Film Study: Saban will throw the kitchen sink at Ole Miss on D

Pressure bursts pipes.

We’ve heard that old adage going back to childhood. And considering some of us still act like babies, we might not have to go back too far in the past to conjure up those instances (Zing! I’m here all day, folks; Or at least for the rest of this article).

For the Alabama Crimson Tide, getting pressure on University of Mississippi quarterback Bo Wallace will be imperative for victory. While Wallace has been fodder for jokes by critics and pundits alike, the fact remains: his team is loaded on both sides of the ball, and he has the talent to steer it in the right direction (click here to read my piece on Wallace).

And when you factor in that Bama has had trouble generating an organic pass-rush in the past, you can bet your bottom dollar that the Nick Saban-orchestrated, Kirby Smart-led Tide defense will be unfurling some serious manufactured pressure.

Outside of Dick Lebeau (Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator), and the Ryan bros. (Rex “New York Jets HC” and Rob “New Orleans Saints DC”), nobody has shown a propensity for manufacturing pressure quite like Saban and Co.

And this is the perfect game for him to show that.

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The recent book on Saban’s defense is that it struggles with offenses of the hurry-up no-huddle variety. Recent losses against Texas A&M, Auburn University and the University of Oklahoma have only added fuel to the fire of those that believe the game is rapidly passing the future Hall of Fame coach by.

For anyone who believes that, I’m pretty certain you also believe in “unicorns” and Bigfoot — because Saban remains the premier defensive mind in all of college football.

To combat the “HUNH,” Saban has slowly evolved his traditional odd-front scheme — usually equipped with larger, stouter players — to an even-front outfit equipped with quick-twitch off-the-snap athletes that can flat get after the quarterback.

HUNH offenses want to get the defense caught in unfavorable matchups — whether it be base personnel on multi-receiver sets, or sub packages against heavy personnel — and disallow substitutions.

As a defense, if you get caught on the field with a couple of 320-pound behemoths, once the offense achieves a couple of first downs you know those larger guys will be sucking some serious wind.

But Saban has started to implement what I like to call the NASCAR package, which is commonly referred to as speed personnel.

Speed On The Interior/Organic Pressure

Traditionally, a player like the 6’3″, 272-pound Jonathan Allen would play more of a 5-technique, or even a standup “7”, even Saban’s base 3-4 — meaning he would have more of an edge presence.

Now he’s being routinely deployed at the 2- or 3-technique

Allen is the type of versatile athlete that plays well against the run on the edge, and he has the kind of quickness that’s tough to deal with on the interior. When you pair him up with more of a traditional interior presence — the 6’4″ 320-pound A’Shawn Robinson — you have two athletes that can get quick pressure in the face of the QB.

Additionally, it allows “Rocket Rushers” like Rashaan Evans, Ryan Anderson, Xzavier Dickson and Denzel Devall to man the edges with very little extra attention.

This theory has been exemplified with Bama doing better with its organic pressure.

Here we see Bama working out of an even front; the interior is collapsed and the edge-rusher further flushes the QB. Getting organic pressure would be ideal, but digging deep into the bag of tricks may be the way to go against the Rebels.

Forcing Wallace Into Mistakes

Fabricating pressure is about dictating to the offense. You essentially force its hand into doing what you want it to do.

Going against a multiple offense like Ole Miss’, you have to be prepared for just about anything: vertical-stretch game, horizontal attacks, read options, play-action fakes, zone runs and misdirection.

While Wallace is undoubtedly underrated, he’s been prone to mistakes. So forcing him to make rapid decisions is in the best interest of the Tide.

In this sequence, Bama sends extra pressure with a delayed second-level blitz. The “Rock Rusher,” Devall, is such a great athlete that he’s deployed as a stand-up rusher over an interior gap.

The “Star” (nickel corner/safety), Jarrick Williams, is the de facto edge-rusher — which creates an overload-blitz to the weak side. But it’s all designed to get the “Mike” backer, the uber-athletic Reggie Ragland, a clear alley to crash.

Manufacturing pressure puts more responsibility on the back end of your defense as well; this sequence put strong safety Landon Collins in man coverage with a future NFL receiver in West Virginia University’s Kevin Smith; he aced it.

Ole Miss has possibly the second best receiver in the country, behind Alabama superstar Amari Cooper, in Laquon Treadwell. Leaving any of the corners in man coverage with him is a gamble that would make any coach hesitate.

The 6’2″, 230-pound Treadwell is the college version of Terrell Owens (formerly of the Dallas Cowboys/San Francisco 49ers). He is the strongest receiver in the nation, and he has some serious leaping ability.

He’s also shown that he can be a threat in Ole Miss’ vertical game.

Here we see Treadwell getting loose on a post-route. Lined up in heavy personnel, three backs/no tight ends, Ole Miss essentially gets an isolation route with Treadwell and a two-deep safety.

The play-action fake causes the safety to take a “false step.” Furthermore, with it being a traditional Cover 2, the safety is the last line of defense; the results are inevitable.

Bama’s defense could find itself in a peculiar situation as well unfurling a zone blitz — as we saw in the last tilt against the Florida Gators.

This blitz is designed at getting the “Will” backer home. Former superstar C.J. Mosley ran this play to perfection as he was an explosive athlete. While his replacement Trey DePriest is a good player, he’s nowhere near the athlete of a Mosley, and it showed on this sequence.

Although DePriest had the benefit of a clear alley, he just didn’t have the explosiveness to get home. Additionally, free safety Jabriel Washington was caught with his hands in the cookie jar — so to speak — allowing himself to get beat over the top similar to the play we reviewed with Treadwell.

Ole Miss’ multiple offense will be a great test for Bama’s defense. While it doesn’t have the interior capability of Florida’s offense, it’s ability to attack the perimeter — in the run and passing game — should not be glossed over.

By giving Wallace multiple looks, and providing pressure from all over the formation, Bama heightens its chances at procuring turnovers.

Ole Miss has the most talented starting defense in the Southeastern Conference — along with Bama, of course — so points may be harder to come by.

Turnovers will be the key; pressure bursts pipes…