Tide playing Bama brand of football

TUSCALOOSA — A fan base that takes its football seriously tends to spawn a program that approaches it much the same way.

Dull, grim, physical, careful and effectively unentertaining: This is the Alabama approach that has spanned decades, coaching changes, talent fluctuations, championships, good teams and bad.

Not that there's anything wrong with that. Hey, the Crimson Tide often likes its football a certain way, with a nasty defense and offense built on ball-control and the running game, safe passes and relatively low scores. There are notable exceptions, but good Alabama teams have typically been able to do these things above others.

Welcome the 2009 team to the club.

What's odd is that anyone was surprised.

September had its moments, but it was a pretty safe bet that by the time the weather starts turning chilly, Alabama's offense would look a lot like what has been displayed the past few weeks.

In the entire month of October, the Crimson Tide did not complete a pass longer than 27 yards. Quarterback Greg McElroy hit only one throw longer than 20 yards in the past three games, and that was a catch and run by tailback Mark Ingram.

Compare that to the first four games, when McElroy connected on a pass of at least 30 yards in all four games — including an 80-yard touchdown against Arkansas. The Crimson Tide had introduced cool-sounding new formations like the Pistol and Wildcat, innovative offseason additions and trick plays that left folks wondering what else might be up offensive coordinator Jim McElwain's sleeve.

Well, not as much anymore. Alabama has had two offensive touchdowns in three games, and McElroy hasn't thrown a TD pass in 13 quarters.

Alabama didn't reach the end zone Saturday against Tennessee, and in fact, its most explosive offensive tactic against the Vols was to take McElroy off the field, line up Ingram in the shotgun and have him find a hole to run through.

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