Alabama Football: Defense can carry the load in SEC play

Alabama Football: Defensive Backs flocking to the ball

The secondary features playmakers as well, led by highly active senior safety Malachi Moore. Moore has been around the ball all season, and appears to be the emotional leader of the defense. He snagged his first interception of the year against USF, and it surely won’t be the last turnover he forces in 2023.

Senior Jaylen Key and freshman Caleb Downs have also been good at safety, both ranking in the top five on the team in tackles. Key has the defense’s only other interception, and Downs has notched a forced fumble.

Corners Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold have not been perfect, but have been very dependable playing the toughest position on the field. Arnold still has some discipline issues to tighten up as a redshirt sophomore, but this is as close to a shutdown cornerback tandem as Alabama has fielded in several years.

This defense under Kevin Steele isn’t one of the vintage units Alabama Football has had under Coach Nick Saban, but it is a good group that is progressing every week.

I think it could potentially be Bama’s best defense in the past two or three years, and is capable of carrying the team while the offense figures out its identity.