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Can we please have an honest conversation about Kane Wommack's defense?
Posted on 12/1/24 at 10:56 am
Posted on 12/1/24 at 10:56 am
I cannot be the only one to notice that when we rush more than 4 we're a completely different defense.
Is it the injuries on D?
Is it the youth of the secondary?
Is it the inexperience on the DL?
Y'all help me figure this out.
I want like him and give him a fair shot but good Lord it's frustrating watching us play defense sometimes.
At Vandy, seemingly ZERO adjustments. Against OK, seemingly ZERO adjustments.Y'all talk me out of being down on this dude and his scheme.
Is it the injuries on D?
Is it the youth of the secondary?
Is it the inexperience on the DL?
Y'all help me figure this out.
I want like him and give him a fair shot but good Lord it's frustrating watching us play defense sometimes.
At Vandy, seemingly ZERO adjustments. Against OK, seemingly ZERO adjustments.Y'all talk me out of being down on this dude and his scheme.
Posted on 12/1/24 at 11:02 am to bamarep
I think part of it is changes in terminology and formations.
In stress situations, you can tell players are confused fairly often. I think what Saban pounded into their skull’s surfaces then since they’re reacting to that instead of what they should.
One thing that is a constant head scratcher is a lack of big bodies in short yardage. That may be personnel.
In stress situations, you can tell players are confused fairly often. I think what Saban pounded into their skull’s surfaces then since they’re reacting to that instead of what they should.
One thing that is a constant head scratcher is a lack of big bodies in short yardage. That may be personnel.
Posted on 12/1/24 at 11:11 am to bamarep
I think, like most of this team, it's been streaky. Lot of people now throwing around the PPG that they only found out yesterday during the Iron Bowl.
I think it's been mostly a success considering an overhauled scheme, young secondary, injuries, and no real passrush threat.
He got cooked against Vandy, they dialed in a good scheme and they've scared a lot of teams this year. Superior teams usually pull away late when the depth shows up, but Bama couldn't.
I'm clueless on why they let OU run for 200 in a half, allowed them to eat up so much clock and dictate the game. In the defense's....well...defense, the offense wasn't playing complimentary football in the slightest.
I think it's been mostly a success considering an overhauled scheme, young secondary, injuries, and no real passrush threat.
He got cooked against Vandy, they dialed in a good scheme and they've scared a lot of teams this year. Superior teams usually pull away late when the depth shows up, but Bama couldn't.
I'm clueless on why they let OU run for 200 in a half, allowed them to eat up so much clock and dictate the game. In the defense's....well...defense, the offense wasn't playing complimentary football in the slightest.
Posted on 12/1/24 at 11:12 am to llfshoals
When we bring pressure we’ve looked good. It’s when we’ve been up against power run power option teams that we just sit back and get run on for 3-8 yard chunks that absolutely grind the clock and the defense down.
Posted on 12/1/24 at 11:18 am to BamaChemE
JMO but he gets 2025. Bama has to get better ILBers and upgrade our DL as well. The secondary might be OK. Better IQ would be a welcome addition.
Posted on 12/1/24 at 11:37 am to bamarep
I think the a lot of the young DB's played some good ball this season. Need some game changers up front though. Hopefully some of the young guys can develop because it isn't easy getting those types out of the portal.
Posted on 12/1/24 at 11:58 am to bamarep
The defense steadily improved the entire season. The Oklahoma game they gave up yardage but only 13 points. Out of all of the losses and one of the wins how many times did the offense put the defense in a bad position. Let’s be honest the defense played well enough except one game Vanderbilt to be in the playoffs. The offense failed the team in all but one loss. The defense performed better than expected. The offense performed far worse than expected.
Posted on 12/1/24 at 12:05 pm to bamarep
Given how young it is, especially in the secondary, it far exceeded my expectations. Lowest PPG average for a Bama defense since 2017. They had a terrible game against Vanderbilt. Other than that, they only had three games where they allowed more than 20 points. That's a huge improvement over the late Saban era.
For point of comparison, look at the 2022 defense, which was stacked with seniors. They allowed more than 20 points in the majority of their games (7) and had multiple games forcing two or fewer punts.
For point of comparison, look at the 2022 defense, which was stacked with seniors. They allowed more than 20 points in the majority of their games (7) and had multiple games forcing two or fewer punts.
This post was edited on 12/1/24 at 12:10 pm
Posted on 12/1/24 at 12:12 pm to bamarep
My biggest issue with the defense this year is Vanderbilt, lack of adjustments.
In year one, I can live with the rest. We finished 1st, I think, in the SEC in turnover differential (and it's not like the offense protected the ball down the stretch). And our PPG was lower than I expected
Let's see what happens in 2025
In year one, I can live with the rest. We finished 1st, I think, in the SEC in turnover differential (and it's not like the offense protected the ball down the stretch). And our PPG was lower than I expected
Let's see what happens in 2025
Posted on 12/1/24 at 12:15 pm to bamarep
Got embarrassed against Vanderbilt and didn't make adjustments.
Got embarrassed by OU when they rand the Vanderbilt offense and still couldn't shut it down.
Not learning from your mistakes isn't a good formula.
Got embarrassed by OU when they rand the Vanderbilt offense and still couldn't shut it down.
Not learning from your mistakes isn't a good formula.
Posted on 12/1/24 at 12:18 pm to labamafan
The stats are pretty good but there are times the scheme doesn’t pass the eyeball test.
I can’t forget the screenshot of a 3rd and 1 against Oklahoma where we are lined up in a 3 man front. Against a QB who is a converted RB out of high school that was chewing us up on the ground, frequently right off tackle. And it was deep enough in the game that we knew we weren’t facing a Carson Beck. If we were facing a run and shoot offense, MAYBE I get the 3 man front. Against Oklahoma, no way.
I can’t forget the screenshot of a 3rd and 1 against Oklahoma where we are lined up in a 3 man front. Against a QB who is a converted RB out of high school that was chewing us up on the ground, frequently right off tackle. And it was deep enough in the game that we knew we weren’t facing a Carson Beck. If we were facing a run and shoot offense, MAYBE I get the 3 man front. Against Oklahoma, no way.
Posted on 12/1/24 at 12:29 pm to bamarep
People down on the 3-man front, as has been pointed out on this forum Saban ran a 3-man front (although in fairness it was different behind the front), a 3-man front is not inherently bad.
It's been youth, it's been injuries, but I think as some have observed as much as anything it's an adjustment to a different way of doing things after having a certain mindset drilled into you for years, moments of confusion when muscle memory of those things that have been drilled in revealed itself when we're trying to do things a different way. If that even makes sense.
Bottom line, I think Wommack gets another year and I'm expecting improvement because they'll be recruiting for the way he wants to do things, and maybe the way we used to do things (and it's unfair to expect him to continue doing those things if that's not his deal) will evaporate and everyone will be on the same page.
It's been youth, it's been injuries, but I think as some have observed as much as anything it's an adjustment to a different way of doing things after having a certain mindset drilled into you for years, moments of confusion when muscle memory of those things that have been drilled in revealed itself when we're trying to do things a different way. If that even makes sense.
Bottom line, I think Wommack gets another year and I'm expecting improvement because they'll be recruiting for the way he wants to do things, and maybe the way we used to do things (and it's unfair to expect him to continue doing those things if that's not his deal) will evaporate and everyone will be on the same page.
Posted on 12/1/24 at 12:33 pm to InkStainedWretch
You have to practice it until you can’t unlearn it.
Posted on 12/1/24 at 12:33 pm to bamarep
This defense gave up the fewest points per game since 2017.
They improved significantly throughout the year and gave us a shot to be in the playoffs.
The offensive inefficiencies are far worse than the defense this year. I think Wommack did a good job.
They improved significantly throughout the year and gave us a shot to be in the playoffs.
The offensive inefficiencies are far worse than the defense this year. I think Wommack did a good job.
Posted on 12/1/24 at 12:37 pm to VirgilCaine
I’m hoping Wommack comes back, I think we’ll only get better on the defensive side.
Posted on 12/1/24 at 12:40 pm to Syd
I highly doubt Wommack will get fired or leave already for another job. Unless some crazy scandal comes out, he’s coming back
Sheridan on the other hand…also probably coming back but I’m less excited for
Sheridan on the other hand…also probably coming back but I’m less excited for
Posted on 12/1/24 at 12:48 pm to 1BamaRTR
There was some head scratching moments for me this year and at times he lacked adjustments without a doubt, but I will say it’s encouraging to see our guys play down hill and come up and strike people. It is refreshing to see the turnovers as well. I’d give Kane a B- over all. I am cool with him staying. I’m far more tired of seeing failed designed QB runs, I know that.
Posted on 12/1/24 at 1:10 pm to bamarep
IMO, we need a new Dline coach. I respect the hell out of him. Played against him 3 times in high school, but our line has not been the same since he took over.
Unless you count Will Anderson as a DE, we haven't had an All-American DL since he got here. The recuiting & development just hasn't been there.
Unless you count Will Anderson as a DE, we haven't had an All-American DL since he got here. The recuiting & development just hasn't been there.
Posted on 12/1/24 at 1:12 pm to bamarep
At a high level, Alabama's defense is a solid unit in 2024 despite a number of injuries and a fair deal of inexperience in the secondary. I think the explanation for the Vanderbilt and Oklahoma performance is simply growing pains in a new scheme. The adjustments needed were "players execute the defense as designed in response to the pre and post snap actions taken by the offense."
At the end of the day, Alabama lost those two games because each opponent got 14 points off of turnovers (1 from short field, another from a pick six). They may not have been banner days from the defense but the offense put them in a bind.
DeBoer's team philosophy seems to be an efficient offense paired with a takeaway seeking defense. They want the offense to create pressure to score and the defense wants to punish the opponent for being more aggressive. It is a valid strategy, arguably the strategy to take in the modern game. However it goes poorly when the offense has multiple turnovers. Especially when they take points off the board for you and/or put points on the board for the opponent.
At the end of the day, Alabama lost those two games because each opponent got 14 points off of turnovers (1 from short field, another from a pick six). They may not have been banner days from the defense but the offense put them in a bind.
DeBoer's team philosophy seems to be an efficient offense paired with a takeaway seeking defense. They want the offense to create pressure to score and the defense wants to punish the opponent for being more aggressive. It is a valid strategy, arguably the strategy to take in the modern game. However it goes poorly when the offense has multiple turnovers. Especially when they take points off the board for you and/or put points on the board for the opponent.
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