Alabama’s defense has been a hot topic throughout the media and the team’s fanbase for more than two years now.
With many sharing their complaints and opinions online, the unit has gained the perception of being bad or mediocre when some of the statistics would say otherwise.
Head coach Nick Saban was asked about what aspects the unit needs to improve upon heading into spring football and the 2021 season. Saban was quick to bring up how the defense ranked first in the SEC in points allowed as the Crimson Tide went on its way to secure its 18th national championship.
Despite the impressive statistics, there were a few blips in the road and Saban knows that.
He went on to share what he believes to be the area of the defense that he believes to be the worst its been in years since he’s been at Alabama.
Third down defense.
“I think the single thing that we have to improve on, which was the worst that it’s been since we’ve been here is third down (defense),” Saban said on Friday. “Getting off the field on third down was an issue for us a year ago. Whether it’s a combination of how we pressure, how we cover, whatever.
“And some of that starts with, even when it was second and long we did a really poor job of making it third and long. So it would become third and very manageable for the offense. So this whole idea of getting off the field and not giving the other team more opportunities to have chances to be able to make plays, I think that’s the single most obvious thing we need to improve on.”
Although the Crimson Tide held impressive marks in terms of points allowed, opponent completion percentage and rushing yards per play the third-down defense was less than desirable.
In 2020 Alabama allowed teams to convert 41% of the time on third down which was seventh in the conference but was the 77th in the entire country.
Saban looks to greatly improve upon that mark headed into this season along with many other aspects of the defense.
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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
