Alabama Crimson Tide’s defensive stand to win the game started hours before the clock hit zero in Missouri
A long time coming for the Alabama defense.
One of the biggest issues with the 2024 version of the Alabama Crimson Tide was the inability to react. To adapt on the fly and adjust. That was especially true on the defensive side of the ball, evidenced by Alabama’s losses to Vanderbilt, the Tennessee Volunteers, and the Oklahoma Sooners.
And things looked to be off to even worse start this year, with FSU running wild. But then came the win over the Georgia Bulldogs, where Alabama held Georgia to just seven second-half points. The Vanderbilt game, where the Commodores were shut out after the intermission.
And of course Saturday, where after letting the Tigers march down the field with no pushback on the opening drive, Alabama bowed up when it mattered most, and Kalen DeBoer knew they would based on what happened early in the game.
Kalen DeBoer expected his run defense to adjust
“Yeah, some of it’s just doing your job. I mean the quarterback keeping it around the edge and the contain, eyes got to be in the right spot. Everyone’s got to do their job,” said DeBoer when asked about adjusting after the first drive. We emphasize finishing and getting to him and he’s a tough back, they both are.”
“[Missouri] quarterback did a nice job with his legs, I knew that would be a concern, but all in all I’m proud of the way we kept fighting, got off the field throughout the whole game. They went down the field throwing the ball more than anything at the end, but rush defense, I think we took another step in the right direction.”
As DeBoer hinted at, Alabama did let Missouri and Beau Pribula drive the field and score a TD to get them back in the game after Ty Simpson’s Heiman-worthy moment. But they also picked off Pribula to end the game after Alabama went three and out. But the pass defense is neither here nor there.
All week, the discussion was that Missouri and Ahmad Hardy would run wild over the Tide. That Alabama had yet to see a rushing offense like Missouri’s. Well, Hardy was held to just 52 yards with Pribula as the team’s leading rusher.
So yeah, I would be confident too if I were Kalen DeBoer.
Alabama Crimson Tide News
Ty Simpson may have already captured his Heisman moment following game-sealing throw to propel Alabama over Missouri
A completion that could have lasting impact on Simpson and Alabama this season.
