Alabama football has won four consecutive games and is 2-0 in SEC play, but it's upward trajectory hinges largely on a key area of improvement.
With Alabama football inching forward in the polls and sitting at 2-0 in SEC play, it's trajectory for the season is pointed in the right direction with four consecutive wins.
Quarterback Ty Simpson is quickly developing at the helm of a dangerous passing attack.
The play-calling has been innovative. Penalties are down. Enthusiasm is up.
But with six SEC games remaining and four of them against opponents currently ranked among the top 14 in the USA TODAY Sports ULM Coaches Poll, there is a treacherous stretch of schedule ahead that is capable of exploiting a Crimson Tide run defense that still has much to prove.
The best sign of hope for it came against Vanderbilt on Saturday, but even that got off to a rough start. The Commodores amassed 113 rushing yards in the first quarter alone, the bulk of it coming on a 65-yard touchdown run by Sedrick Alexander, and quarterback Diego Pavia's 36-yard scamper. After what defensive tackle and team captain Tim Keenan called a "come to Jesus" meeting on the sideline, the Crimson Tide was dominant against the run thereafter.
That's significant given the opponent. Vanderbilt (5-1) isn't the punching bag this season, nor was it last season, that it's been historically. Especially as it pertains to running the ball with a highly effective option scheme directed by Pavia. And the option attack in particular places pressure on perimeter run defense — outside the offensive tackles — which is precisely what has given Alabama's defense the most trouble.
It should be noted that both of Vanderbilt's big runs in the earlygoing were sprung through interior gaps, not outside. But UA had its struggles with perimeter run defense last year as well, which makes the same issue this year all the more alarming. If there's a book on beating Alabama's defense, getting running backs and quarterbacks out on the edge to take whatever free grass is available is the most compelling chapter.
Up next, UA faces a road trip to Missouri (Saturday, 11 a.m. CT, ABC), which features one of the SEC's elite rushers in Ahmad Hardy, whose 730 yards lead the league. On Monday, UA defensive coordinator Kane Wommack had effusive praise for both Hardy and the Missouri blocking schemes, both gap and zone-style, that spring him.
UA ranks 87th in the FBS in run defense, allowing 155.4 rushing yards per game. In a loss to Florida State, the Seminoles ran for 230. In Alabama's road win at Georgia, the Bulldogs ran for 227.
Alabama remains in complete control of reaching the goal of a College Football Playoff berth.
But it must get better control of opposing rushing attacks to get there.
Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread is also the weekly co-host of Crimson Cover TV on WVUA-23. Reach him at [email protected]. Follow on X.com @chasegoodbread.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football's season trajectory hinges on improved run defense
Category: General Sports
