Alabama Football: Bigger load for ’21 Defense Part Two

Part Two: The Alabama Football defense will have to do more in ’21 than it did in ’20. Let’s review the linebacker position group.

This is the second of a three-part series on the 2021 Alabama Football defense. Part one discussed the ’21 secondary. Parts two covers the linebackers and part three will focus on the defensive line.

The 2020 Alabama Football defense did not get much love.  The Tide’s defensive reputation remained sullied all season after giving up 48 points and 647 yards to Lane Kiffin’s offense. Despite being lit up by Ole Miss and Florida, the ’20 Defense posted solid stats for the season. Per NCAA stats, only 12 FBS teams were better than the Crimson Tide in Scoring Defense average.

With a per-game average of 19.38 points per game, the Crimson Tide was No. 1 in the SEC and No. 13 in the FBS. Georgia was close behind the Tide at No. 16 and Texas A&M was No. 28. No other SEC teams were close.

The explosive 2020 Alabama Football offense garnered more attention than did the Tide defense.  A fair presumption for 2021 is the Alabama Crimson Tide offense will not beak 2018, 2019 and 2020 records. Losing three starting offensive linemen, Mac Jones, DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle and Najee Harris pretty much guarantees less offensive production in 2021.

The Crimson Tide defense will have to carry a bigger load. It too has some holes to fill, but nothing like the Tide offense. Basically, the Tide defense must become better while replacing Patrick Surtain II, Christian Barmore and Dylan Moses.

More: ’21 Defense bigger load Part 1: Defensive Backs

2021 Alabama Football Inside Linebackers

While Dylan Moses did not reach superstar status in 2020, he was the leader of the Tide defense. Playing through pain all season, Moses led the Tide in total tackles. More importantly, he was the quarterback of the Crimson Tide defense. His experience and leadership will be difficult to replace.

Christian Harris had a superb sophomore season, leading the Tide in solo tackles. The versatile inside linebacker also had six quarterback hurries, 4.5 sacks, two pass breakups, and an interception. It will be interesting to see if defensive play-calling is added to his already heavy workload. Jaylen Moody looked sharp in limited 2020 play. The four-year player appears to have the best chance to start next to Harris in the middle.

Nick Saban and Pete Golding have several more options inside including Ale Kaho, Shane Lee, Demouy Kennedy, Jackson Bratton and the incoming freshmen, Ian Jackson and Deontae Lawson. The outside linebacker group is so loaded, one in that group might be moved inside.

The most intriguing possibility is Tennessee-transfer, Henry To’o to’o. Alabama football fans and the Crimson Tide were disappointed when Jeremy Pruitt nabbed To’o to’o at the end of the 2019 recruiting cycle. He will be in high demand. The NCAA has not yet ruled on immediate eligibility for transfers.

2021 Alabama Football Outside Linebackers

Sal Sunseri is blessed to have a loaded roster of outside linebacker talent. Chris Allen and Will Anderson Jr. will be the starters. It will be hard to find a better pair of outside backers in the SEC.

Queued up behind Allen and Anderson are King Mwikuta, Drew Sanders, Quandarrius Robinson, Chris Braswell and Jarez Parks. If Golding chooses he can bring on outside pass rushers like hockey line changes. Former 5-Star and summer enrollee, Dallas Turner is a freshman able to play outside linebacker and defensive end in his college career.

Despite needing a new defensive quarterback, the Alabama Crimson Tide is loaded at linebacker in 2021. As good as To’o to’o could be, the Tide will win with him or without him.