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Michael Casagrande |
Alabama opens SEC play Saturday at Vanderbilt.
Many factors contribute to the effectiveness of any pass-rush effort. It's also not as easy as counting sacks, as Nick Saban is more than happy to point out.
Through three games, however, the effectiveness of Alabama to impact the opposing quarterbacks haven't been to the standard set in recent seasons. Sacks total five, good for 10th in the SEC. It also has five total quarterback hurries. A year ago, Alabama had nine sacks and nine hurries though three games.
The five injured linebackers and opposing offenses who threw quick passes contribute to the statistical differences. The return of Rashaan Evans in the middle and Anfernee Jennings on the outside should help since there hasn't been the same kind of push generated.
"One thing is we're not getting any pressure up the middle," linebacker Keith Holcombe said. "D-line, linebackers, corners, whatever it is, it takes all of us on defense. That's one thing we must get better at if we want to succeed this year."
Defensive lineman Da'Ron Payne said the front "got a little antsy" against Colorado State on Saturday and got away from "dominating our box."
Alabama's been able to rush the passer effectively with its front seven the last two years. It brought defensive backs on occasion, but not quite as much as this year. That comes with a risk, like what happened in the second quarter of the Colorado State game. Cornerback Anthony Averett came on the blitz, leaving his man open and safety support didn't come fast enough.
"The corner fired and nobody covered his guy," Saban said.
The play went for 39 yards on the Rams' first touchdown drive of the night.
"It's on the play call," cornerback Levi Wallace said about that play. "It just depends on what Coach (Jeremy) Pruitt calls. He does a great job. We need to do a better job of executing."
The pass rush has been especially effective on third downs in recent seasons. Alabama was one of the best nationally getting off the field in those moments but sit 10th in the SEC in third-down defense.
Like Fresno State the week before, Saban said the ball came out fast in passing situations.
"We didn't execute pressures very well," Saban said. "We made a couple interceptions, which were huge in the game in turning the game around. But look, all of these things are issues. We have five linebackers that aren't playing. I don't care who you are or what team you are, that creates some issues and some problems."
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Many factors contribute to the effectiveness of any pass-rush effort. It's also not as easy as counting sacks, as Nick Saban is more than happy to point out.
Through three games, however, the effectiveness of Alabama to impact the opposing quarterbacks haven't been to the standard set in recent seasons. Sacks total five, good for 10th in the SEC. It also has five total quarterback hurries. A year ago, Alabama had nine sacks and nine hurries though three games.
The five injured linebackers and opposing offenses who threw quick passes contribute to the statistical differences. The return of Rashaan Evans in the middle and Anfernee Jennings on the outside should help since there hasn't been the same kind of push generated.
"One thing is we're not getting any pressure up the middle," linebacker Keith Holcombe said. "D-line, linebackers, corners, whatever it is, it takes all of us on defense. That's one thing we must get better at if we want to succeed this year."
Defensive lineman Da'Ron Payne said the front "got a little antsy" against Colorado State on Saturday and got away from "dominating our box."
Alabama's been able to rush the passer effectively with its front seven the last two years. It brought defensive backs on occasion, but not quite as much as this year. That comes with a risk, like what happened in the second quarter of the Colorado State game. Cornerback Anthony Averett came on the blitz, leaving his man open and safety support didn't come fast enough.
"The corner fired and nobody covered his guy," Saban said.
The play went for 39 yards on the Rams' first touchdown drive of the night.
"It's on the play call," cornerback Levi Wallace said about that play. "It just depends on what Coach (Jeremy) Pruitt calls. He does a great job. We need to do a better job of executing."
The pass rush has been especially effective on third downs in recent seasons. Alabama was one of the best nationally getting off the field in those moments but sit 10th in the SEC in third-down defense.
Like Fresno State the week before, Saban said the ball came out fast in passing situations.
"We didn't execute pressures very well," Saban said. "We made a couple interceptions, which were huge in the game in turning the game around. But look, all of these things are issues. We have five linebackers that aren't playing. I don't care who you are or what team you are, that creates some issues and some problems."
Continue reading...
