Alabama’s defense has quietly turned a corner down the stretch-and it’s not just showing up in the stat sheet, it’s showing up in the win column, too.
Through the South Carolina game, the Crimson Tide were allowing just under 150 rushing yards per game (149.13, to be exact). But since their second open week, that number has plummeted to 82.5 yards per game.
That’s not a small tweak-that’s a full-on transformation. Sure, some of that shift reflects the caliber of opposing run games.
But make no mistake: Alabama’s front seven has been playing with a renewed sense of discipline and physicality, and it’s paying off in a big way.
A lot of that credit goes to the big men up front-and the man coaching them.
Ahead of the Rose Bowl clash with No. 1 Indiana, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer didn’t hesitate when asked about the impact of his defensive line and the work of position coach Freddie Roach. DeBoer emphasized the fundamentals: gap integrity, block absorption, and setting the tone for the rest of the defense.
“These guys up front that we play with, [it’s about] discipline and making sure you take care of your gap,” DeBoer said. “You’re trying to take on blocks-more than one-and eat those up if you can. That way, depending on the call, our linebackers and safeties can come down and fit it up correctly.”
Translation: when the defensive line does its job, the entire defense functions like a well-oiled machine. The ball gets funneled where it’s supposed to go, and everyone else can play fast and aggressive.
But when that discipline breaks down? That’s when things get dicey.
“If they come out of the gap, all of a sudden the ball winds back somewhere it’s not supposed to,” DeBoer explained. “Or a pass rush lane opens up and a quarterback can take off.”
And that’s not just coach-speak. Alabama’s faced its share of mobile quarterbacks in the back half of the season, and the defensive line’s ability to stay disciplined has been a major reason why those threats haven’t turned into game-breaking plays.
It’s also worth noting that this unit isn’t exactly loaded with stat-padding superstars-but that’s kind of the point. They’re doing the dirty work, and it’s allowing the rest of the defense to thrive.
“They don’t always get the highlights and the stats,” DeBoer said. “They’ve just got to do their part to help our defense be successful.”
That said, there are still some playmakers up front. LT Overton leads the defensive line with four sacks, second-most on the team overall.
Keon Keeley has chipped in with three. James Smith has 2.5, while Kelby Collins and Tim Keenan III each have two.
It’s a group effort, and they’re getting home without relying on just one guy to dominate.
Now, with a Rose Bowl date against top-ranked Indiana looming on Jan. 1, Alabama’s defensive line will be tested again-this time on one of the biggest stages in college football. A trip to the College Football Playoff semifinal in the Peach Bowl is on the line.
If the Tide’s front continues to play with the same discipline and edge they’ve shown in recent weeks, they’ll give themselves a real shot to keep rolling. Because in the trenches, it’s not always about the highlight reel-it’s about doing your job, snap after snap. And right now, Alabama’s doing just that.