The University of Alabama Football and Crimson Tide Sports Source
April 24, 2024
June 28, 2015
A Stouter Defense
Last year the Tide gave up 24 touchdowns – five rushing and 19 passing. For the last few years Alabama’s pass defense has been not so good but last year it just melted down. This left the Tide in a world of hurt and frankly was rather embarrassing. Steps have been made to address that situation.
Mel Tucker was brought in from the NFL to coach the defensive backs. Tucker played for and coached under Saban at Michigan State and LSU. Saban said of Tucker: “He is an outstanding coach all the way around and really does an excellent job in terms of teaching the players. When you look at his college and NFL experience, his resume is very impressive.” It will be Tucker’s charge to bring redshirt freshman Marlon Humphrey and sophomore Tony Brown into the starting rotation and mold them into the kind of players that the Tide desperately needs.
It’s likely that Cyrus Jones will hold down one of the cornerback spots. Jones who struggled in 2013 after transitioning from receiver to cornerback came on strong last year. He was one of the few bright spots in the Bama defensive backfield. In addition to Brown and Humphrey several talented players will be vying for a spot led by sophomore Anthony Averett and junior Maurice Smith. In coming freshmen Kendall Sheffield and Minkah Fitzpatrick could also be in the mix.
Both starting safeties graduated. Replacing All American and first round draft choice Landon Collins will be tough, however there are some experienced players ready to step up. Geno Smith has three years of playing time under his belt and will likely fill one of the starting positions. Eddie Jackson, who struggled at cornerback, last year moved to safety in the spring has the chance to grab the other safety position. There are four other players who could get playing time. Senior Jabriel Washington has experience but sophomore Hootie Jones has the edge in talent. True freshman Ronnie Harrison, who participated in spring practice, looked good and there is also incoming freshman Shawn Burgess-Becker a four star player from Florida.
The secondary should be much improved this season. A good defensive backfield coupled with an awesome front seven anchored by A’Shawn Robinson and linebacker Reggie Ragland both likely first round draft choices could once again make the Alabama defense something to be feared.
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