On Monday, Kane Wommack set the record straight about his Alabama Crimson Tide defense. In Alabama's first two games, opponents totaled 371 yards. Claims about a return to Crimson Tide defensive glory were abundant. Some of us too quickly called Wommack's defense elite. Then, Florida State and South Carolina combined for 890 yards.
Reactions from Crimson Tide fans came in whiplash fashion, with complaints that Wommack's defense had regressed. Some Alabama fans suddenly decided that Wommack's defense was soft.
If 'regressed' and 'soft' have any merit, they could not come at a worse time. Week 5 is an SEC road game against one of college football's fastest-rising quarterbacks, Kamario Taylor. Alabama's Keelon Russell has arguably been a somewhat 'higher riser' than Taylor, but that claim does not alter the fact that Wommack's defense has a huge challenge slowing Taylor.
Taylor is bigger than Russell, and his 230 lbs. make him a more powerful runner than Keelon. He is not a guy that 'soft' defenders will have much success taking down.
On Monday, Kane Wommack praised Taylor and talked about the Crimson Tide's challenge against Mississippi State. More importantly, he gave his take on the Crimson Tide's defense.
Wommack Alabama Defense Quotes
- "... we’re continuing to grow. Good defenses get better. I think the physicality that we’re playing with right now is as high as it’s been since I’ve been here. I think the effort that we are playing with is as high as it's been."
- "I think this is a very responsive defense. And if we'll just continue to make improvements, I think we’ll get to where we want to be."
Wommack did not dodge the Tide's troubling defensive issues in the last two games. He also did not say that getting to 'where we want to be' will be complete by Saturday morning. Wommack also said of Kamario Taylor: "He may be the best we’ve faced in the last three years since I’ve been here."
Action rather than words wins football games. And words can mislead as well as enlighten. But I have faith in Kane Wommoack's words, rather than 'soft' and 'regressed' being accurate descriptions of the Alabama Crimson Tide defense.
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