and really improved,'' Croom said. Croom said Prosser has been ``the workhorse all year long'' and played through injuries to his Achilles' tendon and palm.