Alabama's defense has been a force to be reckoned with, but it's clear there's room for growth if they want to reclaim their spot among college football's elite. Last season, the Crimson Tide found themselves in the middle of the national rankings, a situation that defensive coordinator Kane Wommack is eager to change. With a roster packed with returning starters, especially in a seasoned secondary, the question remains: can Alabama rise to the top defensively this year?
Former Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron has pinpointed two critical areas for improvement, which he discussed on The Dynasty podcast.
Generating Pressure on the Quarterback
In 2025, Alabama's pass rush was solid but not spectacular, finishing 54th in the FBS with 33 sacks-averaging just 2.2 per game. Yhonzae Pierre led the team with eight sacks, but McCarron believes the Tide need an elite playmaker or a more inventive approach to apply pressure.
“They have an issue,” McCarron noted regarding the pass rush. “For about two years now, they haven’t excelled at pressuring the quarterback unless they’re sending six and playing man coverage.” He suggests that the team needs to diversify its defensive schemes, moving beyond the usual nickel-field pressure to find more creative ways to disrupt opposing offenses.
Stopping the Run
Another area of concern for Wommack is run defense. Last season, Alabama allowed 238 first downs, with 105 coming via the run.
Ranked 37th nationally, they gave up 126.9 rushing yards per game and 17 touchdowns. McCarron highlights this as a critical weakness that needs immediate attention.
“You have to be able to stop the run,” he emphasized. “They struggled significantly with it late in the season.
Success hinges on stopping the run and pressuring the quarterback. They need to master these elements this year.”
As Alabama gears up for the upcoming season, mastering these defensive aspects could be the key to their resurgence. With the talent on hand and a strategic shift, the Crimson Tide could very well find themselves back at the pinnacle of college football defense. #RollTide