The Search for Alabama's Mojo Continues, but Begins with the Defense

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Even though Mississippi State was ranked No. 1 at the time, when the Bulldogs visited Bryant-Denny Stadium last October, they initially didn’t do the things that had led to that top ranking.

MSU hesitated and was tentative, although part of that had to do with the way the Crimson Tide played. Alabama got a safety and then a field goal followed by two touchdowns en route to a 19-3 lead. The Bulldogs did play better in the second half but never got closer than the final score of 25-20.

“Being No. 1, being in a hostile environment (against) a team that’s used to being No. 1, in their place, it was a good experience,” MSU quarterback Dak Prescott said about the game which essentially settled the SEC West title. “We started out slow, couple of mistakes that put us behind and came back, rallied, and a (with) couple of more minutes who knows?”

While it was the first of three losses over its final four games, Mississippi State looks back on that afternoon thinking “what if?” instead of dwelling on the fact that it hasn’t beaten its rival since 2007. Arkansas went through something similar after its narrow 14-13 loss, and Ole Miss defeated Alabama to knock it from atop the polls.

Granted, the SEC West as a whole has gotten better the last couple of years, but the Crimson Tide lost something along the way as well.

"Guys aren't scared to play us anymore, it’s as simple as that," senior linebacker Reggie Ragland said at SEC media days. "Guys come in very happy, excited to play us.

"I used to see teams break down in the first half and just give up playing. We've got to get that back."

If it sounds like Alabama no longer has its mojo—or for non-fans of Austin Powers movies swagger, moxie or an intangible something that helps make you successful—to a certain extent it’s true.

After winning back-to-back national championships, it had the stunning Kick 6 at Auburn in 2013, and last year, Urban Meyer successfully convinced his players to ignore the Crimson Tide mystique during the inaugural playoffs. Ohio State stormed back from a 21-6 deficit to win 42-35 en route to the national title.

Since then you’ve heard everything from how the Crimson Tide didn’t respect facing a third-string quarterback in the Sugar Bowl to some of the players may have been distracted by the draft evaluations that arrived just before they faced the Buckeyes.

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

But relentless teams don’t have negative turnover ratios (minus-two).

Hungry teams don’t let up when they get significant leads.

Championship teams don’t get satisfied.

“When you win so much sometimes guys start to lose focus,” Ragland explained.

“A lot of guys talked the talk, but didn’t walk the walk. That’s when your teammates don’t really look up to you, if you’re not doing the things that you have to do.”

Alabama would like to be more physical on the offensive line and more imposing in the run game, but coming off a record-setting season under offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, most of the Crimson Tide's soul-searching has to be done on the defensive side.

It used to take a Heisman Trophy winner to beat the Crimson Tide or a phenomenal team like LSU had in 2011. Not so much in 2014.

Alabama didn’t lead the SEC in scoring defense for the first time since 2008, and it had at least tied for first in total defense every season since 2007. Both streaks were league records, but the Crimson Tide finished third in both statistical categories.

Alabama may have won the Iron Bowl, but fans are still shaking their heads about the 55-44 score. Nick Marshall’s 456 passing yards and 505 total yards were both Auburn records. His top receiver, Sammie Coates, had 206 receiving yards.

Year	Team	Average
2008	Alabama/Tennessee	263.5 yards
2009	Alabama	244.1
2010	Alabama	286.4
2011	Alabama	183.6
2012	Alabama	250.0
2013	Alabama	286.5
2014	LSU	316.8

So when Nick Saban says, "It's going to be a challenge for our team to re-establish the identity that we would like to play with," and “We gave up too many explosive plays on defense,” he means it—and everyone’s to blame.

However, for two years the players who have been getting pointed to the most have been the cornerbacks, especially the ones not named Cyrus Jones.

It’s the position where Alabama used to land a top recruit every year, but after Dee Milliner in 2010, it really didn’t again until Tony Brown and Marlon Humphrey in 2014.

They now appear ready to step up, and with premier prospects Kendall Sheffield and Minkah Fitzpatrick behind them, Alabama may not just be on the verge of a renaissance at the position, but the defense as a whole. 

Any coach can tell you what kind of a difference solid cornerback play can make and how it can help create some swagger. But combine that with a front seven that has the potential to be outstanding, and Alabama could again be dominating...

...if players such as Ragland, Jarran Reed, A’Shawn Robinson, Jonathan Allen, etc., want it bad enough.

“The leadership we have now this year, guys are talking more about finishing and having more respect on the field for our opponents,” Ragland said. “When we don’t have respect for our opponents that’s when teams sneak up and beat you.

“Anybody can get hit in the mouth at any time.”

So when Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen says that he wants another shot at Alabama and to “find a way to go win it, “ the Crimson Tide’s reaction should be simple—that it’ll do whatever it takes to make him eat those words.

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Christopher Walsh is a lead SEC college football writer.

Follow Christopher on Twitter @WritingWalsh.