Things are looking better for Pete Golding now compared to early October.
After his defense allowed 48 points and 647 total yards to an unranked Ole Miss team, Alabama fans were calling for his job and were concerned about the team losing confidence on defense.
Since that game, the Crimson Tide has allowed 11 points per matchup in its last four contests.
Golding and Nick Saban simplified the defensive strategy in the aftermath of Mississippi and it has done wonders for the group. Alabama pitched a second half shutout of the Georgia Bulldogs and a complete game shutout of Mississippi State.
Not only has it totaled 11 shutout quarters of football, but its pass rush has also been better.
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The Tide has not surrendered a 100-yard rusher since Ole Miss, and no one has totaled 100 yards receiving since James Cook of the Georgia Bulldogs. Alabama has forced eight turnovers in its last four games, including three returned for touchdowns.
It has gotten off the field on third down, allowing just 10 conversions on 51 attempts (19.6 percent). When one takes a look at statistics, the numbers say the Tide is becoming a championship team on defense.
Alabama leads the Southeastern Conference for scoring defense (19.3 ppg) and is No. 17 in the nation. While it has found some dominant players up front, including Christian Barmore, Byron Young, Christian Harris, Phidarian Mathis, Christopher Allen, Justin Eboigbe, William Anderson, Tim Smith and Jamil Burroughs, the Tide would like to get Dylan Moses going more.
He leads the team with 50 tackles, but did not record a stat versus Kentucky.
The competition has not been stellar in its last four games; nevertheless, the Tide cannot control that.
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On Monday’s segment of “Thinking Out Loud” on SEC Network, Richard Johnson said the media has not been talking enough about how good Alabama’s defense has been as of late.
“We’re not talking enough about how good @AlabamaFTBL‘s been on defense lately.” @RJ_Writes on what could be the difference maker for the Tide in the Iron Bowl 🐘 #TOL pic.twitter.com/Y7x6buyAsb
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 24, 2020
“Since halftime of the Georgia game, that is 14 quarters, Alabama’s only allowed 20 points,” Johnson said. “We just watched them absolutely shut down Kentucky. I know Kentucky is not exactly a high level offense, but in this day and age of college football where defense as it used to be known is not exactly what it is, it is noteworthy that Alabama was able to sit on Kentucky and allow them only three points. So, I want Alabama to do that against a good team now.”
The good team Johnson was referring to is Auburn.
Gus Malzahn and the Tigers are 5-2 this season, but it has won two of the last three Iron Bowls.
Auburn, unlike the Tide’s last four opponents, has a quarterback (Bo Nix) that is capable of winning games and a big supporting cast around him.
“I cannot wait to watch this Iron Bowl,” Johnson said. “I want to see how Alabama has really progressed. This is a litmus test for the Tide before the SEC Championship Game.”
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If Alabama can shut down Auburn’s offense, it will be a major boost for the team moving forward.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
