Credit to Kane Wommack for Alabama football's defensive improvement in recent weeks

Alabama football fans always have a shaky relationship with its coordinators. It's a love-hate relationship, and the pendulum swings a lot more toward hate than love, at least in recent seasons.

Defense has always been a big part of the standard in Tuscaloosa. The best Nick Saban teams always played elite level defense. But even when Kirby Smart was the defensive coordinator, he took plenty of heat from the fanbase. "Third and Kirby" was not a term of endearment. Jeremy Pruitt was mostly loved in his two years, but he drew the ire of fans at times, too.

Perhaps no defense coordinator caught more grief than Pete Golding, who was on the Alabama staff from 2018-2022 before leaving to take over as Ole Miss' defensive coordinator. Golding's play-calling was baffling at times, and even though he coordinated a unit that was good enough to win the national title in 2020, he never lived up to the standard.

Now, it's Kane Wommack's turn. Wommack was praised early in the season as Alabama rolled over the weaker part of its schedule, beating Western Kentucky, USF, and Wisconsin and never being seriously challenged by any of those offenses.

The first half against Georgia had fans labeling him a genius; his defensive scheme fresh, new, and simplified to a point that a young defense could pick up on it quickly and fly around and make plays, embodying his swarm philosphy. But as a football coach, there's little separating being a genius from being a buffoon. Much like a pat on the back is only a few inches away from a kick in the butt.

The second half against the Bulldogs started the frustration, with Alabama's inability to ever get off the field on fourth down. Georgia converted time and time again, turning what should have been a blowout into a nail biter.

Then the defense was gashed, battered, and beaten by Vanderbilt in Nashville in the most shocking result of the college football season to date. He went from a genius to a fool, with fans calling for his head to be on a pike in front of Denny Chimes. That defensive effort was porous, but in the week's since, Vanderbilt has proven to be a much, much better football team than anyone realized in the first weekend of October.

Alabama played better against South Carolina defensively, but still had some unfortunate breakdowns that led to some big plays by the Gamecocks that made the result uncomfortable.

But good coaches adapt to their personnel, and are willing to avoid stubborness and a reliance on their scheme. The last two weeks have brought a much improved effort from the Tide's defense. Even in a defeat last week to Tennessee, it was far from the fault of Wommack's unit. They forced turnovers and set the offense up for success, but the offense couldn't pay any of them off and Alabama lost despite allowing only 24 points.

The offense was better this week against Missouri, but didn't have to be. Becuse the defense refused to give an inch, completely overwhelming whoever played QB for the Tigers. They pitched a shutout for the first time against an SEC opponent in four years. They swarmed. They played fast, free, and physical. They forced turnovers, they tackled well, and they refused to budge.

The best moment came when the game was well in hand. Alabama led 34-0 late in the 4th quarter and Missouri drove the field against the backup defense and put itself in position to put points on the board and avoid being shut out.

But the backup defense stiffened inside the five, refusing to let Missour into the endzone on three attempts. On fourth down, with players lobbying on the sideline, Wommack sent the starters back out to preserve the shutout. The defensive line blew the play up and stopped Missouri in the backfield, denying the Tigers one last time.

The sideline erupted in pure elation in a moment that felt much bigger than the minimal impact it had on the result of the game. The players wanted it. Wommack wanted it. And they made a play to ensure it happened.

Wommack isn't working with your typical Alabama defense. This unit lost a lot from a season ago. Gone were two elite edge rushers in Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell to the NFL. Corners Terrion Arnold and Kool-Aid McKinstry went pro, too, both being drafted in the first two rounds. Caleb Downs and Trey Amos left via the transfer portal.

Other pieces in the secondary who could've provided quality depth also hit the portal. Jameer Grimsley, Dezz Ricks, Tony Mitchell, and Peyton Woodyard all left. The secondary came into the season thin and young. Malachi Moore returning was huge. Keon Sabb and Domani Jackson were key portal additions.

But around those guys, Alabama would be relying on career program backups and a lot of freshmen. DeVonta Smith and Bray Hubbard have played well in their opportunities after serving as depth pieces in the past. Zabien Brown, Jaylen Mbakwe, Red Morgan, and Zavier Mincey, all true freshmen, have been asked to play bigger roles than they should have to in year one.

Those guys have made some freshmen mistakes, but have mostly held up well, particularly Brown who looks like a future star at corner. That's coaching.

Due to a young secondary, Wommack has had to adapt. He doesn't like to blitz. Alabama blitzed very little in the season's first few weeks. As the head coach at South Alabama, Wommack's defenses were among the lowest blitz rates in the nation.

Alabama has cranked up the pressure in recent weeks to avoid leaving the young secondary hung out to dry. He is adapting to his personnel, and the results have been positive. It's a difficult thing as a coach, particularly one who has had success doing things one way to have the humility to self-evaluate and determine that the way you've always done things wasn't going to work.

As much grief as Wommack has taken this season, you also have to give him credit for his willingness to adapt, and the continued improvement of a young defense that keeps putting the team in positions to be successful.