🏈 Upcoming season Defense- How I see it.... In Crimson Color Shades

[Kirk Van de Graaff]

Ahhh the Defense, what every Alabama fan loves. We are a strange breed according to everyone else outside of the deep south. Offense wins games, but DEFENSE wins Championships. Here is my take on the defense and how it will run. Please add change or debate what you think. I welcome it.

First the 3-4 Defense

Defensive Ends- Jeoffrey Pagan, Ed Stinson
backups -LaMichael Fanning, Dalvin Tomlinson
I expect to see lots of rotations here with Stinson and Pagan leading the group, both are better than advertised and fast. I thought Pagan really came strong last year for a freshman.

Nose Guard- Big Brandon Ivory
backups- Wilson Love, Darren Lake
Interesting spot for me to watch this year, expect heavy competition and I think we have a few years of these guys making their mark. Ivory is 6-4 and 315 lbs. Good lord the Center for opposing teams has some work to do.

LB's- Xzavier Dickson, Trey Depriest, C.J. Mosley, Adrian Hubbard
backups- Ryan Anderson, Denzel Devall, Reggie Ragland, Tana Patrick
Very talented group with all getting playing time IMHO look for C.J. to really pour it on this year and Hubbard will be a beast.

CB's- Geno Smith, Deion Belue
backups- John Fulton, Bradley Sylve
I feel Geno will bring it this year has a lot to prove and some shoes to fill, we will be ok. Belue has some experience so look for this position to be better than expected.

Safety- Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Vinnie Sunseri
backups- Landon Collins, Nick Perry
Both these guys can lay the lumber, Really like the way both these guys hit.

Look for the nickel to add Cyrus Jones and Denzel Devall into the line-up and major rotation switches all the time. One thing about Coach Sabans Defense, you got to be smart and very athletic.

Final Ramblings- I feel pretty good about this defense, there is enough Experience here to be the best in the NCAA and I feel pretty good about both offense and defense's abilities to bring us home another NC. A well rounded group that is as hungry for a Threepeat as I am hungry for them to do it!


Roll Tide Roll

 

[Bamabww]

I like that line up and feel good about our defense. The statement you made about Coach Saban's defense required smart and very athletic players is true. In fact, the knowledge / understanding of the defense may be the only reason Vinnie is a starter. He's a good tackler but can't cover the passes out in the flat. He was beaten several time last season in key situations. But it all turned out well so what am I complaining about? He's a hustler and I imagine one of the signal callers on the field.
Roll Tide.

 

[XXL TideFan]

A three peat. I could dura happy fan. Blessed as a Bama fan , born in. '61

 

[bamaraider]

Front 7 looks a hell of a lot more physical than it did last year. Ivory being a true NG, Pagan and Stinson rushing off the edge. Along with them, Adrian Hubbard looks like a mid-first to early 2nd round talent if he can break out this year. Devall looked good last year, him coming in to relieve Dickson shows you the depth Alabama has right now, there is absolutely no drop off at the SAM or JACK. Ryan Anderson is also the new guy I'm watching for up front. Big physical linebacker who loves to get nasty *in a good way*. DePriest and Mosley in the middle is about as good of a starting MLB's as you could ask for. They both can cover and are stout against the run. Their backups concern me a bit though. While Ragland and Patrick don't lack talent, they lack experience, and that can cost you.

Not sure what is to come of Dillon Lee though. Good in pass coverage, alright against the run...He's going to have to work real hard if he wants PT.

 

[beachfinder]

I study this thing for a job and you nailed it like a pro... Pagen could be our sack leader this year, Ryan Kelly says that Ivory is a handful for ANYBODY and the run defense should be super solid. That said, CJ Mosely sometimes has trouble covering a back out the backfield and sometimes Vinnie can be beat, but as you say, he'll lay the lumber on him the next time.... We will be burned a few times due to cornerbacks either being in the wrong position or misreading a route, but not from lack of speed or talent. I don't see us finishing less that a say a number 5 total defense.

That will be WAAAAAAY more than we need with this track meet offense we have... We may give up more points than last season overall, but we're also going to score a hell of a lot more than we did last year, so the outcomes will be just fine....

Larry

 

['65 Cobra]

I would only add that I wouldn't be surprised if Reuben Foster was in the mix at LB even as a freshman. Also, I get concerned with Sunseri getting beat too often. Wouldn't be surprised if Landon Collins beat him out as a starter.

 

[bearsnest]

I agree Cobra Foster will get some playing time, probably starting out in some mop up duty/kick coverage and then if he is as good as I think he may be he will ease into some more meaningfull playing time as the year progresses. I really look for Depriest and HaHa to elevate their game to the next level, Depriest is built like a mack truck