In each of Kane Wommack's first two seasons as Alabama's defensive coordinator, the Crimson Tide has fielded good defenses. This year, they look like a great defense. Sometimes, taking that leap from good to great is the biggest jump to make.
Through two weeks, Alabama has been dominant on that side of the ball. The defense totally shut down Kentucky on Saturday in Lexington, taking over the game in the second half and suffocating the Wildcats.
Through two games, Alabama is allowing just 3.3 yards per play and has allowed just two touchdowns. The most impressive number comes on third downs. Alabama held East Carolina and Kentucky to a combined 1-of-23 on third down.
So what's the difference this season from last year or the year before? Alabama appears to have struck gold in the Transfer Portal at positions of need. Guys like Devan Thompkins, Terrance Green, and Kedrick Bingley-Jones have been difference-makers up front. And then, LB Caleb Woodson brought the leadership Alabama needed in the middle after losing its top three linebackers from a season ago.
Woodson had a monster game against Kentucky, finishing with 12 tackles and two sacks. Alongside his running mate, sophomore Luke Metz, he was named co-defensive player of the week in the SEC.
But it's not just his ability that has been a godsend for Alabama's defense. It's the effort and the energy he brings every single day.
"Our effort is continuing to improve," Wommack said on Monday. "I think Caleb Woodson is leading the charge in that regard. He's really setting the standard for how you have to play."
Caleb Woodson is 'setting the standard' for Alabama's defense
Energy and effort were not always apparent last season. This week offers a reminder of what can happen when you don't bring it. A year ago in Tallahassee, Alabama was ambushed by a mediocre Florida State team to open the season. It was an embarrassing loss, one that the Crimson Tide was very clearly not ready to play in.
Alabama gets a chance to right that wrong this Saturday in Tuscaloosa. Florida State makes the return trip of the home-and-home series, and you can bet that we'll see a different Crimson Tide defense this weekend than the one we saw at Doak Campbell a year ago.
You can thank guys like Woodson for that. The Virginia Tech transfer was a two-year starter in Blacksburg. Alabama had confidence in its young LB room, but Wommack wanted to add a veteran presence to the room. They identified Woodson early and quickly added him out of the portal.
He bulked up to the 240-pound range over the offseason, but hasn't lost that explosiveness that he had with the Hokies. He was one of the best players on the field against Kentucky, showing his ability to aggressively track plays down. He also showed a pass-rushing ability that wasn't previously in his bag. He recorded two sacks in three years at Virginia Tech. He notched two in just one game this past weekend.
Alabama has bigger tests in the coming weeks. They will face offenses soon that will stress them a lot more than Kentucky.
But through a couple of weeks, it's fair to be optimistic that Wommack's group has made that leap from good to great.
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