⚡ CFB Dashboard

Overall, Kalen DeBoer said in an interview with WJOX last week, "I think the defense did a really nice job last year." Fewer takeaways, he said. Eight fewer to be exact. "But we were still good in the critical moments most of the year," he added. A bend-but-don't-break mentality, was the term he used. Perhaps he was thinking of the end-of-half situation vs. Tennessee, when on second-and-goal from the 1-yard line with 8 seconds remaining, Zabien Brown jumped a pass into the flat and took the interception 99 yards to pay dirt. Or maybe it was the fourth-and-1 stop in the fourth quarter at Georgia when Cash Jones was dropped for a 3-yard loss. "I think we're going to take the next step in that area," DeBoer said. He highlighted the continuity on the defensive coaching staff. Coordinator Kane Wommack has all his assistant coaches back. DeBoer hinted how that, along with what the staff sees as upgrades to the personnel, could lead to a more simplified system. "I think we added some piece up mostly front because the whole secondary is back that, I think, can do some different things," he said. "Things that I think we want to continue to work to do — and sometimes it's just letting guys get out there and play ball and not have to beat people with scheme all the time or like these big calls or having to blitz in the big moments every single time.  "So, I think the coaching staff is doing a great job of just going to the basic and teach, critique and demand." Blitzing less and getting better results is the ideal for any coaching staff. Suggest that a year ago and it would have seemed like a pipe dream, though. In 2024, Alabama struggled to pressure opposing quarterbacks. There was a dominant pass-rusher to be found as the team finished with 25 sacks on the season — fourth fewest in the SEC. But early last fall, coinciding with the emergence of Yhonzae Pierre, that started to change. Alabama finished with 33 sacks, which was sixth most in the conference. The Crimson Tide had the third lowest blitz rate in the SEC last season; according to Pro Football Focus, Alabama sent five or more rushers on 18.9% of drop backs. But that rate spiked to 41.9% in the red zone. Pierre returns as one of the top edge rushers in college football, and adding more talent along the defensive line could mean Wommack having to get less aggressive sending numbers after the quarterback -- less complex in his play calls, too. Transfers Devan Thompkins (from USC), Desmond Umeozulu (from South Carolina) and Terrance Green (from Oregon), all generated buzz during spring practice. At a Senior Bowl event on Monday, Wommack told Al.com he's hopeful the defense continues to progress in Year 3. "Well, it's just nice when you go into Year 3, there's a lot of continuity," Wommack said. "We've got a lot of returning starters on our back end, a lot of young guys that are pushing some of those guys as well, which is really great. And we've kind of gotten the defensive line in a position to where we've got more mass. There's some older guys. "Transfer portal's been really good to us, so having some of those guys in coupled with our back end, I think there's a lot of continuity. There's a lot of excitement within the group and confidence in each other. And so it's fun to kind of go through spring with that group of guys that know the expectations."