Winning with defense

[Proxigean Tide]

With all this hopeful talk (and apparant promise) of slow, but steady assension to past levels of offensive respectability, I couldn't help but fondly think back to 1992 when the Crimson Tide won with terrifying defense.

1992. What a crazy, upside down season. I can't think of time before or since when Bama fans groaned when we got the ball and cheered when the defense took the field. It was upside down because fans just hoped the offense would manage to keep Bama in decent field position until the defense could create a catastrophic fumble or a pick six and win the game.

It's funny, but I can clearly recall thinking...as the Bama punt team took the field..."this is good, we will kill those guys now". Its amazing to consider in this era of high scorig offense, but Bama's defense was so dominant that opposing teams offensive squads seemed a bit reluctant to take the field after a punt or turnover...as if they knew the odds were better than even that something bad was about to happen.

Its no secret that Stallings favored the defense. If I were asked to write an epitaph for CGS one day, hopefully long into the future, it might be "If they can't score...they can't win". Saban is firmly of this ilk....may be even more so. He seems hell bent upon building a dominent defense that will strike fear into the hearts of opposing offenses.

I, for one, can't wait. I don't know the opinion of other Tide Fans, but the solitary distinguishing characteristic of a "real" Crimson Tide football team has always been a stifiling defense. We all cheer for the long pass completion or the breakaway run, but I think deep inside, Tide fans really don't want to see an offensive shoot-out. Real Tide fans love a terrifying defense.

I know its upside down, but I can't wait till the day comes that we can cheer as the defense takes the field because we all know bad things will happen to the opposition when our defensive guys are flying around. As a fan base, we have much to look forward to and after 12 plus years in the wilderness, I'm most looking forward to seeing a younger generation discover what Bama football is all about. RTR.

 

[Tidewater]

I remember the offense being a little anemic and fearing that, if the defense did not score, Bama would not win.
Thinking back on it, Bama's defense scored almost every game that year. Everyone remembers the big defensive scores against Florida and Miami, but if I remember correctly, the defense scored in almost every game, going down the stretch in the last half of the season.

 

[lafella]

I, for one, can't wait. I don't know the opinion of other Tide Fans, but the solitary distinguishing characteristic of a "real" Crimson Tide football team has always been a stifiling defense. We all cheer for the long pass completion or the breakaway run, but I think deep inside, Tide fans really don't want to see an offensive shoot-out. Real Tide fans love a terrifying defense.

I have to agree with you on that absolutely. That may not be the popular opinion but it has always been mine. I'm a defensive nut. Which is the exact opposite of most other fans I believe ( not bama fans mind you)

It's not flashy and it's not popular with the media, but I don't give a hoot give me an offense that scores 10 and a D that holds everyone else lower to none and I'm a happy man I don't need to see 49 points on the board.

 

[XXL TideFan]

Gimme bone crushing, teeth rattling defense. Take someone's high powered offense and limit it to less than 10 points and I am a happy camper.

 

[exiledNms]

I have to agree with you on that absolutely. That may not be the popular opinion but it has always been mine. I'm a defensive nut. Which is the exact opposite of most other fans I believe ( not bama fans mind you)

It's not flashy and it's not popular with the media, but I don't give a hoot give me an offense that scores 10 and holds everyone else lower to none and I'm a happy man I don't need to see 49 points on the board.

One of my all-time favorite Bama games was a 6-3 W over Penn State in BDS during the era of the Biscuit (who had a Lee Roy -esque afternoon in terms of tackles). I recall thinking that this could be the last such game ever, and I enjoyed it immensely. Neither team could crack the other's 40 much; they did once, we did twice. Game over, 6-3.

 

[PattheCatinSaudi]

One of my all-time favorite Bama games was a 6-3 W over Penn State in BDS during the era of the Biscuit (who had a Lee Roy -esque afternoon in terms of tackles). I recall thinking that this could be the last such game ever, and I enjoyed it immensely. Neither team could crack the other's 40 much; they did once, we did twice. Game over, 6-3.

I believe that was DT, not Bennet, who dominated Penn State in that 6-3 win.

 

[Crimson Pig]

I've only been around since 86 so I don't remember the regular season of 92. However, 2005 may be close for me.

Our D unit single-handedly got us to and won the Cotton Bowl. That D was amazing.

I hated it last year when we had to score SO much to win. I like when the opposing offense never saw 20 points.

 

[CaliforniaTide]

It is definitely a good feeling to have when you know your defense is tough to get through. It creates a swagger on the entire football team and the entire fanbase.

 

[Crimson Hawk]

I've only been around since 86 so I don't remember the regular season of 92. However, 2005 may be close for me.

Our D unit single-handedly got us to and won the Cotton Bowl. That D was amazing.

I hated it last year when we had to score SO much to win. I like when the opposing offense never saw 20 points.

You would have enjoyed that '92 Defense.........it was beyond awesome. Problem was, most everyone was too absorbed with the "under performing Offense", to appreciate it.

 

[GrayTide]

I have been around long enough to have seen most of Bama's greatest defenses and I must agree that stuffing the run, smothering WRs and harrassing the QB all thrill me more than watching offensive fireworks. However, in this day of college football those kinds of defenses are a thing of the past. That is not to say that we will not have a strong defense but the days of winning 10-3 or 13-6 on a regular basis are gone. Once again, you can thank the NCAA scholarship limitations for this. Too many good athletes going to too many different schools, parity. Before NCAA scholarship limitations playing a team like Kentucky, you wondered if they would even cross the 50 yard line, now they can and will score 40+ points a game, ask our LSU friends. Yes, you can still win with defense but be prepared to have an offense to go with it that can put up 30+ points every game.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I have been around long enough to have seen most of Bama's greatest defenses and I must agree that stuffing the run, smothering WRs and harrassing the QB all thrill me more than watching offensive fireworks. However, in this day of college football those kinds of defenses are a thing of the past. That is not to say that we will not have a strong defense but the days of winning 10-3 or 13-6 on a regular basis are gone. Once again, you can thank the NCAA scholarship limitations for this. Too many good athletes going to too many different schools, parity. Before NCAA scholarship limitations playing a team like Kentucky, you wondered if they would even cross the 50 yard line, now they can and will score 40+ points a game, ask our LSU friends. Yes, you can still win with defense but be prepared to have an offense to go with it that can put up 30+ points every game.

I don't think it is a total thing of the past. I think the fruquency in which you see defenses like this are much farther apart.

 

[bamaga]

that team was truly one dimensional , It seems I remember the SID releasing defensive rushing stats in inches per attempt instead of yards per attempt.
'92 had the 25/85 rule as well.

 

[BAMA504]

I too enjoy watching teams fear the defense but with the trend of the spread it is really become impossible to have such a defense. Teams now spread you out with 4 and 5 wide with the WR's running the ball as much as the RB's in the gaterds case the QB is the RB..... I think CNS will sove the spread with his nickel and dime packages it is just a matter of getting the althletes in here to do that.. The addition on Barron and Lawrence does give us a outstanding Nickel package so the spread should be nothing by mid-year.. You might just get your wish if we can put the pressure on up front with the big guys and keep our backs in pass coverage!!

 

[Bama323]

I too enjoy watching teams fear the defense but with the trend of the spread it is really become impossible to have such a defense. Teams now spread you out with 4 and 5 wide with the WR's running the ball as much as the RB's in the gaterds case the QB is the RB..... I think CNS will sove the spread with his nickel and dime packages it is just a matter of getting the althletes in here to do that.. The addition on Barron and Lawrence does give us a outstanding Nickel package so the spread should be nothing by mid-year.. You might just get your wish if we can put the pressure on up front with the big guys and keep our backs in pass coverage!!

I remember a couple of years ago watching Hoover High School play a HS team out of Louisiana. Hoover ran the spread (Tony Franklin's offense) and the Louisiana team ran the old option offense. I think it was John Curtis HS. At any rate, John Curtis smacked Hoover around like they were standing still. They dominated the game on both sides of the ball. John Curtis had a really good defense and a tremendous running game. Hoover had that fancy spread offense, but they couldn't do alot against John Curtis, and Hoover's D couldn't stop JC's running game. My point is...a bone crushing defense and a powerful running game are almost impossible to stop, even by the almighty spread.

 

[Proxigean Tide]

I think its still possible to have a dominant defensive team, its just more difficult to assemble these days due to parity. The big change has been wide TV coverage. Ten years ago, if you didn't go to a perinial top 20 program, you would never get seem on TV. Now, probably 65-70% of all Div 1A games are televised and that top notch defensive tackle you needed stays in Tampa and plays for South Florida instead of heading to Bama, Oklahoma or Notre Dame.

It takes a complete defense with talent and depth at all positions to be dominant. However, most times there are weak spots that offenses key on and exploit with detailed gameplanning and adjustments. However, when your recruiting and coaching is so exceptional, that you manage to combine that overpowering front seven with a tough, athletic secondary...the result can be stifling to opposing offenses.

 

[Tide Tales]

Great posts, all! I will add what I read from Eric Curry (DE 1992) in "What It Means To Be Crimson Tide". (Emphasis mine)...
..."I know Coach Stallings didn't talk about the National Championship until very, very late in the 1992 season. But we thought about it much earlier-the previous spring."....
During spring training, we hoped we wouldn't have to run after practice.
Coach Stallings was a great believer in post-practice conditioning. One day before we ran, Derrick Oden, one of our captains, had the courage to say, "Coach, if you don't run us after practice today and just let us off every now and then, we promise you we'll win the national championship.".....Derrick promised that everyone would give it his all in practice. I can't remember if Coach Stallings ran us after that practice--I think he did--but from time to time he would reward a good spring practice by giving us a day off from running.".....
"So that meant it was up to us to make good on Derrick's guarantee."
..."Miami was intimidated before the kickoff. They lost the game before the first snap. They weren't ready. We had worked so hard in practice that week we could have beaten the Cincinnati Bengals."

Thanks, Eric, et. al:biggrin:....think I'll rewatch that game tonight!:biggrin:
Wish I knew enough about the X's and O's to add to the discussion, but I do know when Alabama fields all the right players, we'll all be content....until the next season!

 

[Alasippi]

Wish I knew enough about the X's and O's to add to the discussion, but I do know when Alabama fields all the right players, we'll all be content....until the next season![/QUOTE]

You hit it on the the head with "all the right players".
The 92 defense had 8 or 9 players eventually drafted by the NFL. Two, three, or four in the first round.
It was an incredibly talented bunch.
And let us not forget that they were coached by Bill Oliver who may be the best defensive co-ordinator in college football history.
That combination of talent and guidance is very difficult to beat.

alasippi

 

[Tide Tales]

:biggrin::biggrin:

Wish I knew enough about the X's and O's to add to the discussion, but I do know when Alabama fields all the right players, we'll all be content....until the next season!

You hit it on the the head with "all the right players".
The 92 defense had 8 or 9 players eventually drafted by the NFL. Two, three, or four in the first round.
It was an incredibly talented bunch.
And let us not forget that they were coached by Bill Oliver who may be the best defensive co-ordinator in college football history.
That combination of talent and guidance is very difficult to beat.

alasippi[/quote]

You're correct, alasippi; they were a very talented bunch of players! I would even venture to say best collective defensive team since 1961.
And while I will not steal from CBO's thunder, I suspect he took a page (perhaps steered that way by CGS) right from The Coach's book-from 1950's-when he played Oklahoma and "dreamed the defensive scheme" for that game and told Coach Carlye about it the next morning....CBO added two more to the OL; CPB had nine....but scheme is identical to one CPB described to John Underwood-and long b/4 BO became CBO! I personally have always thought CKD was the best on defense, but I wouldn't argue the point. Speaking of 1961, here's what I'd love to have a current day Alabama team be able to say: (Billy Neighbors) "I also remember Auburn never scored on us. We beat them 10-0, 3-0, and 34-0. One year they never got across our 40-yard line. Coach Bryant said they'd beat us if they did.....they only got across the 50 one time."
Wow! Just Wow! :biggrin::biggrin::BigA: