Alabama's Defense Looking to Be the Nation's Best in 2015

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Cam Robinson’s eyes got wide when he was asked about the University of Alabama defense on Wednesday evening, and not just a little wide but wide wide.

Robinson started every game for the Crimson Tide at left tackle in 2014 and faced nearly every top pass-rusher and defensive end the Southeastern Conference had to offer. But what he’s seeing now from his own teammates is different.

“Our defensive front seven is unbelievable, man,” he said. “I always told myself never to downplay anyone we play, but I tell myself that I play against the best competition in practice every day.”

There are a lot of players in college football, in the SEC especially, who could say something about the high level of talent on their own teams. Although with this, there’s no reason to doubt Robinson.

From the tea leaves in Tuscaloosa to Nick Saban’s press conferences, all the signs are there for the Crimson Tide to have another a top-notch defense—if not the best in the nation.

Ryan Anderson, LB	2012*
Jonathan Allen, DE	2013
Reuben Foster, LB	2013
A'Shawn Robinson, DL	2013
Da'Shawn Hand, DL	2014
Tony Brown, CB	2014
Marlon Humphrey, CB	2014
Rashaan Evans, LB	2014
Christian Miller, LB	2014*
Kendall Sheffield, CB	2015
Daron Payne, DL	2015
Minkah Fitzpatrick, CB	2015

That standard is almost never a stretch, especially since Alabama clearly held the moniker in 2011 and 2012 when it won back-to-back national championships.

On paper it was pretty good last year: No. 12 nationally in total defense having yielded 328.4 yards per game and third in the SEC behind LSU and Arkansas. Only Ole Miss and LSU were better in scoring defense, and Alabama was No. 30 in passing defense.

Just don’t mention that to the Crimson Tide. Not a day has gone by during this calendar year that the players haven’t heard about the end of last season: giving up 537 offensive yards and 42 points to Ohio State (although it had an interception return for a touchdown) and 630 yards and 44 points to Auburn.

“We should have put 60 on them,” Tigers coach Gus Malzahn recently told ESPN’s Chris Low, a statement that will be wallpapered in the Alabama locker room on Thanksgiving week.

It was the most yards ever accumulated against an Alabama defense, which earlier in the season had shut down another spread team, 59-0, Texas A&M.

“First thing attributable to that was quarterback play against us in those games,” defensive coordinator Kirby Smart said. “You’re talking about complete opposites. No offense to the Texas A&M guy, but he didn’t play very well against us, and we played better, executed better, against them.

“Now those other two teams had something Texas A&M didn’t have, which is a dominant, physical running game. Make no mistake about it now. Auburn and Ohio State are not spread football teams, as much as y’all call them spread. They run the ball at you with power, they run counters and they are very physical. The combination of that and giving up big plays is what got us.”

So it was back to the drawing board because as senior linebacker Reggie Ragland put it: “We’re not allowed to have a bad season.” And when it comes to the Crimson Tide defense, good is not good enough.

Assistant coaches Mel Tucker and Tosh Lupoi were added, and coaches placed a higher priority turnovers, third downs and big plays, all of which appears to be working.

The front seven is the strength of the unit and has so much talent and depth across the board that coaches can tailor their approach to counter each week’s opponent, which considering the league’s offensive diversity, is really saying something. It begins with A’Shawn Robinson, Jarran Reed and Jonathan Allen up front, but the players talk about having a pack mentality and attacking in waves.

“It’s not really like an individual thing,” senior defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson said.

Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Among the linebackers, there’s Ragland, Reuben Foster and Shaun Dion Hamilton at the other interior spot, and Dillon Lee can play almost anywhere. Denzel Devall and Ryan Anderson are the primary outside linebackers, while Tim Williams and Rashaan Evans appear poised for big seasons as pass-rushers.

Where Alabama has been most vulnerable the past couple of years has been in the secondary, especially cornerback, where the well of top-end recruits dried up around the time of Dee Milliner’s early departure in 2013. That drought is over, though, as the Crimson Tide again have quality depth.

In addition to All-SEC selection Cyrus Jones, Marlon Humphrey and Tony Brown are looking to make their mark. Maurice Smith and Anthony Averett appear to be a lot more comfortable, and true freshman Minkah Fitzpatrick has arguably been the surprise of training camp.

Finally, at safety, what Smart called “probably the biggest concern we have,” Alabama has had to replace Landon Collins, Nick Perry and Jarrick Williams.

Moving Eddie Jackson to strong safety appears to be paying off, with another converted cornerback, Geno Smith, at free safety. They’ve combined to play in 57 games, while Laurence Jones and Ronnie Harrison are thought to be the next wave.

Category	2011 Alabama	2015 No. 1 Team
Total	183.62 yards	260.8 Clemson
Scoring	8.15 points	16.0 Ole Miss
Rushing	72.15 yards	88.5 Michigan St.
Pass Effic.	83.69 rating	98.32 Clemson

“A lot better,” Saban said about the secondary after last Saturday’s scrimmage. “I like the way the group plays. Having Eddie and Geno at safety makes us a little more athletic, with a little more speed and a little more range on the field.”

He then noted that the defense had made a lot of interceptions, “and that was a good thing.”

Although the Alabama players and coaches would love nothing more than to see a statistical repeat of 2011, it’s probably not realistic considering the way the game has changed with hurry-up offenses executing run-pass-option plays as fast as they can. Regardless, Saban hasn’t changed the defense’s goal of yielding 13 points or less every game.

Even if Alabama doesn’t meet that, it might still be No. 1 in total and scoring defense.

“I just think we have to be hungry at all times,” Jones said “We’re going to be one of the most well-prepared teams and secondary in the country week in and week out. I just think as long as we get our personal attitude under control and knowing what we’re going out there to do, coming out there with that chip on our shoulder, I think the sky is the limit for us.”

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Christopher Walsh is a lead SEC college football writer. Follow Christopher on Twitter @WritingWalsh.