Is anyone else concerned about the reputation of our defense?

[tmv85]

I haven't seen any of our guys putting other players out by spearing them in the back or by kneeing them in the face. Until then, if a player goes out with an ankle sprain or a broken wrist, well, that's just part of the game. When I see QBs being consistently knocked out with concussions and the like, then I'll be the first to be upset and voice my displeasure.

 

[TexasBama]

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE watching our defense play football. They are hands down the most physical defense in the country.

That being said, I can't help but notice how many opposing players leave the game and don't return due to injury. Ol' Miss was the first time an opposing QB made it from beginning to end in a game this season. (Some due to blowouts to preserve their health, but a few due to injury.)

I just read how 2 Ol' Miss defenders are out for the season due to injuries suffered in the BAMA game. (I realize these 2 are defenders but still) I don't know exactly how many opposing players have left the games, but it seems like every game SOMEBODY's season is ended (or substantially shortened) because of an injury they suffered against our defense. I have watched virtually every play this season and I wouldn't call us a "dirty" team (I don't see any Nick Fairley's out there), but I can't help but worry that others around the country won't see it that way.

Again, I am extremely proud of the way our team plays, but is anyone else concerned about our reputation?

Colt? Is that you?

 

[Glenn_B]

We don't play with the intent to injure an opposing player. We do play hard/fast, and as Coach says... make em' quit... make em' not want to play you anymore. Our players do just that, nothing more. What the rest of the country thinks is moot.

I read this amd immediately got a mental image of Florida managing to win the SEC East, getting the invitation to the SECCG, and politely refusing...

 

[CapstoneTider]

I think the mentality of overly micromanaging the dangers in sports inevitable hurts the game. For instance you have a better chance of getting injured driving I65 through B'ham at 5 than 250 laps in a NASCAR at Talladega.

 

[TheRealPokeChop]

Players getting hurt agaisnt our defense is nothing new. In 08 and 09 it was a regular sight. Itd be different if they were coming on dirty or late hits. They aren't guess getting hurt or even injured against our d have gone down to clean hits.

Why would you be concerned about having the reputation of a tough hard hitting defense? That's what we expect when we recruit these guys right? You ever say, no that guy hits to hard and tackles to well or he's too mean? If you did you'd be terrible at recruiting and coaching football.

 

[Airborne Tider]

MTAQ.

 

[RTR91]

MTAQ.

Roll Tide.

 

[crimsonaudio]

I read this amd immediately got a mental image of Florida managing to win the SEC East, getting the invitation to the SECCG, and politely refusing...

LOL.

Nicely done.

 

[deliveryman35]

No.

 

[Jessica4Bama]

I surely wouldn't want a pansy like me out there playing!

 

[Bama Reb]

I've watched our guys play, and have seen lots of players get hit pretty hard. We're getting hit just as hard as our opponents are. The difference is that our guys repeatedly get up and get ready for the next play. We also help their guys up. Some don't want to get up, others can't. But that's because our players spend so much time in the S&C program, weight room, etc. Our guys are built to take it, players from some other teams aren't. If they get hurt because of their unpreparedness, lack of discipline or inability to handle the rigors of the game, that's their tough luck. Maybe they ought to spend a little more time getting ready for the game than talking about what they're going to do in the game. Our players' actions speak louder than any words ever could.

RTR

 

[Tide Warrior]

The only reason other teams suffer injuries to this point to us is because we are the only team that actually knows how to tackle correctly. Maybe they should teach that in their practices instead of all the arm tackles I see on players like TR.

 

[RollTide1224]

Most of the season ending injuries just come from bad luck like a guy rolling up on you or something like that. Neither one of the injuries in this game had anything to do with how physical we are.

Hard hits and such are likely to only diminish a guys effectiveness or knock him out for that game. Those type of hits are where our physicality shows off, not on season ending injuries. Our goal should always be to knock the crap out of their Qb until he can't throw effectively or has to leave the game, not with a serious injury but just for the game.

I haven't seen us have any dirty plays and since we are one of the least penalized teams in the FBS this year then people probably won't get the perception that you are worried about.

Roll Tide

 

[CrimsonPride]

Absolutely not. IMO, aggressive, hard hitting defenses is what Alabama football has always been about (1961, 1992, 2005, and 2009 just to name a few). This is where you really see the value of our coaching, S&C program and our depth vs. other teams. It is not like opposing defenses are not hitting (or trying to hit) our players just as hard. Since CNS has been here, our punters and kickers have had better tackling techniques than some of the defenders that we have faced.

 

[bamagradinATL]

Nope.

 

[Harmost]

What you described is not the reputation of our defense.

 

[RogueElephant]

Nope we are just very physical, heck it's football.

 

[AthleticTrainer]

Football is a tough game made to be played by tough people

 

[gamersfuel]

players were getting injured on the opposing team during the Shula and Dubose era's as well. Maybe the OP wasnt watching Bama games during that time. no way to not have a few injuries in this age of college football

 

[jdatide]

What part of "Make his ... quit" is difficult to understand?