Alabama Football: Five Bold Predictions for Crimson Tide in November
By Ronald Moody
Defense is still Saban’s calling card
During the crucial month of November, defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi will have the defense clicking on all cylinders. In the past, Nick Saban built his teams on a strong running game and a brick wall type defense. 2018 has been an anomaly for the Tide. The team is now leaning on the offense to get them through games.
Mack Wilson took responsibility for the horrendous defensive effort against Arkansas. Since he righted the ship, Alabama looks like a different team. Part of the reason Alabama defense did not look like world beaters is that the offense scored at such a fashionably fast pace leaving the defense very little time to recover before returning to the field.
Entering November, Alabama football ranks sixteenth in total defense allowing 307.9 yards per game. The pass defense gives up 194 yards, good for 33rd in the country. Suffocating run defense resides at 21st with 113.4 yards per contest.
The taut defense will finish the season ranked number one in total defense. The four teams they face this month, LSU, Mississippi State, The Citadel and Auburn are not explosive offenses. Lupoi will exploit the offensive inconsistencies, and the defense will thrive from the continued passionate leadership of Wilson.