Three crazy stats about Alabama's dominant rushing defense
There has been a recent debate about whether the 2016 edition of Alabama’s defense is Nick Saban’s best ever.
While the answer is unclear when talking about the unit as a whole, there’s almost no doubt when it comes to the Crimson Tide’s rushing defense.
Good luck running on the @AlabamaFTBL defense.
YPG: 70.1
Yds/rush: 2.2
YBC/rush 0.8*All the lowest in the Saban era pic.twitter.com/jdbFJjmuY2
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) October 25, 2016
Alabama has the nation’s best rushing defense by a long shot, averaging 23 fewer yards per game than the closest team. The Crimson Tide is also holding opponents to 0.7 fewer yards per carry than the second-best unit, and opponents haven’t even averaged a full yard before Alabama defenders make contact.
Up next for the No. 1 Crimson Tide is No. 19 LSU, which will host the SEC West rivalry at 8:00 p.m. ET on Nov. 5. The Tigers boast arguably the best running back tandem in the country with Leonard Fournette and Derrius Guice, the former of whom just broke the program’s single-game rushing record.
Alabama bottled up Fournette last year, and the numbers are in its favor to pull off a repeat performance in Tiger Stadium.