Alabama Football Wants to Fix Pass Rush Problem Heading into USF Game
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama lost one of its most prolific pass-rushers in program history with Will Anderson Jr. off to the NFL with the third overall pick. But like usual under Nick Saban, it's not rebuilding, but just reloading at a position.
And at the edge position, Alabama has a slew of talented guys including Dallas Turner, Chris Braswell and Quandarrius Robinson. The Crimson Tide had three sacks in the season opener against Middle Tennessee, but finished the game in Saturday's loss against Texas with zero sacks and just two tackles for loss.
"I think it was okay in the first game, of course it was a different level of competition," Saban said Monday about Alabama's pass rush. "Obviously we didn't get any sacks (against Texas). We didn't have a lot of success, the kind of success that we'd like to have on third down, and I think that's something that we need to improve no doubt."
Turner was expected to be the leader for the Crimson Tide in this area this season, but has yet to record a sack through two games. He exploded onto the scene his freshman season with eight sacks and had four total sacks last season. Early on in the season, Turner said he has already seen opposing defenses starting to double-team him and Braswell to limit Alabama's effectiveness rushing the passer.
But sacks and quarterback pressure is not just the responsibility of edge rusher. The success of rattling a quarterback hinges on the ability of every part of the defense to do its job. The line has to create the initial pressure up front, defensive backs have to be in good coverage of their man so that the quarterback doesn't have anywhere to turn to, and the edge rushers create pressure and finish the play. Alabama also sometimes dials up blitzes that utilize defensive backs as part of the blitz package. Kool-Aid McKinstry recorded one of Alabama's sack's in the first game.
There were times Alabama got close to Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and disrupted a few plays, but ultimately never enough to record the sack or force a turnover.
The lack of pressure allowed Ewers to throw for 349 yards and three touchdowns. After getting knocked out of the contest a season ago by a hard hit from Turner, the Longhorn quarterback was barely roughed up all night. And it was a big part of why Alabama lost, letting Ewers connect on explosive play after explosive play.
"We didn't do a great job of covering them," Saban said. "Sometimes you get coverage sacks, so we didn't cover them long enough that the quarterback couldn't get the ball out of his hand quickly. We didn't affect the quarterback in the game at all, and we all need to improve on that."
Only twice in 13 games last season did the Alabama defense have a game with zero sacks. Ironically, both such games were against non-Power 5 opponents in Utah State and Austin Peay. The Crimson Tide had three sacks against Texas in 2022, and recorded a season-high six sacks in the loss to LSU.
Turner said Alabama has to play to the standard and that starts in practice.
"It’s still early in the season," Turner said. "Can’t let a game in week two determine how our team is going to be. There are a lot more things to look forward to."
Alabama will have an opportunity to turn it around this weekend when the team travels to Tampa to play USF. The Bulls' offensive line has struggled with pass protection so far this season allowing 11 sacks through two games (five against Western Kentucky and six against Florida A&M) and yet to play a Power Five team.
The Crimson Tide front seven will bring a different physicality, size and speed than what USF has previously faced, so the trip to Tampa might be just what the doctor ordered to solve Alabama's pressure problem.
