Looking at the Alabama roster in the preseason, the strength of the team appeared to be on the back end of the defense. The consensus was that the Crimson Tide's secondary was not just the deepest and most talented unit on the team, but one of the best in the country.
Through four weeks, however, that group hasn't quite lived up to the hype. Instead, it's looked like the weaker point of Kane Wommack's group, with the run defense looking much improved. Alabama's young offense is hitting its stride already, but the secondary has been a legitimate concern through the first month.
Heading into Saturday's matchup against Mississippi State, Alabama ranks 87th in the country in yards per pass attempt, giving up 7.8 yards per.
Lesser QBs like LaNorris Sellers and Ashton Daniels have found success down the field against Alabama's defensive backs. That is frightening for the matchup in Starkville, with Mississippi State's Kamario Taylor being far and away the best quarterback the Crimson Tide has seen so far this season.
Alabama's secondary needs to live up to its significant hype against Mississippi State
It hasn't been all bad for the Alabama secondary. The Tide has produced six interceptions this year, three of which have been returned for touchdowns. Four of the six picks have been from the secondary, with Yhonzae Pierre and Luke Metz adding one each.
Zabien Brown and Red Morgan have been excellent through the first month. The issues have been with Dijon Lee at the other CB spot and then the safeties.
Lee has unfortunately struggled in man-coverage moments the last couple of weeks. He's a talented player, but he's still young and learning. Wommack may elect to play more zone coverage schemes this weekend against Mississippi State's speedy group of receivers.
Bray Hubbard and Keon Sabb have been solid, if unspectacular, for a duo considered among the best in college football in the preseason. Hubbard has looked a bit banged up, and he left the game against South Carolina with an injury in the first quarter before returning.
Sabb has gotten turned around a bit at times, too, though he made a tremendous play against Florida State to force a pivotal interception.
The talent on the back end is real. Guys like Ivan Taylor, Jireh Edwards, Zay Mincey, Carmelo O'Neal, and Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. are providing quality snaps, too. The team is as deep as expected, but the production hasn't met the potential just yet.
That doesn't mean it won't happen, though. The season is still young.
This Saturday in Starkville will produce a different defensive game plan than Wommack employed against Florida State and South Carolina. Those two teams were viewed as having more limited quarterbacks, and Wommack was willing to live with leaving his corners on an island.
He won't be willing to do that against Taylor and the State receivers. If he is, it might be a long afternoon in Starkville.
This is the week for Alabama's secondary to start living up to the preseason hype. If they can turn the corner, not only should the Crimson Tide take care of business against Mississippi State, but DeBoer will have a team capable of competing for the national title.
Add us as a preferred source on Google