On Saturday, Alabama defeated Mississippi State 56-23, and the Crimson Tide got more production out of their pass rushers and ultimately made things difficult for Kamario Taylor.
The Crimson Tide tallied up five sacks and five quarterback hurries, and perhaps the incoming pressure on the opening drive of the game had something to do with Taylor fumbling the football and being recovered by Alabama.
Alabama head football coach Kalen DeBoer talked about the dominant performance from Alabama’s pass rush against Mississippi State.
“Yeah, you just you know that if you can just keep coming after him, we felt like we can get there between our guys up front and what what they’re capable of, and I think that’s where it starts,” DeBoer said. “And just if you can keep Kamario (Taylor) from being able to throw early and quick and make him hold on to it for just a little bit longer, just keep hustling, keep straining, and you’ll find a way to get home. But I think guys are all playing together. We’re not leaving these glaring windows and lanes for quarterbacks to scramble really over the last few weeks.”
The national media was high on Taylor coming into this game, but Alabama’s pass rush was getting home fast at times today. Mississippi State’s Taylor was unable to finish the game, so the Bulldogs trotted out a backup quarterback for the closing minutes of the fourth quarter.
The Alabama defensive line was rebuilt this offseason through the transfer portal, and players like Devan Thompkins, Terrance Green and Kedrick Bingley-Jones, and each one of those guys have made an impact through Alabama’s first five games of the year.
Also, returning players like Fatutoa Henry and Yhonzae Pierre were able to affect the quarterback, and so was freshman Xavier Griffin.
There are times the Crimson Tide are getting to the quarterback with only four guys rushing, and it also helps when the secondary is packed with experienced veterans.
Perhaps next week’s matchup against another set of Bulldogs will show what this Alabama defensive front is capable of versus other teams that are known for playing a physical brand of football.
Alabama will host Georgia next Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will be on ABC.
