Alabama Football: Defensive Report Card vs UL Monroe

Alabama Football held UL Monroe to 169 yards in a 63-7 victory. Here are the grades for each position group following the win.

Alabama Football Defensive Line: A

The defensive line for Alabama Football had a workmanlike performance, and was able to rotate in a lot of bodies. The Alabama run defense stayed on par with another impressive showing, holding ULM to just 78 yards on 40 carries for an average of less than two yards per carry.

Byron Young and Justin Eboigbe were both very active and effective in both stopping the run and pressuring passers. Young registered a half sack in the contest.

Tim Smith, Jaheim Oatis, Damon Payne, Jamil Burroughs, Tim Keenan III, and Isaiah Hastings all got onto the box score for Alabama football.

Alabama Football Linebackers: A

The Alabama linebackers once again showed that they are one of the top units in the nation. Henry To’o To’o and Jaylen Moody combined for 14 tackles and To’o To’o registered a sack.

Will Anderson Jr. had five tackles and a sack, and had another negated by a penalty. He also secured the first turnover of the season for the Alabama defense, intercepting a deflected pass and returning it 25 yards for a pick-six.

Dallas Turner notched two tackles and pressured the quarterback well, but has yet to get his first sack this season.

Deontae Lawson saw a lot of snaps and recorded five tackles, his best game to date. Chris Braswell, Jeremiah Alexander, Kendrick Blackshire, and Shawn Murphy got rotational snaps.

Alabama Football Defensive Backs: B

The Alabama defensive backs were very effective, yet not spectacular in the win. They limited the overmatched ULM offense to just 91 yards passing for the entire game. Demarcco Hellams posted a team-high nine tackles. Brian Branch and Malachi Moore were all over the field, combining for nine tackles and 1.5 sacks.

Terrion Arnold and Kool-Aid McKinstry seem to have solidified themselves as the starters at cornerback, at least for the time being.

The Alabama defense is rounding into form. Just like last year, it is extremely stingy against the run. In addition, it is beginning to find its footing getting after quarterbacks. After a slow start, the Alabama pass rush will eventually start to result in more turnovers.

The defensive backfield showed some issues in week two, but it seems to have figured those out, at least to an extent. As the front seven gets closer to its potential, any existing problems in the secondary will become less and less apparent.