It flew under the radar nationally, but Alabama's coaching staff feels pretty convinced that they made some substantial upgrades to the defensive line. While the naysayers point to losing guys like James Smith and Jordan Renaud to the Transfer Portal, along with Tim Keenan to the draft, they ignore the additions of Devan Thompkins, Terrance Green, and Kedrick Bingley-Jones, along with the expected growth of some talented youngsters.
Alabama got bigger up front this offseason. That was a non-negotiable for Kalen DeBoer and Kane Wommack after getting pushed around by Indiana and Georgia in the postseason. They also got more versatile. Wommack will have the ability to get more creative when calling his defense this year because he's got so many guys capable of playing multiple spots.
That starts with Thompkins, who has been a standout in the spring, summer, and continuing into the fall. He's projected to start as Alabama's Bandit in Wommack's system, but he'll also shift inside on obvious passing downs, where he can hopefully help manufacture some pressure up the gut.
“Devan is a special skill set," Wommack said after Tuesday's practice. "Just to be that big and athletic, and he can move and do some things both from the Bandit position and from the three-technique position. It allows me as a play-caller; there are a lot of different things we can do with him. His physicality, his ability to take on blocks, disengage.
" A lot of times, offenses are trying to figure out how can they attack that C-gap area. They’re gonna create tight ends to create that C-gap area or a split-zone concept or insert somebody back inside, so if you can constrict that area, it makes it more difficult to run the ball. He is a very physical presence in there. You look at the tight ends in our league, and there’s some really good tight ends, but he’s going to be hard to say we’re gonna put a tight end one-on-one with him and win in that C-area."
Devan Thompkins and several others bring much-needed versatility to Kane Wommack's defense
Thompkins isn't the only one who will float between positions. The Bandit and Wolf LB rooms can at times be interchangeable. Guys like Yhonzae Pierre, Fatutoa Henry, Jah-Marien Latham, and Desmond Umeouzulu will see snaps at both.
There are also guys like Edric Hill, who are getting snaps both inside and outside.
“Edric Hill is actually doing some in certain packages for us," Wommack said about the Bandit spot. "Then of course Kevonte (Fatutoa) Henry, Desmond Zulu is in there as well. There’s packages where Yhonzae is playing Bandit. A lot of it is based upon what we feel like we need, what we want to anticipate from a stopping the run, from a pass-rushing standpoint. Even Yhonzae sometimes goes over there when we don’t want to drop him out in coverage if we’ve got a simulated pressure and we’re leaving the Bandit on as part of the rush. A lot of things we can do there creatively.”
That creativity is before we even talk about a deep, talented, and physical secondary that will allow for some creative sub-packages as well. Bray Hubbard will likely get some snaps in the box this year, so talented youngsters like Ivan Taylor can rotate in at safety. Freshman Jireh Edwards could get snaps in the box, too.
Wommack has fielded good defenses in both of his seasons as Alabama's defensive coordinator. There's a chance this is his best to date. They have the talent to take that needed leap from good to great, which would take some pressure off the offense and a new starting QB and offensive line.
They had to improve on the defensive line in order to do that. They appear to have done that. They'll also need to manufacture more of a pass rush. Pierre will be one of the most feared players off the edge in the country, but the Crimson Tide will need others to step up this fall alongside him.
If Wommack can get that, then this defense will be tough for everyone to deal with.
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