Alabama Football: Look for defense to force turnovers this weekend
Despite dominating Utah State in week one, the defense for Alabama football did not register a single turnover. That should change in week two, as Alabama travels to Austin to take on a Texas team starting a freshman quarterback and two freshmen offensive linemen.
For starters, Alabama football has a very deep and disruptive front seven. It all starts with the Tide’s three-man edge rusher rotation that features All-American Will Anderson Jr., Freshman All-American Dallas Turner, and former 5-star Chris Braswell. This trio generates ferocious pressure off the edge, and they are the catalyst for the rest of the Alabama defense.
The interior defensive line rotation includes seniors Byron Young, Justin Eboigbe, and DJ Dale, juniors Tim Smith and Jamil Burroughs, and freshman Jaheim Oatis. Alabama football is working on getting this position group back to the depth it had on vintage Nick Saban defenses. Young, Eboigbe, and Smith are all capable of wreaking havoc and forcing turnovers, and everyone from fans to those in the locker room are excited about Oatis.
Henry To’o To’o and Jaylen Moody are a formidable tandem in the middle, but Moody truly has a nose for the ball. Coming into this season, Moody had already recorded a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and an interception in his career despite never having been a starter. To’o To’o has shown flashes as well, notching a key forced fumble in the win over LSU last season. To’o To’o also got a pick-six for Tennessee in 2020, running back his only career interception for a touchdown.
On paper, Alabama football has a loaded secondary. Senior safeties Jordan Battle and DeMarcco Hellams are the leaders of the group. The cornerback rotation of Kool-Aid McKinstry, Terrion Arnold, Eli Ricks, and Khyree Jackson are all former highly touted recruits with the physical tools to be NFL defensive backs one day. In the nickel, Brian Branch and Malachi Moore have both shown signs of stardom.
Still, the Alabama secondary is still building towards stability and consistency, particularly at the cornerback position. It is also looking to establish a bona fide ball-hawk. Virtually every member of the secondary has shown ball-hawking tendencies, but no one has been able to do it on a consistent basis. The group can take a big step this week against Quinn Ewers and a talented receiving corps.
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The Alabama defense expects to be one of the best in the country, and it has an opportunity to make a statement this week. Watch for this unit to produce at least two takeaways against the Texas Longhorns.