Alabama Football: Pete Golding looks to silence doubters

Alabama football defensive coordinator Pete Golding has taken more than his share of slander from the Bama fan base. Golding has served as DC since the 2019 season, after working in a co-defensive coordinator role in 2018.

Alabama Football: Golding’s struggles

Throughout his tenure, he has felt the wrath of nostalgic Alabama fans that longed for the dominant defenses of the early Nick Saban era. While the defense hasn’t been terrible under Golding, there has been a considerable dropoff. Additionally, there have been occasional “last straw” games in which the Tide can’t seem to get a stop.

There was the 44-16 loss to Clemson in the 2018 national championship. The following year, Alabama suffered a pair of heartbreaking shootout losses to LSU and Auburn. These defensive disasters knocked the Tide out of the playoff for the first and only time in history. In 2020, there was the 63-48 debacle at Ole Miss and the 52-46 SEC championship thriller against Florida. From this past year, the Texas A&M loss and the narrow victories over Florida and Arkansas stand out.

For Alabama Football fans that value and take pride in having a lockdown defense, nothing is more frustrating than watching games like these. They simply aren’t supposed to happen.

Alabama Football: Understanding our DC

I’m not one to make excuses, but I don’t feel as though Golding has always gotten a fair shake. He was only 33 years old when he joined the Alabama staff, and had never held a Power Five coaching position before. An acclimation period was all but inevitable.

However, Alabama fans were not going to lower their expectations. The two seasons prior to Golding joining the staff, 2016 and 2017, both saw Alabama boast the no. 1 defense in the country in scoring and yards per game. Anything Golding did below that standard would’ve been a relative disappointment.

Not only is this an unrealistic mark to meet every single season, but Golding has battled some misfortune early in his career. Between injuries and NFL draft early entries, Golding has never quite fielded the type of talent that guys like Kirby Smart and Jeremy Pruitt had at their disposal as DC. I believe that changes this year.

Alabama Football: Put up or shut up

For 2022, Golding has talent, leadership, and game experience all over the field. While he is still searching for shutdown corners and a standout defensive lineman, the rest of the defense should be stout. The defensive line, inside linebackers, and safeties are all seasoned veterans and accomplished players, meaning the gut of the defense should be solid. Nothing should come easy on the ground or over the middle against Alabama this year.

Outside linebackers Will Anderson Jr. and Dallas Turner will spearhead the defense as two of the best pass rushers in the country. They will make everyone else’s job easier by harassing quarterbacks, getting opponents behind the chains, and forcing turnovers.

Though I’ve had my doubts like everyone else (particularly in the 2019 season), I have grown quite fond of Pete Golding. He speaks with a certainty and confidence that shows me he is not concerned with the complaints of the fan base. The fact that Nick Saban has stuck by him also gives me reassurance.

Golding finally has elite personnel at his disposal. I think he silences all of his critics in 2022, hopefully leading Alabama to another national championship in the process.