Crimson Red Sports

Do not be fooled and fall prey to false prophets and the dry hallucinations of click-bait articles. The temptation is great, but the informed reader must stay strong.

In reference to click-bait articles, some of the hottest takes that have filled the Internet have stoked the Crimson flames of many Alabama fans. Namely, that Nick Saban suddenly forgot how to coach defensive backs, and that the days of Alabama's dominating defenses are now over. Instead of inciting loyal readers by insulting their intelligence with outlandish statements, RBR will look to the film to try and focus on the reasons why Alabama's secondary has had issues, and how these erratic defensive performances can be corrected moving forward.

The 2014 Iron Bowl is instructive in that all the woes plaguing Alabama's secondary were on display that night: lack of recognition, lack of field awareness, breakdowns in communication or even failing to communicate, poor execution of scheme, and, in far too many cases, some or all of these issues. Secondary coach Mel Tucker's emphasis on back-to-basics is one that is long overdue, as the Tide must improve on the mental aspect of pass defense.

Well, OK...but WHY is there [1] lack of field awareness  [2] breakdown in communication [3] poor execution of scheme???  This article points out some of the WHAT went wrong but doesn't get at the underlying cause.  Was it bad coaching?  Insufficient athletic ability?  Lack or experience (to some degree??) Was the scheme too complicated for the ability of the players?

I don't expect to ever know the answers to my questions.  I just hope the DBs are better next season.  The new DB coach gives me some hope but I won't really believe they are better 'till I see it.

The problem was that we had no field general like CJ Mosley to keep everyone straight. Trey Depriest was a decent MLB but he wasn't a Mike LB. And he just didn't have the instincts that Mosley had. Combine that with the bad corner play and you get a bad defense. Ragland is taking over the Mike this year. Hopefully he will have the instincts and leadership to make the defense better. And the CBs should be much improved. I expect our D to be a lot better. Maybe not as good as 2011, but close.