Alabama’s defense has improved since a loss to Texas, but has its pass rush returned to elite form?
Nick Saban saw the Crimson Tide hold some of the best offenses in college football under their normal production in the last few weeks. He has also seen his outside linebackers and defensive linemen affect opposing quarterbacks more with pressures and sacks. Dallas Turner, a junior linebacker, leads the team and Southeastern Conference with 6.5 sacks. He is tied for third in the nation as well. Alabama is tied for second nationally with 22 sacks as it averages 3.67 per matchup. Pro Football Focus, a website that looks at the analytics of college and pro football, shared a graphic to Twitter that proves the Tide has returned to elite form.
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Turner and Chris Braswell are two significant leaders for quarterback pressures in college football.
According to PFF, Turner has an NCAA-best 33 pressures while Braswell is fifth with 28.
Leaders in QB pressures this season🔥 pic.twitter.com/MXyE4C0xpF
— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 12, 2023
Braswell is second for Alabama and fifth in the SEC with 4.5 sacks. He has an interception returned for a touchdown and would have two touchdowns if not for a penalty negating his blocked field goal return against Texas A&M. Alabama is back attacking opponents with a fierce defense. The Tide faces Arkansas on Saturday for homecoming at Bryant-Denny Stadium at 11 a.m. CT.
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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.
