re: Saban is a defensive mastermind, correct?

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I wouldn't be surprised if we some serious philosophy changes in the offseason. Our inability to get pressure with just our D linemen is killing us against the HUNH.

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Yep. Saban's gonna have to change his philosophy which he has formulated and codified over many years of coaching and has ingrained in his coaches and players. But in just the last 5 years offenses have increased in sophistication to where you have to approach them with a different mindset. It's no longer about beating your man but anticipating where he's going to be. Requires an aggressive approach and quick, heady players.

Some of these route trees I see now didn't exist 10 years ago.

But you definitely can't have a bunch of bruisers who were recruited as 3-4 DE's trying to rush a quick, mobile passer when you're in dime. You have to have true pass rushers and you can't afford to give up coverage by blitzing LB's and DB's every single play.

That replay of a 300 pound DE trying to contain Trevor Knight running to the sideline when he threw that touchdown back across his body showed exactly why Saban's defenses have so much trouble against those offenses.

I can say that Alabama's DB's look like they are improperly coached on everything...technique, tackling, ball awareness, etc.

The talent is there, it will always be there with Saban, but if every guy isn't playing up to snuff, then there's something deeper at the root of the problem.

I will say there are flashes of potential with Eddie Jackson, though.

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Our inability to get pressure with just our D linemen is killing us against the HUNH.

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No, the inability of the nose guard to eat up two blocks killed us. With a Mount Cody in the middle, the LB's are free to tackle or blitz.