Kane Wommack has spent much of his time at Alabama finding ways to manufacture pressure when the front couldn’t simply win straight up. That dynamic, by his own assessment, is starting to shift.
The Crimson Tide defensive coordinator said Tuesday that the line group is in a better place heading toward 2026, with more experience and maturity giving him something he hasn’t consistently had in the last two seasons.
“From our defensive line standpoint, we do have a little bit more experience in that room right now, and I think we’ve got some maturity in that room that tends to be showing up,” Wommack said Tuesday. “The ability to line up and play some base defense has not really been something that I’ve had in my tool bag for the last couple of years on a consistent basis. We’ve kind of had to move and stem and all that stuff.”
By base defense, Wommack meant the standard look with four down linemen, three linebackers and four defensive backs, with some flexibility depending on the call. The larger point was simple: when the front can hold its own, the coordinator has more freedom to get inventive.
“Guys just lining up and beating the guys in front of them goes a long way in allowing Wommack to get creative when it makes sense.
“I do think we’re in a better position right now to line up and play base technique, along with a number of other things that we’re going to do,” Wommack said.
That confidence comes from both new faces and returning pieces. Wommack pointed to additions like Devan Thompkins, Terrance Green and Kedrick Bingley-Jones, while also noting the importance of returners such as London Simmons.
Steve Bolo Mboumoua is another name Wommack highlighted as a player to watch as he continues to develop.
“I think Steve has a pretty unique skillset,” Wommack said. “His strength, athleticism, the physicality he can play the game with.
He brings a lot to the table, especially when you think about big personnel packages. Asking an offensive lineman to go one-on-one with him, that’s a hard ask.
I think he’s doing a nice job of being able to play the fundamentals of the position. I think he’s got to continue to take steps in the right direction or just knowing what to do consistently, and that ultimately will define how many snaps he takes and in what situations.”
Even with the upgraded outlook, Wommack made it clear the line will be a rotating operation.
“You want to keep guys fresh as the game’s going on,” Wommack said. “You’ve got to be mindful of rotating them early.
I think we’ve got some guys right now that we feel confident can go in the rotation. You love to have what you would call multiple starter-level players that you feel like when the ones and the twos go in, there’s not much of a drop-off.
In the past, certainly that’s been the case. But we’ve taken a step in the right direction there.”
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