re: Too Early 2026 Predictions Topic

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Will Stockton be back?

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Yes, and he’s better than the garbage UT is about to trot out

They allowed under 300ypg (including all postseason games), for the first time since 2017.
Bama allowed the fewest yards except for OU in the SEC (including Georgia).

Imagine if they had an offense that could run the ball and consistently run the ball and stay in the field (a decent Punter would help too).

- Secondary is the best in the SEC
- Y. Pierre will have 10+ sacks
- DL now has the massive size for the
3-4 Under Front CKW has slowly transitioned too.
- I expect Xavier Griffin will start at LB as a TF just like CNS had 8 Freshman start at LB and became studs

Who “drove the field and scored points” outside of IU? Bama held UGA to 2.3ypc, and was 2nd in the conference in fewest yards allowed. Was also #10 in scoring defense nationally prior to the start of the postseason. Defense held UGA to 282 yards in the SECCG and 14 of the 28 points allowed came off a blocked punt and a turnover on downs inside the 8 yard line. They also recovered a fumble and had a pick-6 to turn the OU game around.

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You mean the 4th and 1 stop at the 10-yard line the win the game in Athens?

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Right but that was more stupidity on Kirby’s part than great defense.

So, UGA throwing a perimeter screen straight into man-coverage (not an ideal call) and Red Morgan taking a poor angle allowing the ball carrier to cut the ball back inside the kickout by the #2 WR is a poor job by CKW, but Bama stopping them on 4th and 1 from the 10-yard line to win the game is just “Georgia being stupid”?
That does not seem like a fair assessment imo.

Some people will never be satisfied.
It would do a great deal of good for a large contingent of fans to take a break from watching Alabama highlight videos from 2011-2017.

What they are currently doing defensively is more than enough to win most games in spite of the offense.

09/05: East Carolina W
09/12: @Kentucky. W
09/19: Florida State W
09/26: South Carolina L
10/03: @Mississippi State W
10/10: Georgia L
10/17: @Tennessee L
10/24: Texas A&M W
11/07: @Louisiana State L
11/14: @Vanderbilt W
11/21: Chattanooga W
11/28: Auburn W

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It would do a great deal of good for a large contingent of fans to take a break from watching Alabama highlight videos from 2011-2017.

What they are currently doing defensively is more than enough to win most games in spite of the offense.

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I watched Indiana and Miami. Both of those teams have much better defenses than Alabama. They don't make as many stupid mistakes. They don't miss tackles, take poor angles to tackles, poor gap control, blown coverages, dropped ints, that doesn't happen like it does with this squad.
Throw in this team can't force three and outs, they just 'manage' the opponent's offense as it moves down the field.
I'm not arguing Alabama had a good defense, but it was not elite.
When they finally faced a really good offense in Indiana, they got it pushed in.

You seem hung-up on the number of “3-and-outs”. I am unclear as to why Total Defense (or even yards-allowed per play) do not interest you more because that gives you a clear picture of whether a defense is allowing teams to maintain drives or not.

The question I would like to pose to you would be this:
- Would you “feel” better about how the defense limitied opponents to just 19ppg and only 296ypg if they would’ve forced a “3-and-out” on 8 of the 11 drives (on average), but on the 3 drives they did allow a first down to occur, the opponent proceeded to score on each of those drives, which resulted in the same number of points and yards?

Also, why are you dismissive of turnovers? Only two CNS defenses (2011 and 2016) forced more takeaways than Bama did last year (2024).

I guess I’m just failing to grasp your infatuation (for lack of a better term) with “3-and-outs”. Again, I would point to the fact that they have allowed the 10th fewest points and 13th fewest yards over the past 2 seasons (cumulatively) while also producing the FIFTH most turnovers during that same span…..they are also doing things to WIN football games while the offense and special teams continue to vomit on itself:
- 4th and 1 stop in Athens to beat UGA 24-21
- Scoring 9 points defensively (pick-6 and a Safety) in a 28-21 comeback win vs USCe
- Recovering a fumble inside the 10 then scoring on a pick-6 to spark a Playoff comeback victory over OU
- limiting Pavia and Vandy to his 3 year career low in points (14) and forcing 3 takeaways

I can understand the final game leaving a bad taste in your mouth as it did for me as well, but I’m not going to let one poor performance against one of the teams CFB has seen in a long while (IU) take away from what the defense has accomplished over the past two seasons, and the fact that they would’ve been 4-4 in SEC play instead of playing in Atlanta and the Rose Bowl if not for the defense.

Also, you see the staff bringing in massive bodies up-front to allow them to play their (much more effective) 3-4 Under Front on early/run downs compared to a 4-2-5.

Trust me, I miss the 2016 Rebuen Foster-led defenses that put fear into opponents. But I also am realistic to understand that CNS could not even come close to fielding those types of defenses anymore (he allowed 40 points and 500+ yards in 4 games in 2020 alone).

I also understand that our HC is an OFFENSIVE HC and that the offense is supposed to be doing the heavy lifting.

That is why I am so defensive and grateful for this defense bc most all Offensive HC’s (Riley, Kiffin, Kelly, etc)
have below average defenses at best. If anyone had told me when CKD was hired that Bama would surrender the 2nd fewest yards and 3rd fewest points in the SEC over the first two seasons, then I would’ve been astonished and assumed Bama competed for a National Championship due to the offense being the reason CKD was hired and the reason for his past successes.

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Again, I would point to the fact that they have allowed the 10th fewest points and 13th fewest yards over the past 2 seasons (cumulatively) while also producing the FIFTH most turnovers during that same span…..they are also doing things to WIN football games

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What you continue to fail to acknowledge in any of your posts regarding the Year 1 and Year 2 defenses, is the fact that nearly all of the dudes who were major contributors to the success of those defenses have graduated, gone to the NFL, or will be on other teams this upcoming season. And I am VERY skeptical that we upgraded the front seven during this recent portal cycle. I hope I’m wrong.