Freddie Roach has sometimes come under fire by Alabama fans for a lack of pass rush from the defensive line.
People were concerned about whether Roach was the right coach for the job.
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The Crimson Tide’s defense has shut teams down in the second half of games this season.
Kevin Steele gets most of the credit as the defensive coordinator, but Roach has stepped up in getting more intensity from his unit since the South Florida game. The Tide’s defense shut USF out in the second half, limited Ole Miss to three points in the second half, rendered Texas A&M three points in the second half, and kept Mississippi State at seven points in the second half.
Roach’s defensive line produced six sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss, and five quarterback hurries since the South Florida game.
The pressure from Justin Eboigbe, Tim Smith, Tim Kennan, Jaheim Oatis, and Jah-Marien Latham has allowed Dallas Turner (6.5) and Chris Braswell (4.5) to produce marquee numbers in sacks. Alabama’s defensive line also helped the Crimson Tide equal its 2022 output for interceptions (seven) in six games. Texas A&M’s defensive line got all the attention, but Roach had his group affecting Max Johnson at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. Kennan, a Birmingham (Ala.) native, led the Tide for total tackles (eight) and had a tackle for loss and a sack. Eboigbe totaled five tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and a quarterback hurry. Oatis recorded four tackles while sharing a tackle for loss and a sack. Smith and Latham each had a quarterback hurry.
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Alabama is beginning to peak at the right time in all phases.
The defensive line allows it to be one of the best second-half units in college football.
Roach has his bunch executing well, but it needs to continue.
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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.
