How Other Teams are Defending Alabama in 2025

[gman4tide]

Just more of good defense and knowing what was coming. Horton should have been stronger but Ty also just had a bad throw. The other non call on the deep pass was absolutely PI though.

The pic6 was good defensive scheming. Ts went to what he thought was a hot receiver but couldn't see him because of the free rusher coming in his face.

 

[squib]

Deal with the anemic run game via the DLine--no need to use your LBs. Drop your LBs into shallow coverage if even just to clog up the 5-15 yard routes and passing zones. Cheat up a safety to help in shallow, midfiled coverage or ensure sure tackling on the 7-yard pass. Let the DBs play deep because the passes will be off target more than not; Bama is throwing many of those deep balls just trying to get PI.

Everyone has figured this out now. Bama can score roughly 28 points against this look if there are no turn overs. Bama D has to hold everyone below that.

 

[irvingtontide]

Just more of good defense and knowing what was coming. Horton should have been stronger but Ty also just had a bad throw. The other non call on the deep pass was absolutely PI though.

Just because you know the play coming doesn’t give you the ability to knock the receiver out of the catch point before the ball gets there. That is the exact reason PI exist.

ETA
Whether you know the route or not has no bearing on whether something is a penalty or not. If you look at the play Horton would be in a spot to catch the ball if he doesn’t get hit. So the safety making contact early creates the pick 6. It’s illogical to say since the safety recognizes the play he gets to break the rules now.

 

[denver]

Ty plays well in the 2 min drill and we move the ball mostly....maybe we should do more tempo and not use so much clock....just a thought

 

[BamaMoon]

Good point Denver!

I'd also like to see us roll the pocket more; especially to the right. It gives Ty more options and he's pretty good at throwing on the run OR picking up some yards with his feet.

I'm not sure why we didn't do this more against OU since they were bearing down on the pocket.

 

[Coach D]

Just because you know the play coming doesn’t give you the ability to knock the receiver out of the catch point before the ball gets there. That is the exact reason PI exist.

ETA
Whether you know the route or not has no bearing on whether something is a penalty or not. If you look at the play Horton would be in a spot to catch the ball if he doesn’t get hit. So the safety making contact early creates the pick 6. It’s illogical to say since the safety recognizes the play he gets to break the rules now.

It was not as bad as you’re making it at all. CB actually went for ball and barely contact. Safety in perfect spot and bad throw. It’s a good no call on that play. Can agree to disagree.

 

[Bama Shoals]

It was not as bad as you’re making it at all. CB actually went for ball and barely contact. Safety in perfect spot and bad throw. It’s a good no call on that play. Can agree to disagree.

I agree with this assessment. There wasn't much contact; Horton has to be more physical and try harder to fight through that. He gave up at the slightest bit of contact. If he does, he might get the PI or be able to at least tip the ball. Combine that with Simpson throwing off his back foot falling away with a defender barreling towards him and it was a recipe for the disaster that ensued.

 

[Cruloc]

Defending this Bama team is simple.

1. Not much threat to run.
2. Not much threat deep.
3. Condenses the field....now we can ramp up pressure on their QB and force some bad reads and 3rd and longs.

The field is condensed because of #1 and #2.......we aren't threatening the whole field. Makes a DC's job much easier.

Scoring 20 to 24 points is going to be about the norm. Getting to 30 or more will only really come vs an overmatched opponent or because we got a turnover for a short field.

 

[22Musso22]

Defending this Bama team is simple.

1. Not much threat to run.
2. Not much threat deep.
3. Condenses the field....now we can ramp up pressure on their QB and force some bad reads and 3rd and longs.

The field is condensed because of #1 and #2.......we aren't threatening the whole field. Makes a DC's job much easier.

Scoring 20 to 24 points is going to be about the norm. Getting to 30 or more will only really come vs an overmatched opponent or because we got a turnover for a short field.

Exactly. The offense has no deep threat and no run threat. All we have is a hard nose D.

Time for DeBoer to reaccess or go back to the west where he belongs.

 

[arthurdawg]

I think the coaching staff is well aware of the running issues and will take steps to make it better.

Starting with rebuilding the roster at OL and RB. We need serious cash there... followed by LB and DL.

 

[Tidewater]

Defending this Bama team is simple.

1. Not much threat to run.
2. Not much threat deep.
3. Condenses the field....now we can ramp up pressure on their QB and force some bad reads and 3rd and longs.

The field is condensed because of #1 and #2.......we aren't threatening the whole field. Makes a DC's job much easier.

Scoring 20 to 24 points is going to be about the norm. Getting to 30 or more will only really come vs an overmatched opponent or because we got a turnover for a short field.

And offensive tackles who too frequently treat pass blocking the way a toreador does bullfighting. "Olé!"

 

[tusks_n_raider]

And offensive tackles who too frequently treat pass blocking the way a toreador does bullfighting. "Olé!"

It’s a real problem. Big one.

LT and RT have been so bad I honestly can’t notice in real time how well the Center and Guards are playing.

It feels like every time Ty drops back he is under almost immediate danger from either side or both.

They are getting just immediately beat at the snap.

I haven’t really touched on the fumbles because I’m so unsure of how to assign blame.

A lot of it is on Ty to do a better job of protecting the FB. He’s gotta either throw it away or eat the sack and hold on to the ball.

But I can’t 100% blame him either because he barely has 2 seconds to make a decision most times.

DB’s are manhandling our WR’s with no flags and Ty is trying to go through 1-3 progressions before he pulls the trigger or as he’s pulling the trigger and DEs hitting him right as he’s making a decision.

It’s all happening so bang bang.

There have been a few times where Ty waits too long to decide and he’s starting to see and hear ghosts.

But again I can’t fully blame him because the LT and RT are horrendous.

You could maybe work around 1 of them being bad but both of them being bad is a nightmare.

I don’t know how we can overcome it this season tbh.

 

[denver]

Exactly. The offense has no deep threat and no run threat. All we have is a hard nose D.

Time for DeBoer to reaccess or go back to the west where he belongs.

I find it hard to believe we don't have a fleet footed WR...isn't Williams fast? Or Brooks? I would think we have fast enough WRs

 

[denver]

I agree with this assessment. There wasn't much contact; Horton has to be more physical and try harder to fight through that. He gave up at the slightest bit of contact. If he does, he might get the PI or be able to at least tip the ball. Combine that with Simpson throwing off his back foot falling away with a defender barreling towards him and it was a recipe for the disaster that ensued.

The OU player is literally in Ty's face as he releases the ball...its a quick throw...with just a second or two more...the TE was open straight up the field but the rush got there in no time!

 

[Tidewater]

It’s a real problem. Big one.

LT and RT have been so bad I honestly can’t notice in real time how well the Center and Guards are playing.

It feels like every time Ty drops back he is under almost immediate danger from either side or both.

They are getting just immediately beat at the snap.

I haven’t really touched on the fumbles because I’m so unsure of how to assign blame.

A lot of it is on Ty to do a better job of protecting the FB. He’s gotta either throw it away or eat the sack and hold on to the ball.

But I can’t 100% blame him either because he barely has 2 seconds to make a decision most times.

DB’s are manhandling our WR’s with no flags and Ty is trying to go through 1-3 progressions before he pulls the trigger or as he’s pulling the trigger and DEs hitting him right as he’s making a decision.

It’s all happening so bang bang.

There have been a few times where Ty waits too long to decide and he’s starting to see and hear ghosts.

But again I can’t fully blame him because the LT and RT are horrendous.

You could maybe work around 1 of them being bad but both of them being bad is a nightmare.

I don’t know how we can overcome it this season tbh.

Archie Manning's inner soundtrack while playing for the Ain'ts was, "Down, set, hut, where the heck did those guys come from?" Rinse, repeat. Every play, of every year until his knees gave out.

 

[tusks_n_raider]

I find it hard to believe we don't have a fleet footed WR...isn't Williams fast? Or Brooks? I would think we have fast enough WRs

Germie is about 4.50 in the 40

Brooks is 4.37 - 4.40

RW is 4.41

All three are plenty fast enough but we just haven’t been able to connect on anything to take advantage of the speed.

I think Brooks could go the distance on a Slant if he gets a crease but it just hasn’t happened.

RW is a mental case right now.

He could out run just about any defensive player but he’s too worried about taking a hit.

He doesn’t even get touched and is dancing around avoiding contact and bracing himself.

Our best chance seems to be hitting one of these guys on a 30-40 yard pass in busted coverage and them sprinting for the EZ.

Past that range Ty’s accuracy has not been good and WRs are being held or mistiming the ball in the air.

I’m not sure how we fix any of it this year.

We’d need a Physical WR who can get off jams and contact and fight through hand battles and get the ball out of the Air to combat the loose whistles.

They don’t grow on trees though.

 

[CB4]

Full disclosure: I certainly have no love lost on Kirby Smart. Matter of fact, I simply can’t stand him. But he said something that I think rings true in recent years here with our team, particularly the Oline.

Pretty much paraphrasing what Smart said was that “kids today are now concerned with the money. We as coaches are concerned with “physicality”. This is a physical game. We hit in practice. We hit in games. As player, you better be concerned more with being able to learn to play a physical game if you play here”.

Like I said paraphrasing but the major point is physical teams win in this conference. Yeah I understand schemes and certain players fit better. But IMO being physical and playing with an edge is as much a mindset/attitude as anything. I understand based on his offense CKD and Grubb want quicker and more athletic lineman. But unless you can bring that physical attitude and performance with you, I don’t see how much is going to change.

As Georgia was destroying Texas Saturday night, they showed a sweep with a freshman tackle pulling. The guy was huge. He came around that end not simply looking for someone to block. He was looking for some to absolutely bury.

Finally, I seen enough with this Oline. Missed assignments, poor communications, poor checks. And some of this is fundamental stuff. It’s time to move on.

 

[Windsortide]

Takes several seconds for the receivers to hit the routes for those "deep crossers" and other deep balls. How many times does ts have more than a couple seconds? Its a catch22. Imo, grubb needs to get ts outta the pocket more. He showed good accuracy throwing on the move early in the season. The pass rush isn't allowing him to "step up" in the pocket. They're "mush" rushing the middle and sprinting a guy from one side or the other.

I only referring to the wide open crossing routes the QB has missed the last 3 weeks in big spots. Alabama has to connect on those. They got away with it for a while but it caught up with them. I agree they need to move the pocket and I hope we will see more of that. All is not lost we are in a new era like the NFL. I don’t think we can expect undefeated seasons anymore , much less one loss seasons with the SEC scheduling for TV. Hopefully Ty can pull it together it’s now or never.

 

[jashleyren2]

Thing is, I don't want to place so much blame on any one component of our entire team. Sure, there are weaknesses on the OL. Weaknesses at RB. Weaknesses in play calling from the booth. But, overall, I can't get it out of my head that we are a premiere program in the sport, and the kinds of guys that come here, expecting to get paid and getting paid, don't seem to fit the brand of what Alabama Football is. I'm being old-school, I know. But that strength and desire to annihilate the competition has generated a lot of trophies and championships. I don't think we're that anymore. I don't think we're the only program going through it. I look at Miami. I look at, goodness, poor old Nebraska...Florida even.

The sport has changed, and I'm having a hard time seeing championships for anyone other than the very deepest pocket/high NIL programs anymore.

 

[tusks_n_raider]

I only referring to the wide open crossing routes the QB has missed the last 3 weeks in big spots. Alabama has to connect on those. They got away with it for a while but it caught up with them. I agree they need to move the pocket and I hope we will see more of that. All is not lost we are in a new era like the NFL. I don’t think we can expect undefeated seasons anymore , much less one loss seasons with the SEC scheduling for TV. Hopefully Ty can pull it together it’s now or never.

I hate to even say this because it sounds like an excuse but Ty is dealing with an undisclosed injury and it’s affecting his mobility and his accuracy some imo.

JessN touched on it a bit (I think it was him) and gets a little more specific.

I think Ty is overcompensating at times in combo with his frustrations and he trying to either put too much mustard on the ball and it sails or even at times he tries to guide the ball and it floats.

He’s not throwing in rhythm anymore and with his early season mechanics.

I think he was expected to have healed by now but its lingering and or getting re-aggravated every week taking hits.

Another reason I’d hope for us to go 10-2 but miss the SECCG.

That might give him a chance to get back to close to 90% or more and maybe play better in the CFBP if we can get there.