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Writing about some recent Alabama defenses
Posted on 9/13/20 at 1:52 pm
Posted on 9/13/20 at 1:52 pm
If you had to pick and crown the best Alabama defense of the Saban era, which would you choose between 2011, 2015 and 2016?
As far as generating stops go and being a pure shutdown defense, I go 2011. I’m not one of those who believe 2011 wouldn’t be competitive in today’s game.
For creating turnovers and a violent pass rush, toss-up between 2015 and 16.
As far as generating stops go and being a pure shutdown defense, I go 2011. I’m not one of those who believe 2011 wouldn’t be competitive in today’s game.
For creating turnovers and a violent pass rush, toss-up between 2015 and 16.
7
Posted on 9/13/20 at 1:55 pm to The Silverback
I think the 16 defense is the best in college football history.
Posted on 9/14/20 at 3:44 pm to The Silverback
2015 had more depth but the 2016 squad was just animalistic. Scored enough points by themselves to beat most teams.
Posted on 9/14/20 at 5:26 pm to Commander Data
quote:
Scored enough points by themselves to beat most teams.
Would have been bowl eligible with special teams and defensive scores alone. One of the most mind blowing stats I’ve ever seen.
Posted on 9/14/20 at 5:38 pm to Wrenchruh
The 2016 defense was just great. Gary Danielson spent half the broadcast of each Alabama game describing to the nation what NOTs were. Didn't they end up setting a record for "non-offensive touchdowns" in a season?
The 2011 defense will always have the stats but they had to walk through a lot more pro-set offenses to get them. By 2016, that wasn't happening. But Jeremy Pruitt had Reuben and the gang armed and dangerous. An extremely aggressive group, as tough as nails. Always a favorite.
The 2011 defense will always have the stats but they had to walk through a lot more pro-set offenses to get them. By 2016, that wasn't happening. But Jeremy Pruitt had Reuben and the gang armed and dangerous. An extremely aggressive group, as tough as nails. Always a favorite.
Posted on 9/14/20 at 5:42 pm to The Silverback
2016 with Eddie Jackson. His injury and Lane Kiffin being child kept that team from being far and away Saban's best team here
Posted on 9/14/20 at 5:48 pm to The Silverback
2016 and it’s not that close IMO
Posted on 9/15/20 at 5:54 pm to The Silverback
I love 11 but I have to admit I don't know how well they would do against the type of elite offenses today. My pick is definitely 16. By far the most talented and they were so fun to watch. Never been more disappointed that a team didnt win the title.
Posted on 9/15/20 at 6:32 pm to Kcstills17
Eddie Jackson getting hurt on that kickoff hurts that D's conversation. They were really, really good.
Posted on 9/15/20 at 6:36 pm to The Silverback
16. The first 80 or so plays they completely shut down Clemson. But they could only hold on for so long because the offense kept putting them back out there.
Posted on 9/15/20 at 6:54 pm to mistaken4193
and Watson was amazing. We even knocked him around pretty good. I didn't think he would get up a few times.
Posted on 9/16/20 at 9:04 am to The Silverback
As far as stats go, the 2011 Alabama defense is far and away the best. 2016 was talented to be sure, but so was 2011:
Dont'a Hightower (1st rounder)
Mark Barron (1st rounder)
CJ Mosley (1st rounder)
Dre Kirkpatrick (1st rounder)
Dee Milliner (1st rounder)
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (1st rounder)
You could argue that they wouldn't be able to keep up with today's offenses, but I would argue they'd be built differently if they were being recruited out of high school in 2020.
Dont'a Hightower (1st rounder)
Mark Barron (1st rounder)
CJ Mosley (1st rounder)
Dre Kirkpatrick (1st rounder)
Dee Milliner (1st rounder)
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (1st rounder)
You could argue that they wouldn't be able to keep up with today's offenses, but I would argue they'd be built differently if they were being recruited out of high school in 2020.
Posted on 9/16/20 at 10:12 am to RollTide1987
Going to be an unpopular opinion but I think the 2012 D was just as good as the 2011 D. Their stats weren’t as good but they were still the no.1 defense in the nation and played a WAY better group of offenses.
Posted on 9/17/20 at 9:40 am to 1BamaRTR
quote:
Going to be an unpopular opinion but I think the 2012 D was just as good as the 2011 D.
2012 was arguably Saban's best team. The defense was still elite but the offense was improved from 2011. AJ McCarron put on a pass efficiency clinic that season, throwing 30 TDs to just 3 INTs, while completing around 67% of his throws. We also had two 1,000-yard backs running behind one of the best offensive lines in the history of the SEC. And as mentioned, the schedule in 2012 was more difficult than that of 2011.
Posted on 9/19/20 at 8:38 am to Wrenchruh
The 2016 defense with Eddie Jackson. He was such a ballhawk and so dynamic on kick returns. Losing him was huge and Alabama probably beats Clemson with Eddie on the field.
Posted on 9/21/20 at 8:31 pm to RollTide1987
The 2011 defense might look better on paper, but that was before the modern HUNH and RPO era had really taken shape.
Posted on 9/21/20 at 10:35 pm to TS1926
Not probably but fer shure. Eddie plays and Kiffin doesn’t play around no way we lose. But ifs and buts don’t win games.
Posted on 9/22/20 at 10:46 am to RTRcdub
quote:
The 2011 defense might look better on paper, but that was before the modern HUNH and RPO era had really taken shape.
The 2011 defense looks better on paper and they look better in the trophy case. They led our team to a national championship while putting up numbers that hadn't been seen since the 1980s. You can talk down the competition they faced but it doesn't change the fact that they put up defensive stats that hadn't been seen in a generation.
This post was edited on 9/22/20 at 10:48 am
Posted on 9/22/20 at 10:59 am to RollTide1987
quote:
2012 was arguably Saban's best team. The defense was still elite but the offense was improved from 2011. AJ McCarron put on a pass efficiency clinic that season, throwing 30 TDs to just 3 INTs, while completing around 67% of his throws. We also had two 1,000-yard backs running behind one of the best offensive lines in the history of the SEC. And as mentioned, the schedule in 2012 was more difficult than that of 2011.
I think the 2012 team was Saban's best team. It was also his best coaching job, IMO. That team really only played one bad quarter the entire season, and it ended up costing us against A&M. Ironically, heading into that season there were a lot of question marks on both sides of the ball. Offensively, we were losing Richardson and our 2 best receivers. Although he played well in the NCG, people still had questions about AJ. Defensively, we were replacing 7 starters and CJ Mosley was coming off of an injury.
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