Alabama’s defense is looking like the real thing through two weeks, and Caleb Woodson has been right in the middle of it.
Kane Wommack has put together solid defenses in each of his first two seasons as Alabama’s defensive coordinator. This version, though, has been different. Through games against East Carolina and Kentucky, the Crimson Tide have played with a level of control and violence that separates a good defense from a great one.
The numbers back it up. Alabama is allowing just 3.3 yards per play and has given up only two touchdowns.
Even more striking, the Tide held East Carolina and Kentucky to a combined 1-of-23 on third down. Against Kentucky on Saturday in Lexington, Alabama didn’t just win the game on defense - it took it over in the second half and smothered the Wildcats.
A big part of that jump has come from the transfer portal, where Alabama filled obvious needs with immediate impact players. Devan Thompkins, Terrance Green and Kedrick Bingley-Jones have all helped up front. In the middle, Woodson has given Alabama the kind of veteran presence it needed after losing its top three linebackers from last season.
Woodson delivered his biggest performance yet against Kentucky, finishing with 12 tackles and two sacks. He and sophomore Luke Metz were named co-defensive player of the week in the SEC.
But Wommack’s praise went beyond the stat sheet.
"Our effort is continuing to improve," Wommack said on Monday. "I think Caleb Woodson is leading the charge in that regard. He's really setting the standard for how you have to play."
That standard matters for an Alabama defense that, at times last season, didn’t always play with the same edge. Wommack’s words also land with extra weight this week, because the Tide now get a shot at Florida State in Tuscaloosa after last year’s trip to Tallahassee went sideways fast. Alabama was ambushed by a mediocre Florida State team in the opener at Doak Campbell, a loss that made clear the Crimson Tide were not ready to play.
This Saturday brings the return game in the home-and-home series, and Alabama should look a lot different on that side of the ball.
Woodson is a big reason why. The Virginia Tech transfer arrived as a two-year starter in Blacksburg, and Alabama targeted him early because Wommack wanted veteran help in a young linebacker room. The Tide got him quickly from the portal, and he’s already paying it off.
He added bulk in the offseason and is now in the 240-pound range, but the explosiveness that made him effective with the Hokies is still there. Against Kentucky, he flashed that burst repeatedly, closing on plays with aggression and showing a pass-rushing element that hadn’t shown up much before.
At Virginia Tech, he had two sacks in three seasons. He matched that total in one game against the Wildcats.
Alabama will face tougher offenses in the weeks ahead, and those tests will tell more about just how far this defense can go. But for now, the early signs are loud and clear: Wommack’s group has a chance to make that leap from good to great.
In Other News...
Alabama Had An Unexpected Game Problem While Trying To Settle Keelon Russell
During the third quarter against Kentucky, Alabama hit an unexpected snag while trying to settle in Keelon Russell, as the helmet communication link between the quarterback and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb went out. It was the sort of disruption teams prepare for but rarely want to test in real time, especially with a young quarterback still finding his rhythm in a live game.
Russell said the Tide had practiced for that kind of situation and were able to shift to sideline commands without losing control of the offense. Alabama kept rolling anyway, finishing off a 45-17 win, and the episode offered a small reminder that even in a lopsided game, the details of communication can still matter. [Read more 🡒]
Alabamas Backfield Picture Is Finally Starting To Get More Interesting
Alabamas SEC opener offered the clearest look yet at how the backfield is starting to sort itself out. Daniel Hill was on the field for 42 of 59 snaps and handled 18 carries for 104 yards, giving the Tide a steady lead option as the staff leaned more heavily on him than it had earlier in the season. Behind him, the rotation stayed wide open, with freshmen Trae'shawn Brown and EJ Crowell getting limited work and Kevin Riley seeing only a few snaps.
AK Dear remained out because of injury, which keeps another layer of uncertainty in play for a group that has already shown both upside and inconsistency through two games. Alabama has had its share of productive runs and touchdowns, but negative plays have also chipped away at the overall efficiency, so the next question is whether Hills workload becomes a one-game adjustment or the first sign of a more settled pecking order. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State's Latest Shakeup Comes Right Before Alabama
Florida State made a notable leadership change just days before its meeting with Alabama, announcing that Michael Alford is no longer the athletics director after four years on the job. Bruce Warwick will handle the role in the interim as the school begins the search for a permanent replacement, adding another layer of uncertainty around a program already under scrutiny.
The timing matters because the Seminoles are trying to steady themselves amid concerns about the football programs recent performance under Mike Norvell. With Alabama looming, the administrative shakeup only adds to the sense that Florida State is entering a critical stretch with plenty still unresolved around the direction of the program. [Read more 🡒]