Nick Saban's Tenure in Review: Season #5 - 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide

On April 27, 2011, just 11 days after the annual A-Day game, an EF-4 tornado barrelled through the city of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, killing over 50 residents - including six University of Alabama students. The 2011 season would be dedicated to their memory, with a houndstooth awareness ribbon displayed prominently on the field at every Alabama home game.

And what a season it was! Led by one of the most statistically dominating defenses in the modern history of college football, the 2011 version of the Crimson Tide shut down their opponents in python-esque fashion, winning 12 games and defeating LSU in a rematch for the national championship - Saban's third overall and second at Alabama.

It also be noted that this was the first team of the Nick Saban Era whose roster was fully recruited to Alabama by Saban. While he signed the 2007 recruiting class in February of that year, he spent less than a month recruiting it to the Capstone.

2011 Alabama Crimson Tide

Overall Record: 12 wins, 1 loss
SEC Record: 7 wins, 1 loss (2nd in SEC West)
AP Poll Finish: #1
Coaches Poll Finish: #1

Offensive Coordinator: Jim McElwain
Defensive Coordinator: Kirby Smart
Permanent Captains: Dont'a Hightower, Mark Barron, and Trent Richardson
Consensus 1st Team All-Americans: Trent Richardson (RB), Barrett Jones (T), Dont'a Hightower (LB), and Mark Barron (S)
1st Team All-SEC: Trent Richardson (RB), William Vlachos (C), Barrett Jones (T), Courtney Upshaw (LB), Dont'a Hightower (LB), and Mark Barron (S)
Heisman Trophy: Trent Richardson (FINALIST - #3)

Total Offense: 429.6 YPG (#31)
Total Defense: 183.6 YPG (#1)
Average Talent Ranking on Roster: #2 (Per Rivals)

Schedule

vs. Kent State (W) 48-7
@ #23 Penn State (W) 27-11
vs. North Texas (W) 41-0
vs. #14 Arkansas (W) 38-14
@ #12 Florida (W) 38-10
vs. Vanderbilt (W) 34-0 [Homecoming]
@ Ole Miss (W) 52-7
vs. Tennessee (W) 37-6
vs. #1 LSU (L) 6-9 [OT]
@ Mississippi State (W) 24-7
vs. #3 (FCS) Georgia Southern (W) 45-21 [Senior Day]
@ #24 Auburn (W) 42-14
vs. #1 LSU (W) 21-0 [2012 BCS National Championship Game]

Leading Passer
A.J. McCarron
219-328 66.8 Pct 2,634 Yds 16 TDs 5 INTs

Leading Rusher
Trent Richardson
283 Att 1,679 Yds 5.9 Avg 21 TDs

Leading Receiver
Marquis Maze
56 Rec 627 Yds 11.2 Avg 1 TD

Before concluding this OP, I would be remiss if I didn't mention some of the many superlatives surrounding this legendary Alabama Crimson Tide defensive squad. On paper, this was the most dominant defense the world of college football has seen since the mid-80s. On top of only allowing a nation-leading average of 183.6 YPG against their opposition, the Alabama Crimson Tide also finished #1 in the other three "major" defensive categories: scoring, passing, and rushing.

Here is how their stats for the year panned out:

Total Defense: 183.6 YPG (#1)
Scoring Defense: 8.2 PPG (#1)
Rushing Defense: 72.15 YPG (#1)
Passing Defense: 111.5 YPG (#1)

In all, only nine offensive touchdowns were allowed on the Crimson Tide defense (six passing, three rushing) and shutouts were narrowly avoided in both the Kent State and Mississippi State contests. Auburn did not score an offensive touchdown all game, their two touchdowns coming off a kickoff return and a fumble recovery in the end zone. So in theory, Alabama could have very easily produced six shutouts overall in 2011.

Legendary.