Elite Defensive Play Once Again Anchors Massive Alabama Win
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The old saying "defense wins championships" has lost some of its luster over the years, but the 2023 Alabama Crimson Tide has a chance to restore its meaning in full.
After Saturday's 34-20 win over No. 17 Tennessee, No. 11 Alabama sits at 7-1, with an undefeated record in SEC play and still with all of its goals attainable, including an SEC, and even national championship.
The Crimson Tide defense has been the catalyst for success in practically all of its games, and the Third Saturday in October was no different. But after the first 15 minutes of play, it didn't feel like it.
Tennessee gained nearly 200 yards of offense in the first quarter, amassing a 13-0 lead inside Bryant-Denny Stadium, but then, the defense flipped a switch.
For the remaining three quarters of the game, the Volunteers gained just 217 yards of offense. Even when Tennessee would threaten in the red zone, the defense came up with massive stops. The Volunteers scored a touchdown in the red zone just one time out of four attempts.
"In the beginning of the game, we were really playing odd [fronts], because we were trying to stop the run," Alabama head coach Nick Saban said. "As the game went on we started to play a little more even [fronts], we started playing things that we had played in the past. I think the players did a really good job helping us rush the passer better. The players did a good job of adapting."
Alabama totaled three sacks of Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton on the night, including two from linebacker Chris Braswell and one from fellow linebacker Dallas Turner. On top of the sacks, Alabama recorded eight tackles for loss on the game.
"We just had to go out there and execute," Braswell said. "Play hard, and play to the standard. That's what we always talk about, playing to the 'Bama standard. Going out there, being disciplined and executing."
That standard that Braswell mentioned is exactly what Alabama's defense played to for the final 45 minutes of the game, and even more so in the second half. Tennessee was unable to muster a single point after the teams emerged from the tunnel for the second half of play.
"We just told everybody to keep fighting, because this is what we do," defensive back Malachi Moore said. "If we want to be a good team, we're going to have to fight through adversity and that's what we did out there today. We really came together as a team, and went out there and finished the game for 60 minutes."
Tennessee came into the game ranked sixth in the nation in rushing yards per game, averaging over 230 yards on the ground every time out. The Alabama front stifled that rushing attack, allowing only 133 on the ground for the game, including a mere 22 yards on 11 carries from the Volunteers' lead back, Jaylen Wright.
"They gained 230 yards rushing last week," Saban said. "I don't know what they gained today, but I know it wasn't that much. So that was a pretty good job."
Part of Alabama's successful run defense was its ability to get off the field on fourth-and-short multiple times in the game. Twice, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel elected to go for it on 4th-and-1 or shorter, and both times, the Volunteers were stuffed short of the first down.
After Tennessee missed its second 4th down conversion attempt in the third quarter, Alabama was able to drive down the field and score a touchdown to take the lead for the first time in the game.
"The guys up front just knocked them back, and that was a huge stop in the game," Saban said.
"We knew they were going to run the ball when it's 4th-and-short like that," Moore said. "It all comes down to execution. Guys went out there and executed, Jihaad [Campbell] had a big stop. That's what we're built for. That's how we train."
Campbell, a sophomore linebacker who got his second start this season in place of injured Trezmen Marshall, had a monster game. He tallied 10 total tackles, placing second on the time, had the stop on fourth down, and most important of all, scored a defensive touchdown late in the game to extend Alabama's lead from 27-20 to 34-20.
Braswell came flying off the edge to hit Milton on the blindside, forcing a fumble that was scooped up by Campbell and returned 24 yards for the Alabama touchdown.
"All credit to my teammates, man, I can't do nothing without those guys," Campbell said. "That was a play made by them. [...] It was a play executed by the d-line, the pass rushers, you know, Braswell. I give all thanks to him."
While Braswell and Campbell each made phenomenal plays to get the touchdown on the board, Saban was exceedingly complimentary of cornerback Trey Amos, who was in the game for the injured Terrion Arnold.
"On the sack fumble for a touchdown, if [Milton] would've thrown the ball — he double-clutched it — I think Trey Amos was going to intercept it right in front of me," Saban said. "He double-clutched it and pulled it back and that's when Braswell knocked it out of his hand."
From scoring touchdowns to getting fourth down stops, the Crimson Tide defense continues to not only do what's required of it, but more, as this doubted Alabama team keeps rolling while looking conventionally different than it has the past half-decade.
Despite much of the college football world burying it, Alabama still has everything in front of it this season, and it appears it can go as far as this dominant defense takes it.
