Kirk Herbstreit called Alabama’s defense a “mystery” this week as the Crimson Tide is coming off a 52-24 win of Tennessee.
The ESPN analyst, who talked about the No. 3 Crimson Tide on the ESPN College Football podcast, was as surprised as anyone when he turned on the game Saturday night and saw the Vols were up 14-7. It was short-lived, however, as Nick Saban’s team rolled to a convincing win for its 15th straight win in the rivalry.
However, there were times where the defense was anything but convincing.
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Touchdown catches of 57 yards by JaVonta Payton and 70 yards by Cedric Tillman left Alabama fans and defensive backs scratching their heads.
Still, the Vols managed 346 total yards of offense on the night. Subtract the big plays and the Tide held Tennessee to just 219 yards. Yet, the plays left many uneasy.
“The defense has been a mystery,” Herbstreit said on the podcast. “They played so well late last year. To me, when (Nick Saban) has veterans at the second and third level, that defense is so devastating because they’re so complicated. And they do so much that years when they don’t have experience, you have the busts in coverage. There’s confusion.
“Again, they’re not playing two coverages. They’re playing an NFL defense. So, it requires hand signals, everybody on the same page.”
Herbstreit said the issue popped up early last year before the defense had what he called an “aha moment.”
It is a concern, he believes, only one team left on the Alabama schedule can “expose.”
That team isn’t LSU, which gets the Tide on Nov. 6.
“LSU might play hard, but they are an uppercut in the first round from, you know,” he said. “It’s a weird year for them.”
Herbstreit dismisses New Mexico State.
Next up is Arkansas on Nov. 20.
“I don’t think they throw the ball well enough to be a threat.”
That leaves a Nov. 27 date with rival Auburn.
“You have to go to Jordan-Hare, which can be a little bit sneaky,” he explained. “Auburn sitting there at 5-2. Bryan Harsin and Mike Bobo. That is the game you can draw up ball plays with a veteran quarterback and realize, ‘OK, what’s the kryptonite to Nick Saban’s defense?
“The kryptonite is multiple formations, up-tempo, return to the tight end, motion to go to trips to the boundaries. Make them have to think. We have a quarterback that can run and throw (in Bo Nix).”
It’s a formula, he says, which includes moving the ball with some explosive plays sprinkled in.
Mark Heim is a sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.
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