WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & SportsDooley, Vols in awe of "dominant" Alabama

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WRCB) -- Derek Dooley chose his words carefully during Monday's weekly meeting with the media.

Even then, he expected some of what he said about this week's opponent to be difficult to believe.

"This is their best team in Nick (Saban)'s five years there," Dooley said of Alabama. "They're physically as dominating a defense as I've seen in the modern era of football. I know that's a strong statement, but I believe it."

"You catch yourself watching them, not studying them."

He's not the only one who sees it that way. UT players were also quick to praise their "Third Saturday of October" rival.

"Just by watching film on them, you see a difference in their style of play and every other team's style of play," said defensive tackle Daniel Hood. "They don't make many mistakes. They're physical every play. It's definitely going to be a battle."

Added running back Tauren Poole: "Special teams, offense, defense, coaching, however you want to put it, they are definitely the best team in the country to me."

What Alabama is now is what Dooley hopes his Vols can someday become.

The second-ranked Crimson Tide boast "prototypical size and speed at every position" in Dooley's mind, and return so much experienced talent that "you're never going to fool them."

But the most impressive quality of Saban's squad in Dooley's mind is their unrivaled toughness.

"Their mentality is when they go to hit you, they don't go to tackle you. They go to punish you," Dooley said.

Opposing offense have definitely been feeling the pain against a Crimson Tide defense that leads the SEC in nearly every category. Alabama is tops in total defense (184 yards per game), scoring defense (7 points per game), sacks (15), rushing defense (38 ypg) and defensive passing efficiency (85-percent).

And those numbers don't bode well for a Tennessee offense that struggled in a 38-7 loss last week to top-ranked LSU.

"I feel like Bama is a more physical football team," Poole said of the comparison between the Tigers and Tide. "LSU pride's themselves on speed. They're not going to let you out run them. Bama's not going to let you out-physical and out-play them.

"We all need to get ready for a physical football game for all 60 minutes."

The "60 minutes" part was the primary problem against the Tigers.

Dooley was upset with the Vols' lack of composure in their first two SEC losses, but felt they played with great effort and focused emotion against LSU. Problem was, they couldn't do it for four quarters.

"We had the same spirit (in the second half), but what happens is your spirit starts getting hit a little bit and there's a level of physical and mental stamina our team doesn't have right now," he said.

But that doesn't mean Dooley thinks Tennessee doesn't have a shot in Tuscaloosa this Saturday. In fact, he hopes his team joins him in seeing the matchup as an opportunity.

"You only get 12 days to compete, 13 if you go to a bowl game," Dooley said. "We should relish the opportunity to play against this type of a football team. It should appeal to our competitive spirit."