Alabama football has some things to clean up on defense, but Kane Wommack is off to a good start in his career as the defensive play-caller for the Crimson Tide.
His 4-2-5 “Swarm Defense” scheme from South Alabama has the Tide allowing 8.7 points and 248 yards per game.
RELATED: Nick Saban reacts to Panthers benching former Alabama QB Bryce Young
Alabama fans would like to see more sacks, better attention versus the run, and more takeaways, but Wommack did not have to dive deeper into his bag in the first three matchups. His showdown against Mike Bobo of Georgia next week on Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium will be a chance for him to show the masses he was the right hire for Alabama. Wommack has the task of crafting a game plan to limit the Bulldogs’ rushing attack and affect quarterback Carson Beck. Christian Miller, a former Tide outside linebacker from 2014 to 2018, is enjoying some areas of this defense.
He was a two-time College Football Playoff National Championship (2015, 2017) and four-time Southeastern Conference Champion (2014-16, 2018). Miller was a sack specialist for Alabama, but he also played three seasons in the National Football League for the Carolina Panthers from 2019 to 2021.
Miller was on the Tide’s 2015, 2017, and 2018 rosters that defeated Georgia.
“We see why it’s called a Swarm D. It’s fast, physical, they’re flying around.”
– @christianmillr on the @AlabamaFTBL defense. @Roger_Hoover‘s Full Interview on Thursday’s Crimson Drive driven by @NASCAR at 2 pm on @UA_CTSN: https://t.co/tgBThLFa8p pic.twitter.com/wc0X1zkRoM— Crimson Tide Sports Network (@UA_CTSN) September 19, 2024
“We see why it is called a Swarm D,” Miller said in an interview with Crimson Tide Sports Network.
“It is fast, physical, they are flying around, and they play with a lot of pursuit. So, those are things that need to continue throughout the course of the season. Those things will matter in these big games. When it comes down to these close matchups, who wins the turnover battle? So far, Alabama has done a nice job protecting the football and done a really nice job forcing turnovers. If they continue that, they are going to set themselves up nicely for the future.”
Miller, a South Carolina native, likes how this defense takes the ball away. He played on Nick Saban-coached defenses that did this well from 2015 to 2018. Alabama fans look forward to watching Wommack and this unit take the ball from Georgia.
*Get the BEST Alabama football inset ider information, message board access, and recruiting coverage today! SIGN UP HERE to unlock our subscriber-only content!*
Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
