Question Regarding Defense vs. MSU

gtgilbert

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Which makes no sense. We need Drew Sanders back.

But if you are double and triple teaming one player, it's just like doubling a WR. Someone has to be open. Someone has to have an open lane to the QB. Why can't we exploit that?
yep - in a big way. He's not the pass rusher Allen is, but he's good enough that he's going to be accounted for and will get a good push to move the pocket.
 

Tiderollin32

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Mar 12, 2012
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#8 is afraid of contact and #10 seems lost most of the time.
It’s really interesting because they do seem to avoid it. I watch the practice videos where they are with their position coaches and the drills they run are mainly coverage, picking up loose balls and maneuvering passed blockers rather than take on and shedding them.

Kirby, Pruitt and Steele all used the sled where the linebackers would hit and then shed. So I’d say rather than them being afraid of contact maybe their just being taught to avoid it. I miss the days of Hightower and McClain blowing up guards and tackles off their feet!
 
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GrayTide

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There is obviously a huge talent gap between Alabama and MSU. Not saying that is the sole reason for how our defense played, there was a good game plan and the tackling and pass coverage was a lot better.
 

gtgilbert

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It’s really interesting because they do seem to avoid it. I watch the practice videos where they are with their position coaches and the drills they run are mainly coverage, picking up loose balls and maneuvering passed blockers rather than take on and shedding them.

Kirby, Pruitt and Steele all used the sled where the linebackers would hit and then shed. So I’d say rather than them being afraid of contact maybe their just being taught to avoid it. I miss the days of Hightower and McClain blowing up guards and tackles off their feet!
Hightower and McClain played in the 250 to 260 range. Our guys now are around 230. 20-30 pounds might not sound like a lot, but it makes a huge difference on the field in being able to take on someone in the 300 pound range.
 

Tiderollin32

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Hightower and McClain played in the 250 to 260 range. Our guys now are around 230. 20-30 pounds might not sound like a lot, but it makes a huge difference on the field in being able to take on someone in the 300 pound range.
I agree weight does make a difference. They were also more physical as well in general but that was a different age of football. R. Foster, R. Evans, CJ Mosley all played at a similar size around 225-230 and were able to blow up the line of scrimmage and shed blocks.
 
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deltatider

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Which makes no sense. We need Drew Sanders back.

But if you are double and triple teaming one player, it's just like doubling a WR. Someone has to be open. Someone has to have an open lane to the QB. Why can't we exploit that?
I think the problem is the lack of a game changer along the defensive line. Not saying the guys along the defensive line are bad players but I think we have a bunch of good/decent players, but not no one that has to be game planned around.
 

Bamabuzzard

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I know it's been discussed before, but I am always blown away (in a bad way) at how our blitzes are seemingly picked up about 95% of the time, rarely creating a free rusher. If it weren't for just the raw, super elite talent of Will Anderson I'm not sure if we would have ever gotten to Rodgers. Anderson created so much disruption with just his athleticism it was unreal.
 

TideEngineer08

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I know it's been discussed before, but I am always blown away (in a bad way) at how our blitzes are seemingly picked up about 95% of the time, rarely creating a free rusher. If it weren't for just the raw, super elite talent of Will Anderson I'm not sure if we would have ever gotten to Rodgers. Anderson created so much disruption with just his athleticism it was unreal.
Have we ever been a great blitzing defense under Nick Saban? We've never piled up a ton of sacks except a brief period from 2015-2017 in which we had dominant DL and OLBs. I do not claim to have a great memory, much less something like Selma, but my memory is we've always had our blitzes get picked up.

Well, there was 2009, with Javier Arenas blitzing and getting several sacks or pressures. Maybe I'm wrong.
 

gtgilbert

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I agree weight does make a difference. They were also more physical as well in general but that was a different age of football. R. Foster, R. Evans, CJ Mosley all played at a similar size around 225-230 and were able to blow up the line of scrimmage and shed blocks.
Foster certainly blew a lot of stuff up, but don't forget that mosley was more of a will backer, and he also didn't play as a 3 down guy till much later.

Evans was a bit more physical at 235ish, but he looked like this:
1634676508804.png

Where HTT is this:

1634676590874.png

it's just not the same build, even if the weight isn't that different so they're going to be trying to take on the big dudes differently, sometimes trying to play over the block, sometimes cutting under and yeah, sometimes it's a straight up attack the block and shed, but it's going to have more variability in how they play.
 
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Tiderollin32

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Didn’t Saban mentioned more rotations with the DL to keep them fresh? Hopefully a youngun will emerge to take pressure off or Will.
I’d love to see Burrough come in on 3rd downs like we did with Barmore early to get more pressure. Saban mentions he isn’t consistent on the run plays but having that spark would be welcomed.
 

bamaslammer

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One issue with being Bama is that nobody we play is unprepared. We were unprepared for Texas A&M. I don't want to take away their victory, they answered every call in that game and deserved the win, but our guys didn't put the mental effort on them they would have were they Georgia or Clemson. Well We ARE everyone's Georgia or Clemson. Every team we play is prepared for every contingency. Add to that Saban isn't really a schematic guy, he thinks winning is about execution and leadership not so much X's and O's so he doesn't spring too many surprises on teams and if he has one he usually saves it for LSU, or in this years case Auburn or Georgia.
 

CoachJeff

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Have we ever been a great blitzing defense under Nick Saban? We've never piled up a ton of sacks except a brief period from 2015-2017 in which we had dominant DL and OLBs. I do not claim to have a great memory, much less something like Selma, but my memory is we've always had our blitzes get picked up.

Well, there was 2009, with Javier Arenas blitzing and getting several sacks or pressures. Maybe I'm wrong.
Over the past 10 years Alabama has many more sacks than anyone else in the SEC. Now, not all of those are on blitzes, but it shows that Bama gets after the QB better than any other program.

Team2021202020192018201720162015201420132012Total
Alabama19353245405452312235365
Texas AM21282937433934362131319
Florida21354927333140301930315
LSU21243734393634192735306
Georgia25353224342921283332293
Mizzou18191927332728444121277
Mississippi St13252639362530372018269
Auburn19262838372519213222267
Ole Miss18163322292029281938252
Tennessee19203425223030351817250
Kentucky14153338302117272327245
South Carolina18142426262120142543231
Arkansas10142126192520242831218
Vandy4142022271526202831207
 
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CB4

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Other factor: Will Anderson was lined up on former Alabama O lineman Scott Lashley. Will whipped him more ways than a cowboy can go to town on horseback.

Lashley resorted to tackling him most times. Literally they could have called holding on Lashley almost ever snap. They never tried to “chip” or double team to help ole Scott out.
 
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