Soapbox incoming, please forgive me
Our total defensive ranking under Golding was never lower than 18th nationally, and was as high as 9th nationally (ironically enough in 2022, his final season). I am of the opinion that our defense was never
bad under Golding - and at times it was
very good. This must take the nature of the modern game into context. Ranking in the top 10 in total defense nowadays means you surrender somewhere around 280 - 320 YPG. Fifteen or twenty years ago that meant you surrendered between 180 - 220 YPG. Offenses have gotten so much better in the last 10-15 years. The widespread adoption of modern shotgun-based spread schemes and the amount of time these kids spend working in those systems starting in high school have made defense a much tougher proposition. Things go in cycles - at one time the wishbone was indefensible - but we haven't reached the point that someone has completely "figured out" the spread and how to slow it on a consistent basis, especially if you have NFL talent running it.
Interesting statistic - we actually
dropped in total defense ranking this past season, from 9th to 18th.
I say all of this to say that I think the defense is still very much Saban's baby, and the struggles/successes will persist regardless of who the coordinator is unless Saban completely scraps the scheme and runs something else. After 30+ years of running his 3-4 over/under and being in the twilight of his coaching career, I'd say that is unlikely.
There were things this season that were certainly better than 2022 - I think we probably had far fewer missed tackles and our gap control was much better - but we still have the same vulnerabilities that we've always had with Saban's 3-4 defense. The deep middle of the field is always going to be a weak spot because of how we align our safeties, and mobile QBs who are capable passers will always give us a bit of trouble because of the techique we have the safeties play in order to stop the QB run. I read a very good and thorough write up many years ago on Saban's defense, and one statement that stood out to me was along the lines of "most defenses try to key on stopping one or two things the offense does well and force them into doing things they are less comfortable with. Saban's defense attempts to account for and stop
everything the offense could possibly do".
When it works it's a thing of beauty - but the stubborn insistence on trying to stop
everything is an enormous ask of the players and means there's only a handful at the college level that can consistently do it. Breakdowns in coverage, run gaps, etc. will inevitably ensue. The fact that we've dealt with all of this and still managed to be in the top 2-3 in the conference / top 20 nationally year in and year out is even more impressive. Basically, Saban's defense doesn't work at the college level anymore without elite, well-developed NFL-level talent. It's too complex and it asks too much of the players. There aren't too many linebackers who can seamlessly stuff the run, blitz the QB, and run stride-for-stride in pass coverage against tight ends. There aren't too many safeties who can be a force in the run game and also possess corner-level speed. So on and so forth.
All that to say - in the modern era of college football, we will win (or lose) championships under CNS with our offense. The defense will be an integral complement, but not the main show. It was a different proposition in 2007 when we hired Saban. Offenses weren't as advanced and as consistently successful, and you could still win games with stifling defense and a strong power running game. CNS realized this around 2013 and adapted on offense and has continued to try to evolve on that side of the ball, but IMO he's stubborn as ever on defense and I don't look for it to change. The last national title we won was in 2020 with the best offense in school history and a defense that surrendered over 350 YPG.
End rant
