Alabama fans may be getting everything they wanted in a defensive coordinator from Kane Wommack they thought they would receive in Pete Golding.
Wommack, 36, brings a vibe, intentionality, and simplicity that rivals only Kirby Smart and Jeremy Pruitt.
RELATED: Alabama DC Kane Wommack reveals expectations for freshmen DBs in the coming fall
The former head coach of South Alabama revealed to Josh Pate of CBS Sports what the Crimson Tide will look like on defense moving forward in the post Nick Saban era. Wommack introduced a term called “vision coverage” to Pate.
He wants Alabama’s defensive secondary to put its eyes on the quarterback and manipulate the signal-caller into turnovers.
Wommack is about allowing athletes to be athletes, and not necessarily matching pass patterns all the time.
He and his father, Dave, had success implementing this style at the University of Mississippi. As a graduate assistant, Kane Wommack witnessed 28 interceptions combined at Ole Miss in 2012 and 2013.
He assisted Cody Prewitt to a team-high six picks in 2013 while the trio of Senquez Golson, Dehendret Collins, and Denzel Nkemdiche had three interceptions each (team-high) in 2012.
Golson had a team-high 10 picks in 2014 under Dave Wommack, including one returned for a touchdown. Ole Miss was one of the nation’s leaders for interceptions in with the father/son Wommack duo on defense. In 2020, Indiana University led all of college football for interceptions with 17. Kane Wommack, who served as defensive coordinator, positioned Jamar Johnson and Jaylin Williams to four picks each. He is excited to see how Alabama’s secondary will force opposing quarterbacks into mistakes.
Here’s an excellent 4+ minutes of @KaneWommack explaining what Alabama’s defense will be moving forward pic.twitter.com/eiYYlDanhs
— Josh Pate (@LateKickJosh) April 3, 2024
“Some of the things you will see that may be a little different is Coach [Saban] has been a little more Cover 7, match, quarters, brackets, that style of coverage,” Wommack said.
“We have some of those elements to our defense, but we play with more one-high structure, Cover 3, we put vision on the quarterback. We play a more vision style of defense. When you can play a more vision oriented defense, where you are matching the eyes of the quarterback and breaking on the ball, you are going to create more production for yourself as a defense.”
Alabama will match pass patterns under Wommack like it with Saban; however, the new regime will call for more vision oriented coverage with eyes on the quarterback.
Wommack wants guys to not have to think as much, but allow the athletic prowess to guide them in playing fast and confident.
Ole Miss and Indiana had success on defense when their athletes showed their skills. Smart and Pruitt allowed their athletes to shine for the Tide.
Pruitt coordinated a group in 2016 that terrorized everyone in college football.
Alabama was sacking quarterbacks, stuffing running backs, creating turnovers, and scoring touchdowns off turnovers. Pruitt’s defense in 2016 was responsible for 11 touchdowns, including six off interceptions. His style led to Alabama winning an SEC Championship and nearly a national title.
We will see how Wommack’s vision oriented style will fit the Tide.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
