Seeing top-ranked Alabama firmly among college football’s national leaders in defensive statistics isn’t shocking, considering its steady influx of top talent and the coaching of Nick Saban.
The surprise is having some of the Crimson Tide’s West Division brethren representing the Southeastern Conference as well.
Having a healthy, improved defense has sparked a strong start for No. 25 LSU (4-1), which has won four games in a row and, like Alabama (5-0), is 2-0 in SEC play. No. 9 Ole Miss (5-0, 1-0) and No. 23 Mississippi State (4-1, 1-1) have also made strides and are within reach of the Tide in the West standings, as is Auburn (3-2, 1-1).
Alabama is No. 4 in total defense in the 131-team Football Bowl Subdivision at 236.4 yards allowed per game, behind James Madison (217.5) — the Sun Belt’s Dukes, a former Football Championship Subdivision power, have impressed in their first FBS season — and Big Ten programs Minnesota (222.0) and Illinois (229.2).
The next SEC team on the list is from the East — No. 2 Georgia (5-0, 2-0), the reigning national champion, has allowed 264.4 yards per game — but LSU (19th in total defense at 293.8 yards), Ole Miss (28th at 315.6), Auburn (35th at 331.8) and Mississippi State (37th at 333.0) are among eight league members in the top 40 of several categories. The others are from the East: Kentucky (20th in total defense at 297.4 yards), which dropped from seventh to 13th in the AP Top 25 this week after a close loss at Ole Miss for its first defeat of the season, and Missouri (39th at 337.2), which took Georgia down to the wire before falling 26-22.
Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said he believes defensive success begins up front and in the back, but the former defensive end and longtime offensive line coach noted that good linebackers are the key. Though just about every team follows that approach, he was clearly referring to schools he faces regularly in the SEC West.
“When you look at defenses, you’re trying to find weak spots, and mostly just nobody has very many of them,” he said. “And I think that you have 11 good players out there with some of the finest coaching in the country. It’s very difficult to score points.”
LSU’s defensive resurgence is worth noting because the Tigers endured so much hardship while going 6-7 last season.
Injuries decimated their defense, including one of the season-ending variety to end Ali Gaye last October. They finished in the bottom half in total defense (68th) and points allowed (26.6), and they parted ways with coach Ed Orgeron less than two seasons after winning the program’s fourth national championship.
First-year LSU coach Brian Kelly arrived from Notre Dame and brought in a slew of new assistants, including defensive coordinator Matt House from the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs. House was part of two Super Bowls, including a win to cap the 2019 season, but his extensive resumé includes stops at Kentucky, Pittsburgh and North Carolina State.
Even after losing Maason Smith to a season-ending knee injury during the 24-23 loss to Florida State in New Orleans on Labor Day weekend, LSU has quickly adopted House’s aggressive approach. The Tigers are tied for 14th nationally with Kentucky in scoring defense (14.8 points per game) and lead the SEC in turnover margin at plus-5 with 12 takeaways.
Defensive captain B.J. Ojulari forced a fumble that was returned by defensive back Jay Ward — whose 25 tackles lead the team — for a touchdown to help LSU win 21-17 last Saturday at Auburn.
“I don’t think there’s an offense that he hasn’t seen before,” Kelly said of House. “It doesn’t mean he’s an expert at anything, and he wouldn’t even try to tell you that. But he’s got a pretty good system, and our system of defense is such that it is set up to be flexible against all the offenses that we do run across in the SEC.”
Because so much attention has centered on quarterback Will Rogers’ success running coach Mike Leach’s high-octane, pass-heavy offense, it’s easy to overlook Mississippi State’s solid defense.
The Bulldogs have allowed just 118 rushing yards per game on the ground, which ranks 41st nationally, and they’re coming off an opportunistic performance, having forced four turnovers in a 42-24 home win against Texas A&M last week when the Aggies were ranked 17th. It was an all-around effort featuring two interceptions — including Emmanuel Forbes’ exclamation-point 33-yard return for a touchdown — two fumble recoveries, four sacks and Decamerion Richardson’s 50-yard touchdown return of a field-goal attempt blocked by Forbes.
“I’ve been trying to tell people I feel like we’ve got one of the best defenses in the country,” Bulldogs running back Dillon Johnson said. “Those guys go out there and battle their butts off and make big plays.”
Coach Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss, better known for fast-paced offenses, won their biggest game so far largely with huge defensive plays against Kentucky. The Rebels’ Jared Ivey and Austin Keys each forced a red-zone fumble in the final three minutes for the 22-19 win, and Ole Miss also forced a second-quarter safety.
The Rebels have allowed just 11.8 points per game, which ranks seventh nationally, and it’s the fewest the program has allowed through the first five games since 2014.
Kiffin saw the potential last season and wasn’t surprised, other than how quickly it has come together with new arrivals: “I just think that players that just got here in the summer are starting, so that’s very unique, kind of like free agency in an NBA-type team that hopefully continues to improve.”
Saban hopes for the same thing from a defense that has given up just 11 points per game. Alabama’s pass defense has shown the most improvement so far, yielding just 149 yards per game after giving up 218.1 in 2021.
With Texas A&M visiting Saturday night, the big question has been whether 2021 Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young (injured shoulder) or backup Jalen Milroe will start behind center for the Tide. Saban just hopes the defense that has provided opportunities and a lofty ranking in many categories keeps up the good work in a conference and division that demands it.
“The entire group has done a pretty good job of not giving up big plays in the passing game,” Saban said. “That’s always a challenge and something we definitely need to continue to do.”