New ways to run: With offense struggling, Tide turns to Wildcat attack

TUSCALOOSA — Third-ranked Alabama still wants the Wildcat formation as no more than a good changeup for its entire offense.

But lately, that changeup has more resembled the Crimson Tide's best pitch.

As the passing game struggled through a third consecutive game, it became clearer that Alabama's most reliable way to move the football has been for tailback Mark Ingram to receive snaps and run out of the shotgun.

"One of the reasons we've done it more is we've had a reasonable amount of success doing it," Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said. "I think every team will probably play it a little bit different, and you never know for sure how they are going to play it until you get in the game. I think that has something to do with how much you use it, too."

Saban stressed that the Wildcat still "needs to be a complement to what you do," but recent performances have suggested otherwise heading into Saturday's 2:30 p.m. game against LSU, which boasts another stout defense.

Surprisingly, Alabama has experienced better results with the Wildcat as the season has progressed and defenses have become more aware of it. The Crimson Tide unleashed the new formation in the season opener against Virginia Tech and it largely flopped.

As Alabama's offense soared through the season's first month, the ploy all but vanished. But when the Crimson Tide needed offensive help, it was there. Ingram's success of late in the Wildcat has bolstered his national profile amid growing Heisman Trophy chatter, but it has also bailed out Alabama's offense in tough times.

"We just had some success with it," Ingram said. "I think the end of the South Carolina game kind of sparked it a little bit. We've just been having a lot more success with it now than we had earlier in the season. As long as we continue to have success with it, I think we'll keep going more with it."

The Crimson Tide's only touchdown drive in the past two games was a six-play drive against South Carolina. Five of those plays were Wildcat runs by Ingram, and the sixth was a handoff for a 4-yard touchdown to seal the victory over the Gamecocks.

Alabama did not reach the end zone while edging Tennessee 12-10 on Oct. 24, but the Crimson Tide's best scoring opportunity of the afternoon came after a drive based again on Wildcat runs with Ingram at quarterback.

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