Alabama Football: How will defense fare against Texas?

The Alabama football defense opened its 2022 season with a shutout of Mountain West opponent Utah State. In week two, they will face an opponent that, on paper, is significantly more talented. How will the Crimson Tide handle the Texas Longhorns’ offense?

Alabama Football vs Texas Running Game

The Texas offense starts with running back Bijan Robinson. Robinson is immensely gifted with a complete skillset, and will likely be a first round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He totaled over 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns last season as a sophomore, and got off to a good start in week one of 2022. In Texas’ 52-10 win over UL-Monroe, he totaled 111 yards and two touchdowns on just 13 touches. Backup running back Roschon Johnson is also a good and experienced player. Despite sustaining an injury in fall camp, he was active for the Longhorns’ first game.

Texas may attempt to run much of their offense through Bijan Robinson against Alabama. They will have to at least try to establish the run to slow down the Alabama pass rush.

The issue is, Alabama football was very stout against the run last season (84.9 YPG), and they may be even better this year. To compound the problem, Texas’ biggest weakness may be its offensive line. The Longhorns’ O-line struggled last season, and was already a questionable group heading into 2022 before sustaining a season-ending injury in fall camp to perhaps its best lineman.

Texas landed an impressive 2022 recruiting haul at the position, but offensive linemen are very rarely ready to start as true freshmen. The Horns will likely be starting multiple youngsters against Will Anderson Jr. and company.

Alabama Football vs Texas Receivers

In addition to Bijan Robinson at running back, Texas has one of the best receivers in the country in Xavier Worthy. Worthy, who has elite top-end speed, caught for nearly 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns as a true freshman last season. He was one of the top freshmen nationally, and was a bright spot on a mediocre 2021 Texas team. Xavier Worthy was largely a non-factor in Texas’ blowout week one victory, but he will have to be a big part of the week two game plan.

The Longhorns lost one of their best skill players when transfer wide receiver Isaiah Neyor went down with a fall camp injury, but they have other decent receivers such as Jordan Whittington.

Former Alabama receiver Agiye Hall will return from suspension and suit up this week. Former Alabama tight end Jahleel Billingsley will not play, as he is serving a six-game suspension. Fortunately for Texas, they have former 5-star recruit Ja’Tavion Sanders at tight end. Sanders is a physically imposing and impressive athlete who was able to live up to some of the hype in week one. The sophomore led Texas with six catches for 85 yards and a touchdown against ULM.

Alabama Football vs Quinn Ewers

Redshirt freshman quarterback Quinn Ewers will lead the Texas offense. One of the most decorated quarterback recruits of all time, Ewers has only one college game under his belt. Against ULM, he completed 16 of 24 passes for 225 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He will have to make drastic improvements to be effective against the Tide defense. While Ewers is physically gifted, his youth will probably show in this game. He has great skill players to distribute the ball to, but his green offensive line will do him no favors against Alabama.

The Longhorns are likely too talented at the skill positions to be completely shut down. However, I don’t think they match up well against this Alabama defense. The strength of the Alabama football team is probably its pass rush. Texas will have to weather that storm with a subpar offensive line and inexperience at the quarterback position.

Alabama Football vs Steve Sarkisian

Surely, Steve Sarkisian will have devised an effective game plan to keep Quinn Ewers from being beaten and battered all afternoon, which most assume will happen. He may try to lean on the run and shorten the game, but I can’t see that being an effective strategy. Sark could also go to the quick passing game, which Utah State tried in week one.

This would consist of Ewers flipping short throws out to Texas’ best players, including Robinson and Worthy, in space. This would limit the impact of Alabama’s pass rush. If Texas goes this route, the Alabama corners, safeties, and linebackers will have to tackle effectively in space.

This matchup is exciting for the brand names, as well as the personal connections between the two programs. However, this game will also be interesting for the on-field matchups. I look forward to seeing how the Alabama defense answers a bigger challenge this week.