How Has the Defense Improved? Contrasting Alabama's Defense against LSU and Vandy

Coming off of a victory over Georgia many Alabama fans entered the week six matchup with Vanderbilt with an eye already turned toward the College Football Playoff. After the game, they had nothing but shock and disappointment. Many Alabama fans couldn’t believe the vaunted Alabama defense had not only lost to Vandy but had allowed 40 points. Some people even claimed it was time to pull the plug on defensive coordinator Kane Wommack’s Swarm-D. 

But that was then, now Alabama fans are riding high behind a much-improved defense. The Crimson Tide shut out Missouri at home and dominated LSU at night in Baton Rouge. Alabama has obviously improved, but it’s time to break it down and show just what those improvements have been. 

Starting with an easy one, third down play. Vanderbilt torched Alabama on third downs converting 12 of 18 attempts. Vandy did this by keeping themselves in manageable situations. The Commodores averaged a distance of 6.3 yards to go on third down and picked up an average of 7.9 yards per third down play. The Commodores came up on third down 18 times but only three of those were third and long scenarios. 

Keeping the ball in short manageable situations the Commodores were able to use the full playbook on third downs rushing eight times on third down for 42 yards. The Commodores were able to pick up four of their 12 conversions this way averaging 5.3 yards per carry. This rushing attack helped open up the passing attack for Vandy with Diego Pavia going 8-10 for 100 yards on third downs alone. 

Against LSU the Tigers were able to have some similar trends. LSU was able to convert on four of their five third and short attempts, they averaged a similar 5.5 yards per carry on 3rd down rushing plays and were able to convert four times in the running game but the passing game is where those similarities ended. 

Nine of LSU’s 3rd down plays were from six yards or further with the Bayou Bengals converting only twice. LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was six of nine on third downs for a measly 32 yards. Where Pavia averaged 12.5 yards per completion and 10 yards per attempt Nussmeier averaged 5.3 yards per completion and only 2.1 yards per attempt. Pavia’s numbers may have been enough to get the job done for the Commodores, but not nearly enough to get the job done for LSU 

Tackling, turnovers and pressure have also made a marked improvement for the Crimson Tide’s Swarm-D.  Against Vanderbilt, Alabama didn’t have a sack, a turnover, or a quarterback hurry. Against LSU, Alabama had two sacks, two hurries, and three turnovers. One of those turnovers was a key red zone interception on third and goal. 

When it came to tackling Alabama’s defense got better penetration against the Bayou Bengals and had a more solid approach to tackling. Against Vanderbilt, the Crimson Tide missed 11 tackles. That number dropped to eight against LSU. When it came to tackles for loss and penetration, Alabama was able to create seven negative plays vs. Vanderbilt and only five against LSU. The difference, Alabama forced LSU to lose 22 yards on those five stops versus just 12 yards on the seven stops against Vandy. 

Penalties are another area where the Tide has substantially improved. Other than a personal foul and a roughing the passer penalty that led to LSU’s lone touchdown drive Alabama only had one defensive penalty, a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty in the second quarter that led to an LSU field goal. 

While the Crimson Tide also had four penalties against Vanderbilt, three of those four came on third or fourth down and extended drives turning into 14 Vandy points. 

The red zone is another area of improvement for the Crimson Tide. The Commodores produced three touchdowns and one field goal on four red zone trips 24 points in total. LSU managed to score on two of their three trips one field goal and one touchdown. 

The biggest difference though was the number differences in the red zone. Vanderbilt ran the ball 13 times inside the Alabama 20-yard line, averaged 3.1 yards per carry, and posted two touchdowns, while Pavia threw the ball one time for six yards and a touchdown. The lone stall out in the red zone for the Commodores came on a holding call. 

LSU meanwhile had virtually no room to move. The Tigers had two carries and no yards in the red zone running game and Nussmeier couldn’t get his short passing game going, going 1-6 for 13 yards a touchdown, and an interception. 

The Swarm-D is unlikely to have an easier time with the 9-1 Mercer Bears coming to town. The Bears have dropped 30+ eight times this season. Against the FCS Bears Alabama will need to stay stout and continue to progress. With a struggling Oklahoma and Auburn offense to round out the season, this may be the last best look this defense gets before a potential playoff bid.