Picking Nick Saban's best defense like picking Alabama's best barbecue
Defense wins championships. It’s one of football’s most overused clichés. Want some evidence? Spend a little time in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama was the No. 1 team in the country in the AP and Coaches polls from start to finish during the regular season. The same can be said of all five weekly releases of the College Football Playoff rankings.
On the offensive side of the football, quarterback Jalen Hurts — it’s still difficult to believe he’s only a true freshman — is the dual-threat weapon that fans of other teams were hoping would never suit up for the Crimson Tide. He’s also surrounded by productive runners, dangerous receivers and steadfast blockers.
But make no mistake about it: ‘Bama is the baddest program in the land thanks to coach Nick Saban’s borderline-impenetrable D.
The Tide lead the country in rushing defense, total defense and scoring defense, doing so against some pretty impressive competition. The seven ranked opponents they’ve faced in 2016 have only averaged 16.4 points per game against them.
Saban and Co. face Florida on Saturday in the SEC Championship Game. Considering the fact that the Gators are 11th in the conference in scoring and 13th in total offense — where have you gone, Tim Tebow? — the oddsmakers have listed them as 24-point underdogs. That equals the largest spread in the 25-year history of this affair.
During his decade of dominance, needless to say, Saban has had some dastardly defenses. He wears a fistful of rings to prove it.
Saban doesn’t particularly care for the media. One reason is the constant questions asking him to compare this player to that player, this team to that team, this season to that season. They rarely produce interesting answers.
Nevertheless, it’s time to wonder if this is the best defense Saban has ever had at Alabama. The 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2015 versions — each won a national championship — all shut down the run, kept scoring to a minimum and were littered with future NFL Draft picks. This group seems to be unleashing a special blend of hell, though.
Even with at least two and maybe three games left to play, this version of the Crimson Tide could be the stingiest of all.
Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
“As things sit right now, this defense checks all the boxes. The 2011 defense was Saban’s best against the run, giving up 72 yards per game on the ground in 13 contests. Through 12 games, the 2016 defense is giving up 69 yards per game on the ground. As good as the 2011 defense was and is generally regarded to be his best to date at UA, it was nowhere near as prolific when it came to rushing the passer. Those guys had 30 sacks in 13 games. Meanwhile, this bunch has dropped opposing quarterbacks 41 times in 12 games. So whether we’re talking stuffing the run or making life miserable for teams that lean more to the passing game, the 2016 defense combines the best of both worlds.”
tough sledding
Death, taxes and eliminating the enemy running game. Those have become the new certainties in life as a ‘Bama fan.
Once again, the Tide lead the country in fewest yards allowed per game on the ground (68.7). While they finished second in 2009 (79.4) behind Texas, they were similarly first in 2011 (72.2), 2012 (76.4) and 2015 (75.7).
That’s only a 10.7-yard variance between the lowest figure and the highest — it’s easy to brush the stats aside as just another year in the Yellowhammer State. However, the 2011 team was 10.5 yards better than No. 2 Florida State, 2012 was 10.6 better than No. 2 BYU and 2015 was 7.5 better than No. 2 Boston College.
But this year, Houston ranks second nationally by giving up 97.9 yards rushing per game. That’s a whopping 29.2 behind Alabama.
College football doesn’t exist in a vacuum, so statistical performances from season to season can’t necessarily be judged on numbers alone. A 300-yard passing game, for example, means less today than a decade ago due to rule changes and the like.
Even if the aerial attack is being emphasized more than ever, especially at the professional level, the truth is that offense as a whole has exploded recently — the running game included. In 2009, only four programs averaged at least 250 yards rushing per game. But in 2011? Seven. 2012? Eight. 2015? Nine. This year? It’s up to 12.
Rushing offenses put up more yards now. Since it’s an inverse relationship, rushing defenses give up more yards, too.
In 2009, the No. 10 rushing defense in the country (North Carolina) allowed 95.6 yards per game. In 2011, 10th-ranked Louisville allowed 100.5. In 2012, 10th-ranked TCU allowed 105.4. In 2015, 10th ranked Toledo allowed 114.2.
This season, Kansas State is No. 10 and surrendering 109.9 yards per game. Simplistically speaking, the rest of the nation is getting worse at defending the run — or at least giving up more yards on the ground. If anything, the Crimson Tide are getting better. With everyone else trailing off a bit, their improvement becomes exponential.
‘Bama has only permitted 33 rushes of 10-plus yards in 12 games. That’s tops in the land and five clear of second-place Air Force and LSU.
Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
“Alabama Coach Nick Saban has an aversion to comparisons, and from time to time one can appreciate being able to avoid such questions. Whether this is Saban’s best defense at ‘Bama is one of those. To be sure, this is an excellent defense, ranking at or near best in the nation in such categories as scoring, rushing yards, three-and-outs and defensive touchdowns. Alabama has candidates for the primary defensive awards (Bednarik, Nagurski, Butkus), and by all accounts a majority of those starting for the Tide defense will continue careers in the NFL. Two things tip the scales in favor of this being Saban’s best defense: One, the defenders have scored nine touchdowns (five fumble returns, four interception returns); and, two, the defense has not allowed a touchdown since Oct. 22, four-plus games. Is this the best? Those national-championship teams in 2009, 2011, 2012 were impressive, too. It’s almost like comparing barbecue joints in Alabama. There’s a lot to choose from.”
star destroyers
The Tide haven’t feasted on cupcakes, either. Based on win-loss record from 2015, their strength of schedule was eighth nationally.
At this point, there are 54 1,000-yard rushers at the FBS level. Incredibly, Alabama has faced nine of them. Not one could crack even the 50-yard plateau vs. the Crimson Tide, let alone get anywhere near triple digits.
Southern Cal’s Ronald Jones II: 46 yards. Western Kentucky’s Anthony Wales: 44. Kentucky’s Stanley “Boom” Williams and Benny Snell: 22 and 38, respectively. Arkansas’ Rawleigh Williams III: 46. Texas A&M’s Trayveon Williams: 23. LSU’s Derrius Guice: 8. Mississippi State’s Nick Fitzgerald: 15. Auburn’s Kamryn Pettway: 17.
The aforementioned nine players have scored a total of 106 rushing touchdowns this season, but only Williams found the end zone against ‘Bama.
That list doesn’t include Jalen Hurd, formerly of Tennessee, and Leonard Fournette of LSU. Prior to quitting midseason, Hurd put up just 28 yards on 13 carries against the Tide. Fournette, admittedly not 100 percent, only got 35 on 17.
So if running the ball on the Tide is next to impossible — coupled with the fact that teams always have to play catch-up on the scoreboard — then throwing it is the only solution. Nevertheless, the pass defense is 11th in the country. As far as the SEC is concerned, only Florida (third) defends the pass better.
Haters like to point out that Chad Kelly of Ole Miss and Austin Allen of Arkansas took on Alabama and threw for 400 yards each.
That being said, Kelly was trailing 48-30 before chucking a couple of garbage-time TDs to pad his stat line and make the 48-43 final deceptively close. Likewise, Allen was always behind by at least 14 points starting in the second quarter.
Fitzgerald and Tennessee’s Joshua Dobbs are tough to defend with their ability to beat teams both throwing and running. Dobbs led the conference with 36 combined scores: 26 passing, 9 rushing and 1 receiving. Fitzgerald was second with 35, 21 as a passer and 14 as a rusher. But neither recorded a single touchdown against Alabama.
Even with opponents forced to throw, the Crimson Tide have only given up 77 plays of 10-plus yards through the air. That’s seventh in America.
Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
“Alabama’s 2016 defense has been down right nasty. This is Nick Saban’s fastest defense since he has been in Tuscaloosa. It was built to slow down the dual-threat quarterback and no-huddle offense, which had been Alabama’s kryptonite when going up against players like Johnny Manziel and Cam Newton. Coach Saban now has the speed to go along with size. It’s hard to compare this defense to 2011. The 2011 team led the nation in total defense, passing, rushing and scoring. It was littered with NFL talent, including Dont’a Hightower, C.J. Mosley, Dre Kirkpatrick, Mark Barron, Courtney Upshaw and Dee Milliner. This team has many future NFL players. The next two, possibly three games will determine their legacy as the best ever.”
future millionaires
Back in 2011, just like this year, ‘Bama won a baseball-like Triple Crown by leading the nation in rushing D, total D and scoring D.
However, that Tide team also topped the country in passing defense. Not only were they unbearable to run on, but they were exasperating to throw on, too. It was as if a Triple Crown winner also paced the league in stolen bases.
While six contributors from that defense went on to be first-round picks in the NFL, it’s worth noting that none were up front — pass rusher Courtney Upshaw was a second-rounder. There were two linebackers (Dont’a Hightower and C.J. Mosley) and four defensive backs (Mark Barron, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Dre Kirkpatrick and Dee Milliner).
The most decorated member of the 2016 outfit is end Jonathan Allen, who’s a candidate to win every postseason award on his side of the ball.
At the linebacker position, Reuben Foster and Tim Williams are both standouts. Foster is Alabama’s leading tackler and arguably the hardest hitter in the game. Williams is the club’s top sack artist and a beast off the edge.
In the secondary, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Marlon Humphrey form maybe the premier cornerback tandem in the land. Safeties Eddie Jackson — his season was cut short due to a broken leg — and Ronnie Harrison both have a nose for the football and a history of turning turnovers into touchdowns. All four are future pros.
Allen, Foster, Williams and Humphrey appear to be no-brainer selections for Round 1 this spring, with Allen in the conversation for No. 1 overall.
Along with linebacker Ryan Anderson, Jackson is likely in the second- or third-round range at this point of the pre-draft evaluation process. Linemen Da’Shawn Hand and Dalvin Tomlinson should hear their names in the later rounds.
Furthermore, defenders like Fitzpatrick and Harrison aren’t even eligible for the 2017 draft since they’re both true sophomores. But scouts, coaches and GMs at the next level know their names and see first-round potential. Then you have five-star freshmen like linebackers Ben Davis and Mack Wilson, whose best is yet to come.
When it’s all said and done, there could be seven or eight eventual first-rounders on defense alone for the Crimson Tide this season.
Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
“This defense is the fastest and most athletic that Nick Saban has had at Alabama. They have speed and movement ability at all levels of the D. The five juniors that returned for their senior seasons have been the biggest key. They are experienced and can make in-game adjustments. There is much to prove over the next potential three games, but right now they are his most complete package on that side of the ball.”
undetermined legacy
One thing’s for sure: Florida isn’t going to shred ‘Bama for 500 yards and 50 points. If anything, the Tide’s defensive statistics will improve.
The Gators managed only 207 yards and 13 points in their Sunshine State showdown with Florida State this past Saturday. Seven of those points came on special teams when the Seminoles fumbled a punt, by the way.
Quarterback Austin Appleby couldn’t get his offense across the goal line and was also sacked six times. Aside from receiver Antonio Callaway — he returned a punt for a score last year against the Tide — UF has few difference-makers at the skill positions. Additionally, the O-line is short on talent and long on injuries.
FSU is a good defense. Alabama’s, however, is historically great. It could get ugly in a hurry at the Georgia Dome.
A virtual lock to make the College Football Playoff for the third time in three tries, it’s tough to imagine even one of the other national-title contenders moving the ball consistently if facing the Crimson Tide.
The exception might be Clemson with Heisman Trophy hopeful Deshaun Watson at the controls. In last year’s CFP National Championship against ‘Bama, he threw for 405 yards and 4 touchdowns — picked up 73 more yards with his legs, too. Although the Tide emerged victorious, the Tigers carved them up for 550 yards and 40 points.
There have been struggles here and there for Watson and Co., but their offensive numbers for this season are virtually identical to 2015.
The final story for this Alabama defense is yet to be written, of course. That 2011 group wouldn’t be remembered so fondly if it hadn’t won the BCS title. Doing so in shutout fashion against rival LSU only made it sweeter.
That being said, there’s one thing this year’s team can do that 2011’s couldn’t: go undefeated. The Bayou Bengals got the better of the Crimson Tide in that 9-6 slugfest at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Two months later, Alabama had its revenge — despite some naysayers not wanting a rematch — with a 21-0 blasting in the Big Easy.
There will be no rematch in 2016. ‘Bama left the rest of the SEC bruised and battered in its wake. Nobody wants to play this Tide defense twice anyway.
John Crist is the senior writer for Saturday Down South, a member of the FWAA and a voter for the Heisman Trophy. Send him an e-mail, like him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.
