🏈 Sacks, you want to talk about Sacks...

[planomateo]

We're currently tied for #3 in the nation for sacks at 27 total this season. Color me impressed.

There was some discussion last week in the TAMU thread with regards to Saban's view on sacks. Our DL is a special group.

 

[OldPlayer]

Interesting that they put the number as ##.0. While a player can get a half sack (shared with another player), you can't have a half sack as a team. You either sacked or you didn't.

 

[JoshB]

Interesting that they put the number as ##.0. While a player can get a half sack (shared with another player), you can't have a half sack as a team. You either sacked or you didn't.

I think its just because that ##.0 is the way sacks are written regardless. As you can see there is no .5 on there anywhere.

 

[jdpas29]

It's what I expected from this d line for this season. So far they have not disappointed.

 

[Tidestalker]

2 things:

1. Our DL's are attacking on pass downs... Not near as much Mush Rush. It's allowed for a few QB escapes but not any more than previous years.

2. We are playing legitimate pass rushers. Finally, Devall is not playing on pass downs. Tim Williams/Rashaan Evans/Ryan Anderson/Reggie Ragland are basically taking all those pass rushing snaps at DE. It's made a world of difference along with actually allowing them some freedom (see #1).

I don't know whether it's Tosh Lupoi, or a change in strategy by Kirby/CNS.... But it's so much better watching the D attack the QB instead of sitting back with ass holes clinched and "hoping" he's not good enough to win the game.

The other thing that should be noted is our interior DL's are really good at keeping their lane while they bully their OL assignment. Collapsing the pocket with aggressiveness. Allen is great at it, and obviously Reed is too. Pettway would be an All SEC player if he played more... He just makes plays. I really enjoy watching this group. RTR

 

[JoshB]

Ryan Anderson's bull rush on that fumble at the end was a thing of beauty. Just straight up ate that dudes lunch. Jonathan Allen is the best rushing d-lineman IMO, he is gonna be a stud in the NFL. I like Reggie moving to the Dont'a Hightower DE spot on obvious passing downs too.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

When you combine sacks w/pass knockdowns, it really shows how our D-line has dominated. Rush D notwithstanding.

 

[JoshB]

When you combine sacks w/pass knockdowns, it really shows how our D-line has dominated. Rush D notwithstanding.

Im confused... are trying to suggest our rush D HASNT been dominating?

 

[It Takes Eleven]

Im confused... are trying to suggest our rush D HASNT been dominating?

No, I was excluding run D for the purposes of my statement, that when you combine our sacks with balls batted it gives a better perspective of D-line pass performance.

RTR,

Tim

 

[252BAMA]

62
In 14 games last season, Alabama defensed (intercepted or broke up) 72 passes. In eight games this year, the Crimson Tide have defensed 62. After ranking 26th in FBS with 5.1 PDs per game last season, they are currently first with 7.8 and are on pace for more than 100 this season.

After some lackluster (by Tide standards) pass defenses in recent years, which led to plenty of overreactions about Nick Saban's defenses falling behind modern offenses, the Tide have surged to No. 1 in the country in Passing S&P+. And it's been a team effort. Five defensive backs have at least five passes defensed -- including three freshmen (Minkah Fitzpatrick, Marlon Humphrey and Ronnie Harrison) who have combined for 20 -- and linemen Dalvin Tomlinson and Jonathan Allen have gotten their big paws on a combined 10. Recent recruiting is reaping immediate dividends, and Alabama is once again well positioned for a national title run despite its offense struggling to produce as many big plays as normal.

Alabama also ranks 15th in Adj. Sack Rate. The Tide don't usually rack up huge sack numbers and tend to be content with strangling you and gang tackling. But Bama sacked Tennessee's Josh Dobbs five times and got hands on three of Dobbs' nine incompletions in a 19-14 Third Saturday in October win.

Great, so now you can't run or pass on Alabama.

Alabama's pass defense is back to being the best in the country

 

[252BAMA]

I have a long sleeved crimson tee with DEFENSE in 6 3/4" white letters. Reads, "Winning National Championships Since 1925", and then, "Dixie's Football Pride, Roll Tide", underneath DEFENSE. Have been wearing it quite proudly for the last two weeks.

Should I even wash it!?

 

[planomateo]