Alabama Football: The Building of the Crimson Tide's Defensive Line

When Nick Saban arrived at Alabama, one position that did not resemble a Nick Saban team was the defensive line.

Saban likes to trot out wave after wave of big, fast defensive linemen and wear down your offensive line.   Before long they will be coming at your quarterback from all directions, and things tend to get ugly from there. 

Before Nick's arrival at Alabama they had recruited smaller defensive linemen for a different defense and for the first four years, Nick Saban used what he had and recruited for the future.

The future is now for the Crimson Tide defensive line. 

At defensive end Alabama is five deep with scholarship players.  Evidence exists that Alabama could go three deep at end and still expect to win in the SEC.

The front-runners Marcel Darius and Luther Davis are talented players with a long track record at Alabama.  Few question their ability to play.  Darius, in particular, may be one of the top linemen in America. 

Behind the front-runners, Alabama has a number of players competing to see who will get the most snaps in relief of the starters.

Of those, Damion Square has the most experience.  Square was well on his way to becoming a key contributor last year when he blew out his knee. 

Like Dante Hightower, Sqaure surprised everyone by being ready for contact work this spring.   Square could be called Marcel Dareus lite.  He's not as big as Dareus, but he's built like him and has excellent quickness.

Another surprise this spring was the ascension of Undra Billingsley up the depth chart.  Undra spent all of last year at tight end, then moved back to his high school position of defensive end, and ended up winning a second-string spot. 

His fall camp has been slowed somewhat by a turned ankle, but he recovered in time to participate in this past Saturday's scrimmage.

His absence at practice did allow some younger players to make their case for playing time.

Fighting with Square and Billingsley for time is Brandon Lewis.    Lewis, who is the cousin of former Tider and Cincinnati Bengal Michael Myers, failed to qualify out of Pleasant Grove High School in 2008. 

At East Mississippi Community College, he racked up 102 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, four sacks, and a forced fumble.  At 6’3” and 280 pounds, Lewis thought running third string is far from chopped liver should he rotate in. 

Darrington Sentimore is one of the more interesting prospects.  Not initially recruited that heavily out of Louisiana in 2009, his dominating performance in the state playoffs and some good work in the classroom suddenly made him a hot commodity.  

Alabama took his commitment early and after a strong push from LSU and other schools, Sentimore stuck to his commitment.

Sentimore had work to do in the classroom, but did qualify and spent 2009 on the scout team, where he was known for his drive and non-stop motor. 

He started fall practice in the dog house thanks to some discipline issues but has since regained his status at third string and competing for second.   Sentimore may have gained the most while Billingsley was injured.

If that were not enough, Alabama still has Chris Bonds, Brandon Moore, Anthony Orr, and William Ming fighting for a chance.  Three of those four were rated 4-star recruits by Rivals.

Because practices are closed, little is known about the progress being made by these players, but we shall all find out soon if they have closed the gap on the starters. 

The nose position is not as deep, but deep enough.

The starter is not yet determined.  Junior Josh Chapman, who is the most experienced lineman on campus, is getting a strong push from his old high school teammate, sophomore Kerry Murphy.   Murphy is a beast of a man at 6’4” and 323 pounds, but he has deceptive quickness.

Alabama will do well with either man on the nose and whoever wins the starting spot will play about the same number snaps as the other.

If either of these two are having trouble, senior Nick Gentry will be happy to go in.  Gentry is an undersized nose but has played off and on for much of his career.  

Gentry is one of the many scrappy players Alabama has signed from Prattville and added a significant amount of weight this offseason to hold the line. 

Freshman Brandon Moore is big enough to play nose and could rotate in there if needed during the season. 

Alabama will play as many players as will prove to Nick Saban that they are ready to play winning football.    With a weakened secondary, look for the defensive line to fiercely attack the quarterbacks, rotating each man to keep him fresh.