Alabama Football: Defensive Line's Resurgence Just What Secondary Needs

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — It’s not hard to figure out which of Alabama’s position groups is most improved from last year to now.

The Crimson Tide’s pass rush is night-and-day from where it was last year and has turned into one of this team’s strengths in 2014.

Alabama has registered 19 sacks so far this season. Last year, it notched just 22. If the Crimson Tide play only 13 games this year and maintain their pace, they would total about 35 sacks, which would tie a Saban-era high set by the 2012 team, which played 14 games.

They’ve registered a sack in every game except against Florida, when Gators quarterback Jeff Driskel completed just nine passes.

USA TODAY Sports

The unit is experiencing a resurgence from its lackluster 2013 season. It’s had a trickle-down effect on the secondary, seemingly one of the weaknesses on this 2014 defense. That group has improved as the season has worn on, thanks in some part to the rush.

“They’re big-time,” said safety Nick Perry. “If the quarterback doesn’t have time to throw the ball, then they can’t complete any passes. We know that our D-line’s going to get there and we just have to guard our receivers for two or three seconds and that’ll be it.”

If you’re looking for a reason for the improvement, you don’t have to look any further than a two-deep roster.

Alabama’s defensive line talent from top to bottom is stockpiled with former 4- and 5-star prospects. More importantly is the variety of skill sets that each player brings to the table.

Alabama still has the big, burly players it’s trademarked over the years like Brandon Ivory, A’Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed. But an influx of speedy edge-rushers has given the group another dimension.

Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

It’s a deep group that combines all of those talents into a terrifying machine.

Xzavier Dickson, an outside linebacker who almost always plays on the line of scrimmage, leads the team with 5.5 sacks. Ryan Anderson, a similar hand-in-the-dirt type, is next with three. Behind them are 10 players who have registered at least half a sack.

“I feel like we’re a very unique pass rush front,” defensive end Jonathan Allen said. “You really just can’t key in on one guy or what one guy does. We all do something a little bit different. We all come together to make a good pass rush unit.”

The group is also much more experienced. Robinson and Jonathan Allen were two who made an impact as freshmen last season.

Alabama also added JUCO transfers Reed and D.J. Pettway, who have a sack each so far and factor in to the regular rotation.

Combine that experience with the diversity of ability, and you have a recipe for a dangerous group.

“I think we have more diversity in types of players that we have this year. We also have more experience than we had a year ago. So, this year we’re more athletic inside plus we have more guys who are good as rushers,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said.

“We have more guys who have more diversity as players who can add to the pass rush in those types of games. And they have more experience too.”

USA TODAY Sports

The effect felt on the back end is very apparent too.

Alabama had a season-high six sacks against Texas A&M this weekend. The Crimson Tide harassed Kenny Hill all day and eventually chased him from the game. They allowed just 141 passing yards on the day, Alabama’s third-lowest total of the season behind the Florida Atlantic and Florida games.

“It takes a lot of ease off our back,” safety Landon Collins said. “We don't have to cover for so long. And then our keys and concepts and knowing what the offense is trying to do, you can really just pinpoint what they have to do. Because if you get them in 3rd-and-long or 2nd-and-long, they have to pass the ball or make a draw to get the yardage back, so I mean it just settles us down.”

Expect that trend to continue this week against Tennessee.

The Volunteers have given up 30 sacks this season, almost double what the next worst SEC teams have surrendered—Mississippi State, LSU and Kentucky all have given up 16.

Alabama’s rush has without question been the team’s biggest improvement, and it’s made a big impression so far this season.

Marc Torrence is the Alabama lead writer for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats come from cfbstats.com.

Follow on Twitter @marctorrence.