Bama won NCs in spite of Golding

Defensive performance numbers pumped up vs weak opponents.

#Hobbit/TtownDrunk

Yes, 1 NC under Golding.

But I'm not sure what the point of this thread is. Golding's defenses had some really good games. That's a fact. All of Saban's defenses have been full of talent. Not sure why you would hold that against them and not the other DCs. Those other DCs also had games where the defense gave up 40+ points.

Golding's problem was that his defense regressed significantly this season against some really big, reasonable expectations. His defensive sets and calls were mind boggling. Players that had balled out in 21 and 20 looked like worse players in 22, a lot of that due to Golding basically neutralizing them.

All of that was unacceptable, which is why all of us wanted him gone.

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Golding's problem was that his defense regressed significantly this season against some really big, reasonable expectations.

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Agree. I was fine with Golding until this year; the defense disappeared at times and seemed lost at other times…and it’s the first time I felt a change was needed. That being said, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Ole Miss defense improves significantly under Golding…

As for our championships (3 SEC, 1 natty), like him or not, he contributed. For our historic run in 2020, other than two games (Ole Miss, UF), the defensive play was very good. The defense against Ohio State in the CFP championship was excellent.

I like Pruitt and, if he indeed is the hire, hope he brings back a more attacking style; if so, I also hope he’s held to the same standard as Golding has been. Everyone praises Pruitt’s 2016 defense and it was very good; but the defense that year also gave up three 30+ point games, three 400+ yard passing games, and two 500+ total yard games. One of the 400 yard passing games was against Chad freakin’ Allen; despite all the talent we had on D that year, and there was a lot, we got torched in those three games defensively…

Personally, I thought Pruitt’s D in 2017 was better as a team and hope to see a return more towards that standard, no matter who’s DC…but with the rules so slanted towards offense, that may be a pipe dream…

'21 SECCG
'21 Playoff first round
'21 Ole Miss
'20 UGA
'20 National Championship game

Just off the top of my head

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Stats can be argued and used to paint about any picture. But I believe the talent and/or offense helped tremendously to bail him out.

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So talent and/or offense never bailed out Pruitt or Smart, only Golding?

Sure. But, Pruitt and Smart outcoached competent offensive coaches more than not. I don't believe Pete outcoached one competent offensive coach while having what I believe was the most talented roster of defensive players over 5 seasons.

Our defense went from proactive to reactive under Golding. Win or lose before Golding we were going to hit the opponent first.

I wouldn't call any of those really good.

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His defense finished ranked 13th in cfb against that schedule. It was a damn good defense.

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13th is a "damn good defense"?

My how the standards have fallen at Alabama. I remember when our defense ranked top 5 in every category every single year. I remember when our defense used to be as dominant as Georgia's has been lately.

I remember when Pruitt fielded what I think was the best defense in college football history.

Now we're talking about the crowning achievement of the Golding era being he had a top 15 defense. Wow...

Some of you are about to be reminded what it's like to actually have a defense.

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People seem to forget about that 2019 game in Auburn, a 48-45 loss, where they could absolutely not stop an average AU offense. It was a lot like this past season’s game with UT.

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While our defense was atrocious in the Tennessee game this season, those two games were nothing alike:

UT’s O dropped 52 points on us, AU’s O 31 (Mac Jones threw 2 pick sixes and the refs gifted AU a FG right before halftime).

UT had around 560 total yards, AU had around 350…

Hooker threw for over 380 yards, completing nearly 70% of his passes, while Bo Nix had just over 170 yards and was right at 50%…

The only thing in common those 2 games had, as far as our defense goes, was that our run defense sucked as both teams rushed for about 180 yards…