Tennessee's revamped secondary — minus senior leader Jason Allen --better be ready from the get-go Saturday against No. 5 Alabama.

The Crimson Tide has struck often this season on play-action passes on its opening drive.

"I think you look at the way they've opened up four of the six ballgames, that first play has been a big play off play action," UT defensive coordinator John Chavis said. "They scored against Florida, (and) three other games they had big plays, they may have scored in one of the other ones on the first play."

In the Oct. 1 victory over Florida, Brodie Croyle threw a slant pass to Tyrone Prothro that went for an 87-yard touchdown on the Tide's first play from scrimmage.

In the season opening victory over Southern Miss, Croyle hit Prothro for a 52-yard gain on the Tide's first play.

Croyle threw a 19-yard pass to Matt Caddell on the Tide's opening play against Middle Tennessee State.

Prothro is out for the season with a broken leg sustained in the second half of the Florida game.

"You hate to see that," Chavis said. "You want to go out and compete against their best with your best and let the game take its shape. I wouldn't say I'm relieved (that Prothro is out). You hate to see anybody have an injury that's going to end the season."

With Prothro out, sophomore Keith Brown becomes Croyle's favorite target.

Brown has 17 catches for 348 yards and three touchdowns this season. Prothro is finished for the year with 17 catches for 325 yards and three touchdowns.

Sophomore D.J. Hall has 13 catches for 241 yards and three touchdowns.

Croyle, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound senior, gives Chavis plenty to worry about — even without Prothro.

"(Croyle) throws the deep ball extremely well," Chavis said. "He does a tremendous job leading the offense. He's a field general. He's in control. He gets them in and out of the right plays.

"They don't do a tremendous amount of checking, but when they check you can tell, you can see, and they're usually checking to a good play. (Croyle) gets them in those good situations and keeps them out of most of the bad situations."

Croyle will test a secondary that has sophomore Inquoris Johnson making his first career start at cornerback. Johnson is expected to start for Allen, who suffered a season-ending hip injury against Georgia.

Chavis said the secondary played well against Georgia after Allen was hurt — except for the Bulldogs' last scoring drive.

"Obviously we didn't play the kind of football that we believe we can play on the last drive that we were out there, but up to that point I thought they (the secondary) were very good," Chavis said. "We've got some young talent. We're going to be greener than we've ever been before, but it's not that we're putting guys out there that aren't good enough to play."