🏈 Alabama may be close to the perfect defense. But about that pass rush…

[TerryP]

I'm not the betting type, but if it was possible to buy shares in any single unit in college football this fall, I'd put everything into the Alabama defense. With All-SEC safety Mark Barron's decision to skip the draft for his senior season, 'Bama returns a whopping ten starters from the group that led the SEC last year in every major defensive category, all of them former four and five-star prospects from the succession of chart-topping recruiting classes that have beaten a path to Tuscaloosa over the last three years. (To say nothing of the latest chart-topping class that signed on in February.) By any significant measure — against the run, against the pass, yards allowed, points allowed — the Crimson Tide have finished among the top 10 nationally three years running, and barring catastrophe, the 2011 edition will inevitably make it four.

The only place that their scorched-earth campaign hasn't quite reach: The pass rush. Since Nick Saban's arrival in 2007, 'Bama has remained firmly in the middle of the pack when it comes to getting to the quarterback, finishing 73rd, 71st, 40th and 54th nationally in sacks over the last four years, and is still waiting on the emergence of a consistent threat off the edge.

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From Yahoo's Dr. Saturday.

 

[JoshB]

I think Mr. Eufaula is gonna be a damn beast this year, and Square is gonna be good as well.

 

[TerryP]

If there was one stat I wish was chronicled each week it was be QB pressures. I know Saban mentions it a lot. It's not as satisfying for a fan to see a 2nd and long and the QB forced to throw and incomplete pass due to pressure. It's a lot more appealing to see that 3th and 15+ scenario.

For me, it adds a bit more excitement to 3rd down, but it's far from the crux of my judgment of our defense.

All that said, his last closing line is a bit eerie if you are an opposing DC: "Not that there's anything wrong with stacking gaps — again, the Crimson Tide are going to roll defensively regardless of any increased pressure, or lack thereof. If they add the final piece of the nightmare, though, you can turn out the light on the SEC race right now.'

And, it sure does suck to be criticized on defense after finishing in the top 10 four years running...

 

[Duder]

Terry, who do you think will be a legit threat this year? The pass rush certainly improved last year when Dareus came back but it was still an area every Bama fan I know mentioned on their wish list. A better pass rush could have helped mask some of the secondary issues. Although, this year should be the exact opposite. If your corner opposite Dre plays as well as expected, your d-line will have a lot of time to get to the QB.

I think you bring up a good point about QB pressure though. I had to look up the stats from the Capitol One Bowl; it sure felt like Cousins got sacked more than five times.

 

[TerryP]

Terry, who do you think will be a legit threat this year? The pass rush certainly improved last year when Dareus came back but it was still an area every Bama fan I know mentioned on their wish list. A better pass rush could have helped mask some of the secondary issues. Although, this year should be the exact opposite. If your corner opposite Dre plays as well as expected, your d-line will have a lot of time to get to the QB.I think you bring up a good point about QB pressure though. I had to look up the stats from the Capitol One Bowl; it sure felt like Cousins got sacked more than five times.

On the DL, defense as a whole...?

DL: Ed Stinson is a guy I'm going to be keeping my eyes on. I think Square will probably end up with more tackles, but not as much pressure.

LB: While everyone is flipping their coins between Dont'a and Courtney, I'm curious how much we see Chris Jordan straight up the gut this season. At least, a blitz between the tackles.

DB's: Oh gosh. I'm going with Menzie as he slides into the STAR role. Geez, putting Menzie and Milliner in our rabbits just isn't going to be fair.

As a side note to Bama fans:

Our secondary has been lights out this summer. Literally, the 1's on offense in skel drills have gone multiple series without completing a pass. It's not a situation that falls at the feet of our QB or WR's.

Wait. That's not the best way to put that...

They've been covered like a blanket. I'm sure I could work out a little word play with that if I tried.

 

[Duder]

Yeah, the line specifically. You're clearly fine at LB and the secondary should be among the tops in the country.

I'm interested in the d-line play. If there is a true playmaker, your D should be #1

I'm going to keep an eye on Hightower. As a fan, I want to see if he can produce at the same level as before. As a 20-something year old that had an ACL reconstructed in January, I want to see if he can regain his confidence in that leg.

 

[TerryP]

I had to go look at a game real quick. It's a pretty darn good example of what I was saying earlier.

Ole Miss, in Oxford, two seasons ago. This was the season Snead, Ole Miss, and their schedule were getting so much love during the pre-season.

Snead attempted 12 passes in the first half of that game. Two were completed; a one yard gain to McCluster out of the backfield and a 13 yard gain for a first down. (Only first down of the half.)

Snead was hit every time he attempted to pass that half. Every single time. However, we didn't record a single sack in the first half.

Second half: First pass complete for sizable gain and we blitzed on third down for a sack. Eryk Anders IIRC. After that, we sat in our base the rest of the day and ended up with three INT's as a team.

That'll satisfy me, as a fan, any day of the week. The "glamor" of a well timed blitz sack IS a thing of beauty.

Play-maker IE Dareus part duex? It'll be an endurance advantage this year vs a Dareus advantage.

I don't think we'll see any double teams until well into the season. I am not saying we'll be weak in the middle, but I don't think we'll deserve or should we expect a double team starting off.

Arkansas might, but I'd be willing to bet it happens in the second: half, likely not quarter.

Boom likely will by that time of the season. They've got some youth they'll have to account for and facing UK and UT isn't going to give them the needed time.

This DL has as much talent over-all as the '09 team but not as mature right now. A lot more upside and a lot more schemes teams will have to prepare for. There's a few that no one has seen as of yet...

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