Nick Saban Shares his Thoughts on Cincinnati's Defense

Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide face Cincinnati on New Year's Eve.

CINCINNATI — Alabama head coach Nick Saban discussed what makes the UC defense so stout ahead of the Crimson Tide's contest against Cincinnati in the 2021 Cotton Bowl.

Cincinnati boasts the best cornerback duo in the nation after All-American Coby Bryant and consensus All-American Ahmad Gardner earned more honors than any other tandem. Luke Fickell's team is first nationally in pass efficiency defense (100.47), fourth in opponent completion percentage (53.5%), third in interceptions (18), fifth in TD passes allowed (10), and No. 3 in passing yards allowed (168.3).

They'll face one of the best passing offenses in the country in Alabama.

"Well, their two corners are good players," Saban said. "They're long. They play a lot of man-to-man. They got good ball skills. They're good man-to-man players. They're aggressive in the way they play. They don't make a lot of mistakes. They're smart. They got a lot of experience, even when they change it up and play zone. They're ball-hawkers; they're all ball-hawkers back there. They really attack the ball. They have a lot of turnovers. It's a talented group."

Cincinnati ranks 10th in the Defense Fremeau Efficiency Index ratings and third in defensive turnover rate (17.6%). They thrive on creating havoc and will need to muster plenty of it to pull off the upset.

"They're very active. They're very aggressive. They're a good group. They play a 3-3 stack; they slide over to a four-down front sometimes. They plug a lot of backers. They have a lot of good pressure. They play a lot of man-to-man, but they change it up a bit. They play very well together as a team," Saban said. "They don't make a lot of mistakes. They fit the runs. They do the things that they need to do to have success together as a group. They have some very talented guys. They have a good secondary. They have some guys up front that can rush and have some quickness, and their linebackers are very good players. All around, this is a very good defensive team."

UC has earned Saban and the rest of the country's respect on this magical journey that no one in the program wants to end abruptly. The College Football Playoff matchup against Alabama kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

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