M
Michael Casagrande |
AL.com polled former Alabama opponents at the NFL combine about what makes the Tide defense different from others.
The debate's open for defensive legacy of Alabama's 2016 football team. Eye-ball exams and future NFL earnings put it up there with any Crimson Tide defense.
The last impression just wasn't a great one. Allowing 511 yards in a 35-31 title-game loss to Clemson muddles the case.
Still, it led the nation in total defense in 2016. Jonathan Allen won about every award for which he was eligible and was one of three who made at least consensus All-American status.
What made this Alabama defense unique?
AL.com polled NFL combine participants who faced the Tide to get the first-person perspective on what was different about Nick Saban's group.
"They're all good at what they do and they don't make mistakes," said Arkansas offensive lineman Dan Skipper. "They don't go difference places. They don't go left when they're supposed to go right. They take up blocks when they're supposed to. They let their linebackers make plays when they're supposed to. If you don't block them, they're going to wreak havoc in the backfield."
That was a theme repeated by several players from SEC schools and a few non-league opponents.
"Their experience in their box," said Clemson running back Wayne Gallman. "All their defensive linemen, you can tell, they're pretty much all leaving this year. So are their linebackers, they all have a lot of experience in what they do and they know what they're supposed to do. So that was an advantage they had."
That leads to fewer mistakes.
"They're always in position, man," said LSU receiver Travin Dural. "You'll never catch them out of position. They're always doing the right things. Well disciplined."
Alabama ranked 18th in the number of 30-plus yard plays allowed with 21. That works out to 1.4 a game while national leader Georgia State gave up 1.0 a game.
Dural's Tigers were held to a season-low 125 yards in a 10-0 shutout loss to the Tide in November.
Corey Levin's FCS Chattanooga team put up 184 yards in a 31-3 loss later that month. He got a little more technical with Alabama's scheme.
"They do a good job of keeping everything in the box," the offensive lineman said, "and really constricting what an offensive coordinator can call because they have guys that can run sideline to sideline and guys and guys that can hold up the middle for their linebackers who just run around with their heads on fire."
Chattanooga was the only offense to hold Alabama's pass-rushing specialists without a sack. Performing well against a defense like the Tide's was certainly a factor for Levin's inclusion at the combine, he said.
Western Kentucky left tackle Forrest Lamp also found validation from performing on the Bryant-Denny Stadium stage.
"Everybody says the Alabama front, all three of those guys will probably get drafted in the first round," Lamp said. "If I can block those guys, why couldn't I block anybody?"
Other than Clemson, a few others found notable degrees of success against the Alabama defense.
Ole Miss had 522 total yards in a 48-43 Alabama win in which the Rebels led 24-3 early.
"We just went out confidently," Ole Miss receiver Quincy Adeboyejo said. "We went out knowing we beat them two years in a row and I think that pushed us forward like, they're beatable. We had that in our minds when we prepared all week. We didn't come out with the win but we put in a pretty good game."
The Alabama defense he faced in September wasn't overly complicated. Just sound.
"They don't do much different," he said. "They just do what they do well."
Arkansas had 400 passing yards in a 49-30 loss to Alabama. Razorback receiver Keon Hatcher agreed with Adeboyejo's assessment when he said the Alabama scheme didn't necessarily differ wildly from others.
"To be honest, I don't think so," Hatcher said. "It's the mentality they have and, like I said, they don't make many mistakes. Mistakes are what get you beat and they don't really make those."
Arkansas allowed two defensive touchdowns to Alabama that night in Fayetteville. Texas A&M also allowed a Jonathan Allen fumble return for a clinching touchdown in what was a top-10 showdown in Tuscaloosa that Alabama won 33-14.
"They play as one," said Aggie receiver Ricky Seals-Jones. "They don't make mistakes. You have to play your game and as soon as you make a mistake, they hit you."
And they took pleasure in that reputation.
"Their mentality -- they have a dog-like mentality with I feel like everybody on their team," Hatcher said. "That's why they're that good."
Adeboyejo left his last game with Alabama with respect.
"Definitely. I think it's definitely the best defense I faced, probably every year," he said. "They're very sound. They're in the right place at the right time."
Continue reading...
The debate's open for defensive legacy of Alabama's 2016 football team. Eye-ball exams and future NFL earnings put it up there with any Crimson Tide defense.
The last impression just wasn't a great one. Allowing 511 yards in a 35-31 title-game loss to Clemson muddles the case.
Still, it led the nation in total defense in 2016. Jonathan Allen won about every award for which he was eligible and was one of three who made at least consensus All-American status.
What made this Alabama defense unique?
AL.com polled NFL combine participants who faced the Tide to get the first-person perspective on what was different about Nick Saban's group.
"They're all good at what they do and they don't make mistakes," said Arkansas offensive lineman Dan Skipper. "They don't go difference places. They don't go left when they're supposed to go right. They take up blocks when they're supposed to. They let their linebackers make plays when they're supposed to. If you don't block them, they're going to wreak havoc in the backfield."
That was a theme repeated by several players from SEC schools and a few non-league opponents.
"Their experience in their box," said Clemson running back Wayne Gallman. "All their defensive linemen, you can tell, they're pretty much all leaving this year. So are their linebackers, they all have a lot of experience in what they do and they know what they're supposed to do. So that was an advantage they had."
That leads to fewer mistakes.
"They're always in position, man," said LSU receiver Travin Dural. "You'll never catch them out of position. They're always doing the right things. Well disciplined."
Alabama ranked 18th in the number of 30-plus yard plays allowed with 21. That works out to 1.4 a game while national leader Georgia State gave up 1.0 a game.
Dural's Tigers were held to a season-low 125 yards in a 10-0 shutout loss to the Tide in November.
Corey Levin's FCS Chattanooga team put up 184 yards in a 31-3 loss later that month. He got a little more technical with Alabama's scheme.
"They do a good job of keeping everything in the box," the offensive lineman said, "and really constricting what an offensive coordinator can call because they have guys that can run sideline to sideline and guys and guys that can hold up the middle for their linebackers who just run around with their heads on fire."
Chattanooga was the only offense to hold Alabama's pass-rushing specialists without a sack. Performing well against a defense like the Tide's was certainly a factor for Levin's inclusion at the combine, he said.
Western Kentucky left tackle Forrest Lamp also found validation from performing on the Bryant-Denny Stadium stage.
"Everybody says the Alabama front, all three of those guys will probably get drafted in the first round," Lamp said. "If I can block those guys, why couldn't I block anybody?"
Other than Clemson, a few others found notable degrees of success against the Alabama defense.
Ole Miss had 522 total yards in a 48-43 Alabama win in which the Rebels led 24-3 early.
"We just went out confidently," Ole Miss receiver Quincy Adeboyejo said. "We went out knowing we beat them two years in a row and I think that pushed us forward like, they're beatable. We had that in our minds when we prepared all week. We didn't come out with the win but we put in a pretty good game."
The Alabama defense he faced in September wasn't overly complicated. Just sound.
"They don't do much different," he said. "They just do what they do well."
Arkansas had 400 passing yards in a 49-30 loss to Alabama. Razorback receiver Keon Hatcher agreed with Adeboyejo's assessment when he said the Alabama scheme didn't necessarily differ wildly from others.
"To be honest, I don't think so," Hatcher said. "It's the mentality they have and, like I said, they don't make many mistakes. Mistakes are what get you beat and they don't really make those."
Arkansas allowed two defensive touchdowns to Alabama that night in Fayetteville. Texas A&M also allowed a Jonathan Allen fumble return for a clinching touchdown in what was a top-10 showdown in Tuscaloosa that Alabama won 33-14.
"They play as one," said Aggie receiver Ricky Seals-Jones. "They don't make mistakes. You have to play your game and as soon as you make a mistake, they hit you."
And they took pleasure in that reputation.
"Their mentality -- they have a dog-like mentality with I feel like everybody on their team," Hatcher said. "That's why they're that good."
Adeboyejo left his last game with Alabama with respect.
"Definitely. I think it's definitely the best defense I faced, probably every year," he said. "They're very sound. They're in the right place at the right time."
Continue reading...
