Linebacker Terrell Lewis and defensive back Trevon Diggs have both dealt with injuries throughout their college careers. But both have been mostly healthy this season, which has been a big boost for Alabama’s defense.

Lewis, a junior, has 16 tackles and six sacks during the Crimson Tide’s 8-0 start, although he missed one game. He’s made his biggest impact during SEC play, as five of his sacks came during a three-game stretch against Ole Miss, Texas A&M and Tennessee.

Diggs, a senior, has 13 tackles, five pass deflections and three interceptions while playing in all eight of Alabama’s games so far. Last week, Diggs scored his first touchdown of the season, returning an interception 84 yards for a score in the Tide’s win over Arkansas.

During his Wednesday press conference, Alabama head coach Nick Saban discussed the impact that Lewis and Diggs have had on his team’s defense this season.

“Well, when those guys have been on the field, whenever it’s been, they’ve done extremely well,” Saban told the media. “Both guys have had a little bad luck with injuries through their careers, and hopefully, both guys will be able to stay healthy to finish this year. They’re both playing well.

“They both make plays. They’re playmaker-type guys, and the more guys you have like that, it’s like 3-point shooters in basketball. When you’ve got them, they make a lot of 3’s. When you have playmaker-type guys, they make a lot of plays, whether it’s batted balls, pressuring the quarterback, knocking balls down, tackling guys, reacting quickly to plays that helps them recover in certain situations, and both these guys have certainly demonstrated the ability to do that.”

Alabama is on a bye this week, but it may need strong showings from Lewis, Diggs and the rest of its defense when it returns to action. The No. 2 Crimson Tide host No. 1 LSU on Nov. 9 at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS in one of the biggest college football games of the season.