Alabama Football: 3 keys to defensive success against Georgia's offense

Georgia's offense has been one of the most efficient, well-oiled machines during its near-dynastic run, and while the chain is creaking early in 2024, the Bulldogs still present a host of issues for an Alabama defense still getting comfortable with a new defensive scheme and a host of young players in the secondary.

This will be the biggest test for new defensive coordinator Kane Wommack to date. USF presented some scheme problems, and Wisconsin has a solid enough offensive line, but Georgia is the first team with an above-average quarterback, a great offensive line, a load of talented skill-guys, and a challenging scheme to boot.

In a way, the young Crimson Tide secondary has been lucky so far. They've had time to get their feet wet against mediocre and poor QB play. Better QB's would have made them pay for some early season miscues. Georgia QB Carson Beck is as good as anyone in the country, fully capable of hitting the open home run shots if they are there.

It will be a tremendous challenge for the Crimson Tide defensively, and a good measuring stick to see early in the season whether or not this is a championship caliber defense, or if Jalen Milroe and the offense are going to spend the season needing to win shootouts against the tougher opponents on the schedule.

So what do the Crimson Tide need to do to be successful on defense against the Bulldogs? Let's analyze:

3 Keys to Defensive Success

3. Get off the field on third downs

Perhaps Alabama's biggest statistical advantage over Georgia through the season's first three games is third-down efficiency. It's third downs that has been the biggest area where the Bulldogs have stepped back in 2024 from where they were in 2023. A year ago, Georgia was the No. 1 offense in the country in third down conversions.

Three game is too small of a sample size, but the Bulldogs sit 74th in the country at just 38% so far. They haven't had a single game where they've converted 50% or better on third downs.

So what happened? Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey are now in the NFL. Those were the two best skill guys for Georgia last season - and two of the very best in the entire country. When things broke down and they needed a play, Beck targeted one of those guys. There's still talent in Athens, but Beck doesn't have the same rapport with them, yet.

Alabama has been the best team in the country in third-down defense, giving up only 17% for conversions. Wommack would tell you that number is a bit misleading because on too many occasions they've allowed teams to get more yards than they should on third-down, which set up situations where they were comfortable going for fourth and shorts.

Opponents are 5-of-9 on fourth down against Alabama this season, including a 3-of-4 conversion rate for Wisconsin in the Tide's last game.

Getting off the field when you have the chance is key against any team, but especially a team like Georgia that wants to wear you down with long, sustained drives and keep their own defense fresh.

2. Pressure Carson Beck

Carson Beck doesn't like to get pressured. He's not used to it. In 17 career games, Beck has only been sacked 12 times, only once through three games this season. A big part of that is Georgia typically gets the ball out quickly. They trust their playmakers to make plays and don't run a lot of slow developing pass plays.

They time their shot-plays well, typically coming off of play-action looks after they've had established success running the ball. One thing Alabama's defense has done a really good job with through three games is taking away the primary read for the offense.

On passing downs, Alabama is allowing just a 17% success rate. That's the best in the country. Obviously, Beck is far and away the best QB they've faced this season, but a big way to continue that success will be to put pressure in his face.

Alabama sacked Beck twice in last year's game, and he looked uncomfortable several times. He had multiple interception-worthy throws that the Tide didn't capitalize on.

Alabama hasn't generated a ton of pressure this year, but they also have one of the lowest blitz rates in the country. I think we've seen a vanilla version of Wommack's defensive scheme through three weeks, and we'll see it fully realized on Saturday night. I expect exotic and creative blitz packages that sends pressure from places we haven't put on film.

I think Alabama will get a couple sacks on Beck, and ultimately I believe Beck will throw an interception or two. Georgia's due for a turnover after playing four straight games now without a single one.

1. Stop the Run

Most fans are worried about Alabama's young secondary holding up against one of the best QB's in the country, and while that's a genuine concern, I'm much more worried about its ability to stop the run.

Alabama is 38th in the country in rushing yards-per-play allowed, giving up 3.5 yards-per-carry on the ground. Even without star guard Tate Ratledge, Georgia's offensive line is the most formidable foe the Tide's defense has faced so far. Trevor Etienne and freshman Nate Frazier are a talented duo in the backfield that could make it a long day for the Tide's front.

Where Alabama has had the most issues has been on the outside zone type runs that break out to the boundary. Kirby Smart and OC Mike Bobo have seen that on film, and they'll try to take advantage. As good as Beck is, the Bulldogs want to the run the football and control the line of scrimmage.

If you can take that away, then you take away their bread and butter. Don't be surprised to see a few new wrinkles defensively to try to combat the Georgia rushing attack. Particularly if Qua Russaw is unable to go - or if he's just not close to 100% - I think Alabama might slide Jihaad Campbell into the WOLF role, then allowing Justin Jefferson to take over as the Mike. That gets three of the Tide's top tacklers on the field at the same time in Campbell, Jefferson, and Deontae Lawson.

The key to this matchup when Georgia has the ball - as it almost always is between these two teams - is the line of scrimmage. If Alabama can win up-front, you could see the Georgia offense sputter like it did in Lexington two weeks ago.