Alabama football finished its first game of the Kalen DeBoer era with a shutout, but one assistant coach was not satisfied.
The Crimson Tide’s defense created a sack, a few quarterback pressures, a few pass breakups, and two interceptions; however, Kane Wommack feels more should have been done. Alabama scored 63 points at Bryant-Denny Stadium versus Western Kentucky, yet none came on defense. Wommack appreciated the effort of defensive players flying to the football, but his expectation does not change. The 37-year-old wants turnovers and felt like more could have been created last week.
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“The two takeaways we had early were positives, but I did not think we capitalized on takeaways as a defense,” Wommack said Monday.
“I felt we had opportunities to score on defense, multiple times we did not make the most of those opportunities. We also had opportunities in the backfield. Sacks are great, but sacks that cause fumbles are way better and can get the ball back for our offense. Those are things that the guys have been challenged on. I did not think we meet the standard on what we are capable of on defense. I hope to see the response from our players in their intentionality to take the ball away.”
Wommack knows generating turnovers made Alabama’s defenses in 2015, 2016, and 2017 elite.
He wants the Tide to get back to that status, and it starts with him laying down the expectation. Wommack wants a group that is constantly taking the ball away. South Florida provides an opportunity for Alabama to have a better showing in this area.
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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.
