What's wrong with Alabama's defense so far in 2014?

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What's wrong with Alabama's defense so far in 2014?

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They're fine in 99% of formations they line up against. But put trips receivers on either side of the field and it fricks their entire world up.

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No dominating ILB, young CBs(this seems to be a trend the past 2-3 years), underperforming DL, offenses have caught up with defenses across the league.

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Lack of leadership ($1 to Aj)

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Alabama is 3rd in points per game given up (

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Remove the 14 points given up by the Bama O & Bama Special Teams and the D has surrendered an average of 13 points per game. Not sure where that ranks nationally or in the SEC, but one of the posted goals inside of the Alabama football complex is to surrender 13 points or less per game (seriously, that exact number). They may not be meeting your expectations, but they are right in line with their own expectations.

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they are last in sacks

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Most teams they've played have used 3 step drops in their passing game game-plans thus minimizing the pass rush and getting the ball into hands of their playmakers against Bama's questionable secondary quicker.

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and interceptions

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Again, routes used in the 3 step drop passing game are usually less likely to be picked (screens, slants, skinny posts, outs, etc).

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So, what does everyone think the problem is?

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Got to give the opponents some credit for their gameplans.

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Youth?

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Part of it, for sure.

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Coaching?

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not from my perspective. the coaches have used a particularly wise practice tactic for the hurry up offenses in attempt to simulate that experience. I think it is helping, but will likely be something that helps more later in the year as the players are more used to it.

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Talent?

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great Bama teams in the past have had very good LBs (there is no McClain, Hightower, Upshaw, or Mosley playing now - the talent at LB is young) and very good secondaries (there is no Kirkpatrick, Milliner, Barron, HaHa, etc playing now - Collins is the only first rounder, for example, that currently has experience. great bama teams lately have typically had multiple 1st rounders in the secondary at once...I do think Tony Brown has a chance to be a first rounder in 3 years, though).

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I may be off base here, but it seems to me like if you don't get it done in a year, Saban will replace you with a freshman in the snap of a finger. It seems like he just has zero patience at letting CB's develop. Maybe I'm wrong, but I feel like this might be the case.

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Your first six words sum up the rest of your post.

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Tony Brown got burned a lot last week.

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as a FR in his first road game of the season in only his 2nd start at an extremely difficult position? Yeah. What did you expect?

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I may be off base here, but it seems to me like if you don't get it done in a year, Saban will replace you with a freshman in the snap of a finger. It seems like he just has zero patience at letting CB's develop. Maybe I'm wrong, but I feel like this might be the case.

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Talent alone will not get you on the field for Saban. Understanding the system does. It is definitely growing pains getting there though.

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Tony Brown got burned a lot last week.

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Not really. He got beat on several back shoulder throws against one of the best WRs in the league.

If you rewatch the game he was pretty hyped up and flying around until Drake's injury. Not saying that had anything to do with it but he did seem heavy legged the rest of the way.

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Tony Brown got burned a lot last week.

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Dee Milliner got burned a lot in his true freshman year, too. By 2012, his junior season, he was a unanimous 1st Team All-American.

Bama is Victim their own success somewhat. It's tough to stay on top in the SEC when you can't sell playing time to much these days with a roaster full of stars. It's natural progression with how power changes from season to season. It's amazing Bama has been as constant as they've been in the modern era SEC.

* Kids want immediate playing time
(Bama as missed out on important key recruits)
(Shoot, many recruit Bama wanted just bit them in the rear last weekend, and that's why it's so tough to stay a top in the SEC. Other roasters will fill up with starters and Bama will sell playing time to fix problems. The cycle of power will always continue in the SEC)

* Bama recruits to many goody goody kids now
A football team needs a good mix of toughness and good kids. Bama has to much good, and the balance is lost with our toughness. Very soft team we are right now.

* Bama 3-4 has made us miss out of killer DL recruits. Miss out on some game changing CB's too
- Thus hurting our ability to create a pass-rush without extra help. Kind of funny, this might be the best DL pass rushes we've had, but now our secondly is terrible though.....lol

* Early NFL juniors leaving
(Keeping experience on team is tough. The juniors, seniors, and 5th year seniors on a team are so underestimated in CFB. It matters...

* Complacency sets in, it's only natural
These are 18-22 year old kids

* Much more presser winning on top
When compared to having nothing to lose on the way up.

Few more possible reasons but these came to mind 1t