Aaron Suttles
TideSports.com Senior Writer
The game of football has changed.
The age of the offense, led by the proliferation of they hurry-up no-huddle attacks, has let the genie out of the bottle and it may not be able to be shoved backed in, as record-setting offensive statistics continue to occur with regularity.
Defenses have had to adapt or perish, but the University of Alabama program holds its defense to the same standards as it did when it regularly dominated on the field. Even as evidence mounts that offenses aren't as easy (and it was never easy) to corral, UA coach Nick Saban remains undaunted in his quest for defensive perfection. Rather than adjust the program's standards for defensive production as it relates to excellence, Saban has kept his goals as they always were.
"We leave them as they are because they're still our goals and our benchmark," Saban said. "In 2011, we gave up 8.2 points a game and we were first in the country. This last year, Ole Miss gave up 16 points a game and they were first, and we were like 16.6 (ranking sixth).
"We still want to give up 13 points or less every game, and we feel like we can do that regardless of what the other team does, if we execute."
Matching up on defense has never been more difficult as it is now when offenses hurry to the line for the next play as soon as the previous one ends, and unless an offense makes a substitution there is no time for the defense to substitute.
That's why it's important to develop players that can play all downs and against all downs and distances. That sounds a heck of a lot simpler than it is, but with all the talent in Alabama's front seven, the coaching staff enters this season a lot more confident.
"One of the things we did really well because it's kind of the way you do things in pro ball, is you use specialty players in specialty situations," Saban said. "The one thing that you can't do on defense is do that at all, because you almost can't substitute when things go fast and go no-huddle.
"We have to get more players that can do the job every down, and I think we've done a better job of doing that and I think our players are more equipped to do that right now."
It begins with the defensive line, which is versatile and extremely deep with talented linemen that can play the run and rush the passer, and continues with the linebackers from talents like Reggie Ragland on the inside to players who can play on the edge like Ryan Anderson, Denzel Devall and Tim Williams.
The unit also feels better about its ability to create turnovers this season. Alabama finished the 2014 season minus-2 in turnover ration, ranking tied for 73rd in the country nationally.
"You cannot give up big plays, and we didn't do that last year - we gave up a lot of big plays," UA defensive coordinator Kirby Smart said. "This is a good group, we're really deep in the D-line, we've got some guys back in the secondary…we're excited about this unit."
- See more at: https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1792133#sthash.ZZCmyljR.dpuf
TideSports.com Senior Writer
The game of football has changed.
The age of the offense, led by the proliferation of they hurry-up no-huddle attacks, has let the genie out of the bottle and it may not be able to be shoved backed in, as record-setting offensive statistics continue to occur with regularity.
Defenses have had to adapt or perish, but the University of Alabama program holds its defense to the same standards as it did when it regularly dominated on the field. Even as evidence mounts that offenses aren't as easy (and it was never easy) to corral, UA coach Nick Saban remains undaunted in his quest for defensive perfection. Rather than adjust the program's standards for defensive production as it relates to excellence, Saban has kept his goals as they always were.
"We leave them as they are because they're still our goals and our benchmark," Saban said. "In 2011, we gave up 8.2 points a game and we were first in the country. This last year, Ole Miss gave up 16 points a game and they were first, and we were like 16.6 (ranking sixth).
"We still want to give up 13 points or less every game, and we feel like we can do that regardless of what the other team does, if we execute."
Matching up on defense has never been more difficult as it is now when offenses hurry to the line for the next play as soon as the previous one ends, and unless an offense makes a substitution there is no time for the defense to substitute.
That's why it's important to develop players that can play all downs and against all downs and distances. That sounds a heck of a lot simpler than it is, but with all the talent in Alabama's front seven, the coaching staff enters this season a lot more confident.
"One of the things we did really well because it's kind of the way you do things in pro ball, is you use specialty players in specialty situations," Saban said. "The one thing that you can't do on defense is do that at all, because you almost can't substitute when things go fast and go no-huddle.
"We have to get more players that can do the job every down, and I think we've done a better job of doing that and I think our players are more equipped to do that right now."
It begins with the defensive line, which is versatile and extremely deep with talented linemen that can play the run and rush the passer, and continues with the linebackers from talents like Reggie Ragland on the inside to players who can play on the edge like Ryan Anderson, Denzel Devall and Tim Williams.
The unit also feels better about its ability to create turnovers this season. Alabama finished the 2014 season minus-2 in turnover ration, ranking tied for 73rd in the country nationally.
"You cannot give up big plays, and we didn't do that last year - we gave up a lot of big plays," UA defensive coordinator Kirby Smart said. "This is a good group, we're really deep in the D-line, we've got some guys back in the secondary…we're excited about this unit."
- See more at: https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1792133#sthash.ZZCmyljR.dpuf
