Alabama DC Kane Wommack admits last years defense lacked physicality and got ‘moved around’

Syndication: Tuscaloosa News

Alabama’s defense has seen steady improvement under defensive coordinator Kane Wommack over the course of the last two seasons. However there is one major flaw from a year ago which Wommack is looking to grind out of this year’s team.

Wommack shared that last season’s defense at times lacked the necessary physicality and all too often lost the battle in the trenches up front.

“The truth is we got moved around some for the last two years here,” Wommack said to the media on Friday. “That was an area where, we’ve done some good things defensively here; at times, I think we’ve been really good, but to be a dominant defense, you have to have guys up front that can make a difference.”

Since the conclusion of last season, Alabama’s defense has lost the likes of Deontae Lawson, Justin Jefferson, Nikai Hill-Green, Tim Keenan Jr., Damon Payne, LT Overton, Qua Russaw, James Smith and Keon Keely amongst others who were major impacts in the front seven.

This has opened the door for some new faces to take charge up front especially in the linebacker room which is perhaps the one defensive unit that lost the most snaps from last season. Filling the gap from the departing seniors is QB Reese, Caleb Woodson, Luke Metz and Caleb Jones to all compete for time.

So far through three practices of fall camp Wommack has seen the necessary work ethic and embrace of his message of physicality.

“Those young linebackers, they don’t know anything different so they follow suit,” Wommack said. “They work their ass off. They live in the building. It’s been really great to see their development. Some of the improvements that we’ve made on the D-line this offseason certainly helps that linebacker room as well.

“I think one thing that we wanted to make sure if that we’re more aggressive from the backing corp. You know guys getting down hill and being more aggressive at the line of scrimmage and I think those guys have really taken heart to that.”

Alabama will continue fall camp practice next week.

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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77