Alabama Football: Five times defense slammed the door on Texas A&M

The defense for Alabama Football has gradually improved throughout this season, and has begun to establish itself as one of the nation’s elite units.

In its most recent win, a 26-20 conquest over Texas A&M on the road, the defense continued its upward trajectory. It held the Aggies to 67 yards on the ground (just 1.9 yards per carry), never allowing a run of more than nine yards.

The unit ultimately executed the exact game plan that the national media speculated the A&M defense would use to stop Bama. That is to say, Kevin Steele’s Alabama defense forced quarterback Max Johnson to beat them with his arm, and he was unable to do so.

Under constant duress all afternoon from Bama’s relentless pass rush, Johnson completed just 56 percent of his passes and was sacked five times.

With its talented and explosive group of receivers, A&M was able to generate the occasional big play in the passing game. However, Bama was largely able to keep these plays out of the end zone, bending but rarely breaking and getting stops more often than not. In the end, the Aggies’ 306 yards of total offense was not enough to keep up with the Tide.

This Bama defense has been solid even against good offenses, and, more importantly, has played opportunistic football. On at least five occasions against Texas A&M, the Aggies had a chance to seize momentum and perhaps swing the game in their favor, but the Tide defense slammed the door.