Is it just me but has anyone noticed how improved Bama's D looks without Smart?

God bless the university of georgia

Yeah, let's fire a far better and proven coach.

Very different style. A few years ago, the defense was brilliant at forcing teams into situations and then scheming to an advantage. I think the hurry up (or as they now say, "playing with pace") has done exactly what Saban said it would do - changed the game of football. Good defense no longer means shutting a team completely down, because you have to have more speed and nickle and dime packages are almost the standard defense now.

I LOVE aggressive defense. I'm still concerned that we get burned on big pass plays too much, but maybe I'm just stuck in the traditional way of thinking.

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ummmmm it's Saban dude

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So you're telling me the higher ups at Georgia decided to pay a guy millions of dollars when everyone knew it was Saban all along?

Yeah..but it is more the players thanthe scheme. We have moved away from the bigger guys to quicker and more interchangeable. It is just our DL can still eat the other teams OL to help with the run defense.

We have the type of players at skill positions that can give Bama problems, but our Oline got abused all game long and our playcalling was awful. Hence they were all nonfactors.

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that's a Pruitt defense though , high risk, but cause a ton of turnovers. This is Saban fastest defense while at Bama.

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They are swarming, reminds me of some of the Bucs defenses under Dungy and Monte

Pruitt is one of my favorite DCs

WTF?

Smart's defense last year was phenomenal at Alabama. What's amazing is just how good they've transitioned to the new offensive rules. You've just had to accept that tempo and dual threat offenses are going to confuse college players at times and that giving up 17-20 ppg now might have been a 10 ppg group a few years ago.

We get so much more pressure up front now is the biggest thing you notice. They've decided clearly they're better off in this era hurryIng the QB, ditching run stopping free safeties for another CB, and leaving more space in the middle of the field open and the corners pressing in man coverage.

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The day the turnovers don't come is the day Bama loses. I've noticed a lot of strip tackling and route jumping, things I thought I would never see prevalent in a Saban defense. It's worked so far, but when it doesn't, watch out.

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Lord, man. Have you watched any of the games? The non-offensive touchdowns have just been the icing on the cake. This team is stacked on offense and defense. Watch out, indeed.