Alabama Football Position Breakdown: Defensive Line
In college football, and the SEC especially, games are won up front. That’s good news for the Alabama Crimson Tide heading into the 2012 season with what some consider the best offensive line in the nation, and a defensive line that features a lot of depth and a lot of talent.
The Tide returns only four true defensive starters to a unit that finished tops in the nation in every meaningful statistical category. Two of those starters occupy positions on the defensive line with seniors Damion Square and Jesse Williams.
Alabama’s base defense is the 3-4, and in that formation it is essential to have a big, strong nose tackle. Alabama’s had just that with Terrence Cody in 2008-09 and then Josh Chapman in 2010-11. Now it’s up to Aussie-born Jesse Williams to take the reigns in the middle of the defensive line in 2012.
Williams was a bit of a late bloomer last season after taking a back seat during Spring practice, and then earning a starting role in Fall camp at defensive end. With Chapman graduating and being selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the 5th round of the 2012 NFL Draft, Williams now slides over to the nose tackle position, and he should be a perfect fit.
Coaches and media members alike have raved over Williams this offseason, and the news of him bench pressing 600 pounds earlier in the Summer broke Twitter for an hour.
He is going to routinely command double teams this season, which will free up Alabama’s talented group of linebackers to make plays. Being as big and as strong as he is makes him tough enough to deal with; but then add in the fact that he’s quicker than your typical nose tackle, and it’s just flat out unfair.
The depth behind Williams at nose is a concern, with quite a few guys who haven’t seen much playing time in their careers just yet. Behind Williams on the depth chart is 6-foot-4, 315 pound sophomore Brandon Ivory. Ivory saw action in four games as a freshman last season.
Redshirt freshman LaMichael Fanning, who is an absolute mammoth of a man at 6-foot-7 and 298 pounds, could see some time inside at the nose as well, and should see the field at defensive tackle when Alabama goes to the 4-3 set. The same goes for guys like Jeoffrey Pagan and D.J. Pettway. Pagan and Pettway could also see time at defensive end.
Starting at one defensive end spot will be fifth year senior Damion Square. Square started all 13 games for the Crimson Tide last season, and while he recorded only a single sack, he did have 7 tackles for loss and 30 tackles for the season.
The other defensive end spot is still up for grabs with junior Ed Stinson and senior Quinton Dial competing for the starting job. Regardless of who starts, both guys will surely see plenty of playing time this season.
As a sophomore, Stinson saw playing time in each game last season as he was firmly entrenched in the Tide’s defensive line rotation. Stinson has experience as a starter having started two games as a freshman in 2010.
Dial saw a lot of playing time last season as well as a junior in his first season with the Crimson Tide after transferring from East Mississippi Community College. Dial racked up 24 tackles and a sack last season.
Along with these guys, Alabama has a plethora of depth along their defensive front. Along with Pagan, Fanning, and Pettway, juniors William Ming and Chris Bonds will try to scratch and claw their way onto the field.
Redshirt freshman Wilson Love is another guy who will compete for playing time, and that’s not to mention the talented group Alabama hauled in from the 2012 recruiting class.
Korren Kirven, Darren Lake, Dalvin Tomlinson, and Dakota Ball were all highly touted recruits, and they will push the veterans for spots in the rotation.
Alabama has an embarrassment of riches at several positions heading into 2012, and the defensive line is certainly one of them. The Tide’s defensive line should set the tone for what should be another stellar defense in Tuscaloosa.
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