Alabama defense gets big boost, has thoughts on facing Indiana’s Heisman winner

Alabama’s defense has a lot on its plate.

There aren’t many weaknesses that pop off the page when studying the Indiana offense they will face in Thursday’s Rose Bowl.

The Crimson Tide will get a boost with the return of a key piece of its front seven, who has been missing the last few weeks. Starting defensive end LT Overton is back at practice after missing the last two games with an undisclosed illness.

“I think it’s a tremendous blessing for our team,” defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said Sunday. “It’s awesome for us. He obviously needs to have a good couple of days here, but he’s certainly on track. To have him in this game, his experience and his excitement of wanting to get back on the field … he’s an ultimate competitor.”

Overton has four sacks — second most on the team — among his 35 tackles this season.

Wommack said Overton’s ability to stay in shape while missing the SEC title game and CFP opener was crucial in his ability to return.

“He looks great now,” Wommack said.

Alabama found success getting to the quarterback in the CFP first-round win over Oklahoma with a season-high five sacks, but Indiana will be a whole different beast. The Hoosiers allow just 1.39 sacks a game in an offense that’s balanced and explosive.

It has Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza and the nation’s No. 10 rushing offense, averaging 221.2 yards per game.

Wommack, previously a linebacker coach and defensive coordinator at Indiana from 2019-20, said this Hoosier offense is as disciplined and as detailed as any offense Alabama’s seen.

“Offensively, I think they’re highly efficient, very explosive,” Wommack said. “That starts with their quarterback. He knows where to go with the ball. He’s very decisive, makes great decisions with the ball and can. Can make all the throws and can make the explosive plays when it matters most … I think their physicality shows up on tape. They play the game physically from an offensive line standpoint.”

The efficiency is clear on paper.

Indiana’s No. 4 nationally in points per play (0.578), No. 6 in yards per play (6.7) and No. 1 in third-down conversions (55.8%).

Cornerback Zabien Brown noted the care Indiana takes with preserving possession.

“Facing an opponent that does a great job of taking care of the ball really puts more stress reading our keys,” Brown said, “and trusting being able to pull the trigger and make plays in that smaller margin when opportunities pop up.

The Hoosiers’ eight turnovers in 13 games are tied for the third fewest in the nation. That includes just one lost fumble that occurred in the season opener, Aug. 30, in a win over Old Dominion.

Alabama has 20 takeaways, the 32nd most, with 11 interceptions and nine fumble recoveries.

Facing Mendoza in the first game since winning the Heisman Trophy sounds like a motivating factor in Tuscaloosa.

“He’s a man, just like me,” defensive lineman Tim Keenan said. “But he’s a great Heisman winner. He put himself in the position to get the accolades, so we’re going to make sure we do what we need to do to play our game.”

Brown, who intercepted a pass at Oklahoma and returned it for a touchdown, said Mendoza “is definitely the best quarterback we’ve faced all year.”

And Keon Sabb, an Alabama safety, was brief in his remarks when asked about Mendoza.

“He’s a really good player, whether he won the Heisman or not,” Sabb said. “Congrats to him for winning that, but we’re going to play our game.”

Alabama and Indiana kick off in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal at 3 p.m. CT Thursday in Pasadena. The winner advances to the Peach Bowl semifinal on Jan. 9 in Atlanta.