Alabama football is inside Bryant-Denny Stadium for its second scrimmage of spring practice.
Before taking the field, Nick Saban spoke this week about two specific defensive positions.
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People can draw a direct correlation between the Crimson Tide’s six national championships under Saban to the success at middle linebacker and Star. When the Tide has had fearsome competitors, leaders, and great communicators at middle linebacker, including Rolando McClain, C.J. Mosley, Reggie Ragland, Shaun Dion Hamilton/Rashaan Evans, it has captured a national championship. When it has fielded players at ‘Star’ that can blitz, cover wide receivers/tight ends, and help in run support, including Minkah Fitzpatrick, Brian Branch, Malachi Moore, and Shyheim Carter, it has captured a national championship.
Both positions are critical to the success of a Saban defense.
Alabama has players that can excel at both spots, but Saban defined the qualities he likes.
“Star is really a SAM linebacker,” Saban said Wednesday. “If a team has three wide receivers or more in a game, that guy’s versatility is more than a linebacker’s. He is the SAM linebacker in essence, and it takes a guy who is a good tackler, who is tough, who is a good blitzer, but he also has good enough block protection on the perimeter so when they throw smokes and bubbles, he can win as well as being very instinctive in reading run-pass, but he has to have enough coverage skills to cover a slot receiver.”
Saban said sometimes the player at Star could be a cornerback or a safety.
Communication is the primary need Saban wants in a middle linebacker.
“He has to be bright enough to understand what we are trying to do on defense, but how do we have to adjust to the formation that’s being run on offense,” Saban said. “We have guys that have made significant progress during spring practice, but it is a working progress. I hope we can continue to build confidence in several of the linebackers’ ability to do that.”
If Alabama has the playmakers it needs at Star and middle linebacker, this defense should roll in the fall.
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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.
