August 9, 2015
Ben Jones
TideSports.com Staff Writer
Nine years at the University of Alabama has brought new perspective and new challenges to defensive coordinator Kirby Smart. He's still only 39 years old, but he's been around long enough to see the difference between a good defense and a great one.
Alabama finished third in the SEC in scoring defense last year, allowing 18.4 points per game, after leading the league in that category each of the last five years. Alabama hadn't allowed that many points per game since Nick Saban's first year in 2007, before Smart was named defensive coordinator.
"We're trying to improve in a lot of areas," Smart said. "Did not have the kind of season that we're used to, standard-wise at the University of Alabama."
Those standards include four measurements: turnovers, big plays allowed, third down efficiency and red zone efficiency. By those standards, Smart said, last year was the worst in his seven seasons as defensive coordinator.
The secondary found itself under special scrutiny. The Crimson Tide finished with 11 interceptions last year, 70th nationally and 11th in the conference. Opponents also found it vulnerable to big plays.
"Every year we go over our statistics in the secondary, our secondary has been decreasing as far as the rankings," senior safety Geno Smith said. "It hasn't been good. We definitely know it's a problem, and we definitely know when big plays happen it's normally secondary. So we need to change that."
Part of the challenge has been the changes the defense has seen from the other side of the ball. During the national championship season in 2011, Smart said the defense faced five run/pass option plays. It faced more than 120 run/pass options last year, putting more strain on the secondary.
"You have to help your corners in a lot of different ways," Smart said. "We have to continue to grow in that area so we don't give up big plays, don't put those guys in tough situations, which I did last year probably too often."
The one area the defense met its goals last year was in the red zone. Alabama forced 20 field goals from inside the 20 yard line last year, the most of any team in the nation. Teams scored just 17 touchdowns on 44 possessions in the red zone against Alabama.
But on third down, which had often been a trademark of the defense under Saban and Smart, there was regression.
So Smart's offseason was a search for answers. He reviewed every game, as he always does, and also spoke with Ohio State's offensive coaches. He wanted to pick the minds of the coaching staff that planned the Buckeyes' 42-35 win over the Crimson Tide.
"I think the difference has been for our players has been,' What did you learn from the experience that you had?' " head coach Nick Saban said.
Smart has been learning as well. He can find situations where the defense succeeded in 2014, but he's more interested in making sure the failures from last year don't repeat themselves.
"You obviously have to correct the mistakes," Smart said. "There are a whole lot more mistakes in that Auburn and Ohio State game than the Texas A&M game."
https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1790660
Ben Jones
TideSports.com Staff Writer
Nine years at the University of Alabama has brought new perspective and new challenges to defensive coordinator Kirby Smart. He's still only 39 years old, but he's been around long enough to see the difference between a good defense and a great one.
Alabama finished third in the SEC in scoring defense last year, allowing 18.4 points per game, after leading the league in that category each of the last five years. Alabama hadn't allowed that many points per game since Nick Saban's first year in 2007, before Smart was named defensive coordinator.
"We're trying to improve in a lot of areas," Smart said. "Did not have the kind of season that we're used to, standard-wise at the University of Alabama."
Those standards include four measurements: turnovers, big plays allowed, third down efficiency and red zone efficiency. By those standards, Smart said, last year was the worst in his seven seasons as defensive coordinator.
The secondary found itself under special scrutiny. The Crimson Tide finished with 11 interceptions last year, 70th nationally and 11th in the conference. Opponents also found it vulnerable to big plays.
"Every year we go over our statistics in the secondary, our secondary has been decreasing as far as the rankings," senior safety Geno Smith said. "It hasn't been good. We definitely know it's a problem, and we definitely know when big plays happen it's normally secondary. So we need to change that."
Part of the challenge has been the changes the defense has seen from the other side of the ball. During the national championship season in 2011, Smart said the defense faced five run/pass option plays. It faced more than 120 run/pass options last year, putting more strain on the secondary.
"You have to help your corners in a lot of different ways," Smart said. "We have to continue to grow in that area so we don't give up big plays, don't put those guys in tough situations, which I did last year probably too often."
The one area the defense met its goals last year was in the red zone. Alabama forced 20 field goals from inside the 20 yard line last year, the most of any team in the nation. Teams scored just 17 touchdowns on 44 possessions in the red zone against Alabama.
But on third down, which had often been a trademark of the defense under Saban and Smart, there was regression.
So Smart's offseason was a search for answers. He reviewed every game, as he always does, and also spoke with Ohio State's offensive coaches. He wanted to pick the minds of the coaching staff that planned the Buckeyes' 42-35 win over the Crimson Tide.
"I think the difference has been for our players has been,' What did you learn from the experience that you had?' " head coach Nick Saban said.
Smart has been learning as well. He can find situations where the defense succeeded in 2014, but he's more interested in making sure the failures from last year don't repeat themselves.
"You obviously have to correct the mistakes," Smart said. "There are a whole lot more mistakes in that Auburn and Ohio State game than the Texas A&M game."
https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1790660
