The Alabama Defense Under DeBoer / Wommack / Linguist

[bamaslammer]

I will speak of my experience with a four man front vs the 3 which was previously the base. I realize they were in and out of a 4 man front but I believe the defensive philosophy was similar with either front in that it was designed for maximum containment. It limited the run game and forced the quarterback to throw accurately. It generally worked like a charm until we faced a mobile QB who could throw accurately and then it didn't. The 4 man front is designed more for attacking the offense, penetration is at a premium. When it works it's a soul crushing nightmare for the other team. When it breaks down it can lead to quick scores depending on how good the secondary is. Given the choice between the two, I'd probably want the more aggressive D. To me just beating Auburn isn't good enough. I want to make them cry.

 

[gtgilbert]

On defense, i was most concerned about the DL, even after Amos and Downs leaving.
The guys Saban signed this year, along with the talent in house, seems to me to indicate the secondary (again) will be the strength of the defense, but if this group of linebackers gels, they won’t be far behind.

well our new world we're only looking at two LB spots, and both guys there have a ton of starts and playing time of the last two years. I think Lawson and Campbell should be fine here.

Like I said earlier, our 3 traditional DL spots get squeezed down to 2, so for the big DT type guys we're really deep. For the "big edge - Bandit". New guys will get looks based on the type of guys that played it at UW. It's more a pure DE, so think 265-275ish types. Luckily we have a few that were tweaners for what Saban ran, but should be good fits here. The two OLB roles get pushed into a single role, so we have bodies there, but only a few that really fit the prototype of being 250ish with a lot of length - think 6'4" or more.

We'll have some top notch athletes back in the secondary, but a LOT of newcomers which is risky, but if the coverages aren't as complex as the Saban pattern matching it could be ok.

 

[TheRealPokeChop]

Lack of portal movement here at the OLB and dline despite the rumors of a flood out the door, tells me that we are not likely planning on running wommacks normal 425 but the same hybrid we have for years.
In his statement he said for years he'd done more with less and will now have more. He's never had access to that kind talent in the front 7 and the fact that our guys haven't gone running for the hills on mass yet tells me they like what they've been hearing.

And given that Saban is still available for consultation I think our coaches will adapt to existing scheme and personel while adding their own concepts and maybe transforming to defense over time.

Hopefully a more successful pete golding situation.

I wouldn't spend a ton of time breaking down wommacks defenses until after spring when we have some idea what our defense will actually be.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Lack of portal movement here at the OLB and dline despite the rumors of a flood out the door, tells me that we are not likely planning on running wommacks normal 425 but the same hybrid we have for years.
In his statement he said for years he'd done more with less and will now have more. He's never had access to that kind talent in the front 7 and the fact that our guys haven't gone running for the hills on mass yet tells me they like what they've been hearing.

And given that Saban is still available for consultation I think our coaches will adapt to existing scheme and personel while adding their own concepts and maybe transforming to defense over time.

Hopefully a more successful pete golding situation.

I wouldn't spend a ton of time breaking down wommacks defenses until after spring when we have some idea what our defense will actually be.

I watched a snippet of CKD on McAfee's show this morning and McAfee point blank asked CKD had he ever had this much talent to work with. In trying to show respect to all the teams he's coached, he emphatically (by his mannerisms) said "NO!".

 

[gtgilbert]

Lack of portal movement here at the OLB and dline despite the rumors of a flood out the door, tells me that we are not likely planning on running wommacks normal 425 but the same hybrid we have for years.
In his statement he said for years he'd done more with less and will now have more. He's never had access to that kind talent in the front 7 and the fact that our guys haven't gone running for the hills on mass yet tells me they like what they've been hearing.

And given that Saban is still available for consultation I think our coaches will adapt to existing scheme and personel while adding their own concepts and maybe transforming to defense over time.

Hopefully a more successful pete golding situation.

I wouldn't spend a ton of time breaking down wommacks defenses until after spring when we have some idea what our defense will actually be.

well, since we only ran the '3-4' about 3% of the time last year, and that was the most we'd run it percentage wise in many, many years, I'd say that we were much more of a 4-2 team since at least 2011 anyway. We ran a nickel over 85% this year, and that front was most often a 4-2 alignment. Some of the roles/responsibilities might shift and simplify, but two interior DL spots stay about the same, one EDGE stays the same, and the other EDGE is a bit different, but we have some guys who would be better fits for that role than any of the roles the way we played them before. Net, the types of guys needed for what Wommack was doing with his version of the 4-2 isn't really that different from what we were doing with the 'old' 4-2

 

[AWRTR]

well, since we only ran the '3-4' about 3% of the time last year, and that was the most we'd run it percentage wise in many, many years, I'd say that we were much more of a 4-2 team since at least 2011 anyway. We ran a nickel over 85% this year, and that front was most often a 4-2 alignment. Some of the roles/responsibilities might shift and simplify, but two interior DL spots stay about the same, one EDGE stays the same, and the other EDGE is a bit different, but we have some guys who would be better fits for that role than any of the roles the way we played them before. Net, the types of guys needed for what Wommack was doing with his version of the 4-2 isn't really that different from what we were doing with the 'old' 4-2

I could see some of the secondary coverage schemes changing.

 

[gtgilbert]

I could see some of the secondary coverage schemes changing.

Very likely could. Some run fits could also change a bit also.

The post I replied to was about the front, and that since OLBs were not leaving, that maybe we'd be running the more of Sabans D versus Wommacks D, and I just think that a majority of the roles (at least from a player prototype) in the front 6 guys are pretty similar so I'm not shocked that many are staying. I do think come spring we could see someone like Robinson or Koht hit the portal, but I think that could have happened without the coaching change and would be because they get passed by a younger guy. Neither of those guys is really big enough now to play either the Jack/Sam roles of the old D, or the 'Wolf' role that Wommack used and they've been on campus a long time without being able to get the weight they'd need.

 

[CoolBreeze]

Fun thing about this D staff is that they are coming in hungry and an eye for effectiveness based on the talent on campus without any kind of notion of a pre-existing defensive scheme to abide by nor leader to please. Wommack was a head coach, a successful one, that came back as a coordinator to do something special. I am as fired up about this side of the ball as i am the offense.

 

[some_al_fan]

I watched a snippet of CKD on McAfee's show this morning and McAfee point blank asked CKD had he ever had this much talent to work with. In trying to show respect to all the teams he's coached, he emphatically (by his mannerisms) said "NO!".

At the time of Saban’s retirement, Alabama had the most talented roster (as calculated by recruiting sites) in college football..

 

[TheRealPokeChop]

well, since we only ran the '3-4' about 3% of the time last year, and that was the most we'd run it percentage wise in many, many years, I'd say that we were much more of a 4-2 team since at least 2011 anyway. We ran a nickel over 85% this year, and that front was most often a 4-2 alignment. Some of the roles/responsibilities might shift and simplify, but two interior DL spots stay about the same, one EDGE stays the same, and the other EDGE is a bit different, but we have some guys who would be better fits for that role than any of the roles the way we played them before. Net, the types of guys needed for what Wommack was doing with his version of the 4-2 isn't really that different from what we were doing with the 'old' 4-2

I dont disagree with any of that

But I see a lot of folks for lack of a better term "fantasy booking" future defense positions, when other than some terms and the play caller im not convinced much will change yet. Until I see it of course. I expect it to maintain its current flexibility and maybe even some of the same terminology if thats easier for current players in the transition.

 

[CoolBreeze]

I dont disagree with any of that

But I see a lot of folks for lack of a better term "fantasy booking" future defense positions, when other than some terms and the play caller im not convinced much will change yet. Until I see it of course. I expect it to maintain its current flexibility and maybe even some of the same terminology if thats easier for current players in the transition.

Funny thing is that we are less than two weeks into this new coach after Saban and we are all dreaming big is seems. As long as the coaches and players are fired up then so am I LOL.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I'm excited to see how the returning defensive players respond to the coaching of the new coaches. I wonder if we see things such as discipline, fundamentals, etc. improve compared to previous years. The returning players that we are concerned about may respond to the new coaching and actually get better at the things they struggled with last season.

 

[gtgilbert]

I'm excited to see how the returning defensive players respond to the coaching of the new coaches. I wonder if we see things such as discipline, fundamentals, etc. improve compared to previous years. The returning players that we are concerned about may respond to the new coaching and actually get better at the things they struggled with last season.

I'm way less worried about our returning players on defense adapting to anything new. I'm much more worried about having lost both starting CBs as well as their backups, both starting Safeties, and a key backup, and our top three edge players (including eboigbe as our big edge guy).

We've basically got 2DL starters, our nickel and one full time starting ILB back, with the other ILB having been about a half time starter (although possibly an upgrade).

It's just a lot of not-so-experienced guys. On the positive side, if there was ever a time for a slight change in the D, this is it, because everyone is kinda inexperienced and so if the change makes it somewhat less complex and easier for them to get up to speed that's a huge bonus.

 

[tusks_n_raider]

I'm way less worried about our returning players on defense adapting to anything new. I'm much more worried about having lost both starting CBs as well as their backups, both starting Safeties, and a key backup, and our top three edge players (including eboigbe as our big edge guy).

We've basically got 2DL starters, our nickel and one full time starting ILB back, with the other ILB having been about a half time starter (although possibly an upgrade).

It's just a lot of not-so-experienced guys. On the positive side, if there was ever a time for a slight change in the D, this is it, because everyone is kinda inexperienced and so if the change makes it somewhat less complex and easier for them to get up to speed that's a huge bonus.

I think we will have more initial growing pains on Defense but we still have a lot of talent and I feel confident our position coaching will be much improved from previous years.

I also think we will have the #1 Offense in the SEC and that will give the Defense time to gel.

 

[gtgilbert]

I think we will have more initial growing pains on Defense but we still have a lot of talent and I feel confident our position coaching will be much improved from previous years.

I also think we will have the #1 Offense in the SEC and that will give the Defense time to gel.

completely agree on the growing pains, I just think it will have more to do with only having 4 returning starters, with one projected starter who had a lot of great reps last year (Campbell). No one else projected to start got any real reps.

 

[tusks_n_raider]

completely agree on the growing pains, I just think it will have more to do with only having 4 returning starters, with one projected starter who had a lot of great reps last year (Campbell). No one else projected to start got any real reps.

Looking at groupings I'm mostly concerned about the DL.

I think we might be OK at LB but I'd feel better if we could find 1-2 D-Lineman and 1-2 LB's in the portal with D1 experience.

Even though we lost Downs, Ricks, and Amos we are still LOADED with talent in the secondary.

We have some crazy talented Fr coming in there.

 

[gtgilbert]

Looking at groupings I'm mostly concerned about the DL.

I think we might be OK at LB but I'd feel better if we could find 1-2 D-Lineman and 1-2 LB's in the portal with D1 experience.

Even though we lost Downs, Ricks, and Amos we are still LOADED with talent in the secondary.

We have some crazy talented Fr coming in there.

Interesting:

I feel pretty good about the interior DL spots. We've got all 4 guys who were in the rotation last year coming back, plus James Smith who was starting to get it late in the season.

As long as our two starters stay healthy, we should be pretty good at ILB and I think Jefferson will be a very functional reserve. I do wish we could have kept Murphy - he had a lot of time left and would have been a key guy in 24 then primed to start in 25.

Edge worries me a lot. for the smaller edge, neither Koht or Robinson are 3 down guys right now, and no one else behind them has played a meaningful rep. I love Keeley's potential though.

I think the bigger edge will be ok with Latham who did decent in spot duty last year, and the AM transfer will hopefully be a great add. He might end up having to play the small edge some out of necessity depending on how the guys at that role develop.

I'm scared to death about the secondary. In addition to the three you mentioned, of course we lost Terion, Koolaid and Key. Then we also lost Kite, Little, Pope and Story who all likely would have been in contention for a role. Moore is the only player with any experience at all who will be in the 2 deep. Devonta Smith will be fine as he would have been the starter last year if not injured. The transfer CBs will hopefully (likely) work out and then give the great freshmen we have coming in time to learn and adjust to the college game.

 

[tusks_n_raider]

Interesting:

I feel pretty good about the interior DL spots. We've got all 4 guys who were in the rotation last year coming back, plus James Smith who was starting to get it late in the season.

As long as our two starters stay healthy, we should be pretty good at ILB and I think Jefferson will be a very functional reserve. I do wish we could have kept Murphy - he had a lot of time left and would have been a key guy in 24 then primed to start in 25.

Edge worries me a lot. for the smaller edge, neither Koht or Robinson are 3 down guys right now, and no one else behind them has played a meaningful rep. I love Keeley's potential though.

I think the bigger edge will be ok with Latham who did decent in spot duty last year, and the AM transfer will hopefully be a great add. He might end up having to play the small edge some out of necessity depending on how the guys at that role develop.

I'm scared to death about the secondary. In addition to the three you mentioned, of course we lost Terion, Koolaid and Key. Then we also lost Kite, Little, Pope and Story who all likely would have been in contention for a role. Moore is the only player with any experience at all who will be in the 2 deep. Devonta Smith will be fine as he would have been the starter last year if not injured. The transfer CBs will hopefully (likely) work out and then give the great freshmen we have coming in time to learn and adjust to the college game.

You are for sure right about lack of experience in the Secondary.

I could just be being overly optimistic about it.

I'm largely putting faith in the fact that I think the new staff will provide much better coaching wrt to fundamentals and that combined with the talent will yield overall better results that anything with Golding's D's.

Plus tbh I thought CKS was a bit hit and miss this past year.

He did a better job than Golding but there were still times we got really sloppy on Defense and also times we lacked intensity and focus.

It appears from what I've read of the new DC that he will bring some Fire to the sidelines and keep our guys focused and fundamentally sound.

 

[Rocky Mtn Bob]

Guys, stop it!

I'm already too fired-up for fall; we still need to get through winter. (Expecting more snow tonight and tomorrow ... at over 7,000 feet.)

 

[Ledsteplin]

Looking at groupings I'm mostly concerned about the DL.

I think we might be OK at LB but I'd feel better if we could find 1-2 D-Lineman and 1-2 LB's in the portal with D1 experience.

Even though we lost Downs, Ricks, and Amos we are still LOADED with talent in the secondary.

We have some crazy talented Fr coming in there.

These are our defensive backs. We could use an experienced 5* caliber Cornerback. One of the 5* freshmen might step up big. But still, experience would be huge. The same for a Safety. Need at least 1 more with 4* or higher caliber with experience.

Safety:
Devonta Smith, Jr
Malachi Moore, Sr
Brayson Hubbard, 3* So (Mr Football - Mississippi)
Tony Mitchell, 4* So
Rydarrius Morgan, 4* Fr
Peyton Woodard, 4* Fr
Dre Kirkpatrick Jr, 3* Fr
Prince Butler, Jr

Cornerback:
Domani Jackson, 5* Jr
Jahlil Hurley, 4* RFr
Jaylen Mbakwe, 5* Fr
Zavier Mincey, 5* Fr
Zabien Brown, 5* Fr
Alijah May, Sr