Film Room: Alabama’s Defensive Pressure on Key Third Downs

When Alabama’s offense could not get a lot completed in opposition to Texas A&M, the protection stepped up an an infinite manner.

Similar to previous instances, proper?

Throughout everything of Alabama’s 24-20 win over the Aggies, the Crimson Tide protection pressured Texas A&M into 17 third down conditions. In these conditions, the Aggies had been simply 5-of-17, or a mere 29 %. 

In third-and-long conditions, particularly, Alabama had a particular package deal the place it performed three standing up linebackers to cross rush, with one down defensive lineman. Alabama was in a position to put immense strain on Texas A&M quarterback Haynes King and was in a position to get off the sphere on third down time and time once more because of the cross rush in addition to the protection downfield by the secondary. 

Alabama recorded three sacks within the recreation, all of which got here on third down. Sophomore linebacker Dallas Turner recorded two sacks whereas junior Chris Braswell added considered one of his personal. 

Star linebacker Will Anderson Jr. didn’t document a sack for the Crimson Tide, however his presence was felt within the backfield by King all evening lengthy. Of Alabama’s 14 quarterback hurries within the recreation, Anderson was liable for eight of them. 

Because of the fixed strain Alabama was in a position to get on King all through the sport in addition to stellar play from cornerbacks Kool-Assist McKinstry and Terrion Arnold, the Crimson Tide protection gave the offense sufficient stops to return away with a victory.

Under are a few of the performs the place Alabama utilized its defensive expertise schematically to create strain and get the Aggies off the sphere.

third and three, 0:50 1Q

Alabama’s first sack of the sport got here in a third-and-short state of affairs, which is significantly tougher for a protection to cease as a result of the offense has the liberty to maintain the protection guessing whether or not will probably be a run or a cross.

Alabama lined up with two down defensive linemen and two linebackers on the sting that each one confirmed that they had been going to hurry the quarterback. As soon as the ball is snapped, Alabama blitzed center linebacker Henry To’o To’o to supply added strain.

The line of defense acquired a wonderful push and drove King again instantly. King thought he noticed a seam on the correct facet to take off and run, however Turner labored his man above King’s place and was in a position to launch off his block proper as King stepped out of the pocket to carry him down for a sack.

third and seven, 10:17 2Q

In a while, Alabama utilized its aforementioned three-outside-linebacker formation in a third-and-long.

Sophomore Jamil Burroughs lined up because the lone down defensive lineman, whereas Turner, Braswell and Anderson all stood up on the surface as rushers. 

On the left facet, Braswell and Anderson practically stacked themselves of their alignment, which Alabama head coach Nick Saban stated after the sport was to make sure that Texas A&M would have a troublesome time double-teaming Anderson on his cross rush. 

To’o To’o blitzed as soon as once more and Turner instantly introduced explosive strain from the correct facet, inflicting King to must scramble out to the left facet of the sphere. 

Anderson disengaged his block and would have had a straightforward sack, however Turner was quicker and carried his velocity off the sting to the opposite facet of the backfield and recorded the sack himself. 

third and 10, 5:16 2Q

Alabama lined up in the very same formation later within the second quarter leading to its third sack of the sport. 

To’o To’o blitzed once more, however the one distinction was this time Anderson stunted to the within of the offensive line whereas Braswell took on the blocker on the surface of their stack.

Turner proved to be too quick for Texas A&M’s left deal with as soon as once more, however this time King did not have the choice to roll out to his proper as Braswell had already labored the correct deal with up the sphere. 

King tried to step up into the pocket, however he bumped into his offensive lineman and Turner picked up the sack from behind.

4th and three, 13:43 4Q

It isn’t a third-and-long, however this 4th-and-3 was extremely necessary for getting Texas A&M off the sphere within the fourth quarter.

Regardless of the brief yardage state of affairs, Alabama nonetheless places its three pass-rushing linebackers of Turner, Anderson and Braswell on the sphere with one down lineman, however as a substitute of stacking Anderson and Braswell on one facet, unfold the defenders throughout the road to plug the center of the sphere.

Anderson bull rushed the correct deal with and simply beat him on the surface, which turned a recurring theme in Alabama’s cross rush success all through the sport. 

Sadly for King, the play was a designed rollout to the correct, so he rolled proper into the moment strain from Anderson and was pressured to throw the ball into the grime so he did not have to surrender a sack. 

Going ahead, Alabama should proceed to make the most of its elite cross rushers to have success, particularly with the uncertainty of Bryce Younger’s harm.

Alabama’s protection ranks sixth within the nation permitting simply 12.5 factors per recreation, however will probably be examined completely this coming week in opposition to a Tennessee offense second nationally with over 46 factors per contest.

If Alabama needs to decelerate Tennessee the cross rush shall be pivotal given Volunteers quarterback Hendon Hooker’s high-level menace as a passer.

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