Saban's Plan For a New Secondary? Turn Up the Pass Rush Heat!

Larry Burton (Panama City Beach, Fl) There's an old football saying that says the best quarterback in the world can't beat you throwing off his back. So this year, to help out a young and virtually inexperienced defensive secondary, Saban will put that old saying to work for his 2010 Crimson Tide team.

Even with new faces sprinkled throughout the defense, few think Alabama will be suspect to a running team. Everyone knows the talent level with the line and linebackers and the raw speed they possess. But many offensive coordinators are licking their chops and hoping to exploit the defensive secondary before they come around.

So to cool their enthusiasm for passing, look for this Crimson Tide to be a lot more aggressive and successful in their pass rush this year. 

Spring is the time for coaches to train, to coach, and to experiment. Saban and defensive coordinator Kirby Smart have been doing just that. Smart changed from working with the defensive backs this year to help focus on the linebackers and Alabama's early practices have been showing different players at different positions almost every week.

Saban has never shy'd away from moving players from their usual comfort level to one that he thinks could work better for them.

“We’re trying to find that right mix. It’s just like me as a freshman. I didn’t know I could rush the passer. I had no idea. But it’s something now that I look forward to. It’s one of Coach Saban’s strong points. He’s going to find the best of you." Dont'a Hightower said of moving players.

Mt. Cody may be gone from the middle, but from a pass defense standpoint, Josh Chapman provides a little more pass rush pressure than Cody who had the size to stop the run, but not the speed to provide a good pass rush.

Marcel Darius made a name for himself in the BCS Championship Game and finally gets to begin a season as a starter at one end. He provides lots of pass pressure and is sure to be among the sack leaders by year end.

The other end looks like it's going to Sr. Luther Davis, but do not count out Damien Square who may have started last year but was hurt. By fall he will be 100 percent and if not a starter, will certainly see a good share of playing time.

Except for Dont'a Hightower, who is entrenched for the most part at middle linebacker, the rest of the positions seem up for grab at this point. The problem is a good one to have, so much talent, so few linebacker spots.

When it's all shook out, Jerrell Harris, Courtney Upshaw, and Nico Johnson may nail down the other starting jobs, but sensational players like Tana Patrick, Chris Jordan, or Chavis Williams could all step up and be this year's Cory Reamer, (a backup turned star last year) should someone falter or be hurt.

On defense, the combination of strength and speed kills. With that said, this year's defensive line is faster than last year's nation leading defense and could create chaos in the opponent's backfield all year long. Throw in the way Saban loves to blitz a defensive back and you have a lot of problems in finding time to throw should you be facing them.

Should the defensive secondary come together by game three or four, this could be another national championship type defensive unit by the meat of the schedule.

With the Tide returning virtually all the skill players back from a national championship offense, that combination could once again prove deadly for the Alabama opponents and the rest of college football.