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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — He made the statement more than a year ago, but it demonstrated the expectations for the University of Alabama defense.
“We kind of have a standard here at Alabama,” defensive coordinator Kirby Smart said. “A lot of people think our standard is to be first in the SEC, be first in the country, first in our red zone and run defense. We really don’t go by that motto.
“We go by be the best Alabama defense there’s been. We compare ourselves to the last five years of Alabama defenses.”
Smart then admitted that the 2013 defense had not been “exactly up to par,” but many of the problems that plagued that team continued in 2014. During a season that the SEC said record offensive numbers, Alabama uncharacteristically yielded 628 total yards at Texas A&M, 348 passing yards to Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl, and 296 rushing yards at Auburn.
The 2014 defense gave up 620 offensive yards to Auburn, but won the highest-scoring Iron Bowl ever, 55-44, and then 537 to Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl including 281 rushing.
Ezekiel Elliott rushed for a Sugar Bowl-record 230 yards, which was the most rushing yards by anyone against Alabama since 2000.
It was anything but vintage Nick Saban/Smart defense.
With one game remaining to be played, so the final rankings might vary a little, here’s how Alabama fared in the four “major” categories (total defense, pass-efficiency defense, rushing defense and scoring defense), which it led the nation in each during the 2011 season.
Year, Total, PE, Rush, Scoring
2007 31 .. 38 .. 28 .. 27
2008 T3 .. 14 … 2 … 7
2009 2 … 2 … 2 … 2
2010 5 … 6 … 10 .. 3
2011 1 … 1 … 1 … 1
2012 1 … 7 … 1 … 1
2013 5 … 26 .. 7 … 4
2014 12 .. 30 .. 4 … 6
While Alabama improved in turnovers gained, going from tied for 80th to 65th, it dropped like a rock in third-down defense from 24th to 45th.
In 14 games, the Crimson Tide’s opponents converted 82 of 217 opportunities – 10 of which came in the national playoff semifinal against Ohio State – for 37.8 percent.
The previous season opponents converted 61 of 176 opportunities, or 34.7 percent.
For a little perspective consider that in 2011 Alabama’s opponents converted 45 of 184 third-down opportunities, for 24.46 percent. The Crimson Tide defense was only on the field for 720 plays, during which it gave up 2,287 yards, 3.32 per snap and 183.62 per game.
With Alabama speeding things up on offense a contributing factor, the defense saw 945 plays and yielded 4,598 yards for averages of 4.9 per play and 328.4 per game this season.
Here’s the difference on the scoreboard: In 2011 opponents scored just 12 offensive touchdowns. They tallied 24 in 2014.
Alabama’s third-down defense
Year, National rank
2007 73
2008 3
2009 T6
2010 12
2011 1
2012 13
2013 24
2014 45
Finally, in 44 red-zone possessions the defense gave up 17 touchdowns, four of which were rushing. That’s 38.6 percent while ranking 73rd overall in red-zone scores allowed at 84.1 percent due to 20 field goals.
A year ago Alabama gave up 14 touchdowns in 25 possessions (56.0), but ranked fourth overall at 68 percent due to opponents kicking just three field goals inside the 20.
Christopher Walsh has covered Alabama football since 2004 and is the author of 19 books. In his free time, he writes about college football.
