🏈 Tide defense has potential to be better in 2016

[By Alex Byington Sports]

Much like some of his teammates who made the same choice, Ryan Anderson’s decision to return for his senior season was a family one.

But once Anderson realized he was among six draft-eligible Alabama defenders to return to school, the pass-rush specialist couldn’t help but acknowledge the potential for the Crimson Tide’s top-ranked defense to be even better in 2016.


“Yeah, when we all decided we were going to come back, (we knew) it was going to be special,” Anderson said Wednesday. “We all wanted to work for it and just reach our full potential.”

The group of six key returners — defensive linemen Jonathan Allen and Dalvin Tomlinson; safety Eddie Jackson; and linebackers Reuben Foster, Tim Williams and Anderson — combined for 245 tackles and 301/2 of a nation-leading 53 sacks last season.

If rising junior linebacker Rashaan Evans is added to the mix, the Tide returns its top four leaders in sacks from a year ago, with Allen at the head of the pack with 12 and Williams adding another 101/2 as a third-down specialist.

Of course, that’s no guarantee the unit will be able to repeat — let alone exceed — the elite level of play last season when it was the nation’s No. 1-ranked run defense (75.73 yards per game), No. 2 scoring defense (15.1 points per game), and No. 3 in total defense (276.3 yards per game).

“We’re starting all over. This is a whole new team, a whole new unit,” Anderson said. “We’re trying to find our identity. So that’s what the spring, that’s what the fourth quarter is about.”

Among the significant absences are three potential first-round NFL draft picks in leading tackler Reggie Ragland at linebacker and intimidating defensive tackles A’Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed. Despite those losses, there‘s plenty left in the cupboard heading into 2016 season.

While finding someone to replace Ragland’s leadership in the heart of Alabama’s defense will be key, with Foster among those vying for the responsibility, not having Reed and Robinson in the mix this spring has been a bit jarring for some.

“It is a different feel because I played alongside them for two or three years,” Tomlinson said. “There (are) some new faces we have to get used to on the defensive line, but we are still a big family. It won’t be different for too much longer.”

Hand and Payne
Along with Allen and Tomlinson returning on the edges, Alabama also will have another year from former top-rated recruits Da’Shawn Hand and Daron Payne, the latter making a considerable impact as a true freshman in 2015.

“I feel like it is pretty rare to have that speed and power at multiple positions across the front,” Tomlinson said. “Some people will have one side stronger and the other side will be quicker, so for both to be fast and strong, I feel like it is pretty rare.”

Which is why the reps this spring will be important to help recreate the cohesion from last season.

“You can have all the pieces to a puzzle. It doesn’t mean you’re going to put it together,” Anderson said. “So I feel like everybody has to come back that came back, work and help all the younger guys get better so we can get back to where we just came from.”

And with a bevy of gifted signees set to arrive this summer — including a duo of five-star linebackers in Ben Davis and Mack Wilson — there’s even more talent on the way.

“I mean, our coaches did a pretty good job of recruiting a No. 1 recruiting class, top recruiting class every year,” Anderson said. “So we have guys that are capable.”


Decatur Daily—Continue reading...

 

[UAgrad93]

Anderson seems to speak like a leader. Saying they "can be special, this is a whole new team, starting all over, a whole new unit!" Huge potential for this defense with not only starters returning but tons of playing time to boot.