Should we be concerned with Alabama’s defense? Paul Finebaum weighs in
Nick Saban was among those concerned about Alabama’s defense following a lopsided win over Arkansas, 65-31. But if you ask Paul Finebaum of the SEC Network, he’s not worried.
“I am not, because as long as you have, who is going to outscore you?,” Finebaum said in his regular weekly appearance on WJOX. “That’s not what Nick Saban wants, and that’s not what Alabama fans are used to. But when you get into these types of games that defy logic, then dimensions change.”
Alabama is averaging 56 points per game, and the Arkansas win was the second time in conference play where the Crimson Tide topped 60 points. Still, Alabama is sixth in the SEC and 11th in the country in scoring defense, but leads the nation in scoring offense. Alabama is averaging nearly 14 points more than the next closest SEC team, Georgia, which is averaging 42.8 points per game.
It’s been well-documented how young the Alabama secondary is, and what the Crimson Tide lost after last season to the NFL, for example. But in Finebaum’s mind, that can only be weighed in light of the strong Alabama offense, which may go down as one of the best in the program’s rich history.
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“If you’re a defensive coordinator and it’s like an LSU-Florida game or an LSU-Auburn game and you know 21 is probably going to win the game, then mentally you gear in. If you’re on the Alabama defensive side, you can give up 55 points and still win every game, can’t you? … This isn’t going to rank with the best Alabama defenses of all-time, but it is going to rank with the great Alabama offenses of all-time.”
“sixth in the SEC and 11th in the country in scoring defense” ..shows you how talented the SEC defenses are. I’m excited more than some for this upcoming MIzzou game. I’m curious to see how the secondary plays against Lock, who’s a legitimate NFL prospect and 1 of the better QBs in the nation.
They’ll probably give up more points than we want them to, but it won’t matter, because Missouri’s pass defense is right down there with Ole Miss, and Alabama will have at least 35 on the board by halftime.
Agreed. Yes, Bama’s secondary is young, but so far most of the yardage the defense has surrendered has been caused by their front being “controlled” at the line of scrimmage and the linebackers being caught out of position. More reps in practice and better concentration during the game should improve the situation. Obviously the athleticism and talent are there, but the usual aggressiveness and “physicality” that typify Saban’s defenses seem to have evolved into a “bend but don’t break” approach. Yeah, they’re crushing the opposition. But I can understand why Nick is a bit concerned with that side of the ball.
Sometimes I wonder if its Tupoi having them in the wrong defense. It seems like Bama turns the pressure on and off. Bama gets home more often than not when they blitz but it doesn’t seem they blitz that often….
If you’re hoping to get a good read on your defense, you better hope for arid weather.
That kind of thinking can get you beat…
I think part of the reason for the lack of intensity for the defense is that they have not been forced into any “must have” situations. With the offense doling out incredible numbers, it is easy for the defense to relax – there has been no need for them to produce critical stops.
The team play is so radically different for this year’s Tide that it is very hard to gauge just exactly where the defense stands. While 11th place nationally in scoring D is well below typical Tide standards (and fan expectations), we have never seen this kind of explosive offense.
It will be interesting to see how this Tide defense responds IF it is ever truly pressured to perform in a crucial situation.
“Alabama is averaging nearly 14 points more than the next closest SEC team, Georgia, which is averaging 42.8 points per game.”
That is a shocking sentence for a few reasons. First, UGA averaging 42.8 per game across the first 6 games without Chubb and Michel is unexpected. Though, to be fair, it’s in the next six games that UGA will face the best defenses on the 2018 schedule.
And second, the most shocking is that Alabama, without Kiffin and with a new OC, is averaging almost 14 more points per game than UGA’s 42.8/game. Added to that are Tua’s statistics this year, and the whole thing is truly incredible. The true test, if you can even call it that, will be how well Bama’s statistics, and offense, holds up against the defenses of MSU, LSU, and Auburn. I don’t think Bama will lose those games, but the question is will their offense still be as prolific across those games.