Tide's Knight getting experience as a pass rusher

TUSCALOOSA | Ezekial Knight, formerly a University of Alabama pass-catching specialist, is now in the opposite role of pass-rushing specialist.

There weren’t many opportunities for him to play that role a week ago — but with the Georgia Bulldogs coming to Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday night, Knight is likely to play a more prominent role.

“[Georgia)] will be a hard-nosed team, but they’ll do a lot more passing than Arkansas,” he said earlier this week.

“Arkansas ran the majority of the time. It was hard to tell when they were going to pass because they would run even when it was third down. If Georgia gets in a third-and-long situation, you can pretty much be guaranteed that they will pass so we will concentrate on getting to the passer.”

Knight — who had just four games of defensive experience going into the season — has blossomed under new coach Nick Saban, helping to fill a serious need for athleticism at the position. He still relies more on speed that brute strength, though he says he’s become “a lot more physical player” this season.

He is currently the No. 2 tackler on the Crimson Tide team with 18 stops in the first three games. He has recorded one quarterback sack and deflected two passes.

“I think I’m getting better at stopping the run [but] I love pass-rushing,” Knight said. “I am definitely working to get to the quarterback this week.

“I respect Georgia but they do have some freshmen playing on the offensive line. They could make a lot of mistakes, and we have to capitalize on the mistakes they make.

“Their quarterback [Matthew Stafford] is pretty good. He’s not the kind of quarterback who is going to run around the edge and beat you to the corner, but he can scramble and he can definitely beat you with his arm if you give him time.”

While Knight embraces the defensive role, he couldn’t help thinking about his first two seasons as a wide receiver when the Crimson Tide offense was driving for the winning score in its 41-38 victory over Arkansas.

“When I came in, DJ [Hall], Keith [Brown], Will [Oakley] and I, we were all close,” said Knight, a native of Wedowee. I was really pulling for them. I knew they were going to score. It was good to see DJ, Will and Matt Caddell all make big plays.”

Knight spent two years as a wide receiver before switching to the defensive side of the ball. He played in four games on defense last season but was injured in the Arkansas game. He learned in late July that he had been awarded a medical redshirt for the 2006 season and is a junior for the Crimson Tide this season.

“I’m a defensive guy now, completely,” Knight said, adding with a laugh that it “would be awful to have to lose all that weight.

“I’m about 235 or 240 right now, and I don’t think I could play receiver carrying all that (weight) around.”

Given his performance through the first three games, Knight doesn’t have to worry about going on a diet, or making the switch.