Alabama Football 2024 Preview Defense: Are the Crimson Tide Really Rebuilding?

Alabama Football Preview 2024: Defense

2024 Alabama Football Preview
Bama Preview: Kalen DeBoer Takes Over
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- Bama got itself some great coaches to combine at defensive coordinator. Kane Wommack was a rising star as the head man at South Alabama, and he left to be a part of the Tide D on his way to his next-step-up gig. Joining Wommack is former Buffalo Bull head coach Maurice Linguist.

Wommack really knows linebackers, Linguist really knows defensive backs. Kalen DeBoer’s teams, though, haven’t known a lot of defense.

Granted, opposing offenses had to bomb away to try keeping up with the Washington offense, but last year’s D allowed 407 yards per game having a big problem generating pressure. That cost a secondary that got hit hard.

- Where will the sure-thing plays in the backfield come from? The front three’s job will be to hold up against the run with the typical Bama rotation. There isn’t a true star, but Tim Keenan, Tim Smith, Damon Payne, and Jaheim Oatis are fine on the inside.

Jah-Marien Latham and Texas A&M transfer LT Overton have promise on the ends, but they have to come up with the production.

- It’s Alabama. The linebackers will be great. Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell are gone to the NFL, but boo-hoo - Deontae Lawson and Jihaad Campbell were second and third, respectively, in tackles and should be a dominant force.

But again, someone has to generate the pass rush with Dallas Turner a Minnesota Viking and Chris Braswell a Tampa Bay Buccaneer.

- Losing star safety Caleb Downs to Ohio State hurts, and several other key parts are also gone from the secondary. Malachi Moore is one of the nation’s best safeties, but he’ll have to be even better with so many transfers stepping in.

Michigan transfer Keon Sabb will be a statistical star, and USC transfer Domani Jackson can move at one corner.

The star recruits will have to play a role - Zabien Brown and Red Morgan should get thrown into the corner rotation right away.

2024 Alabama Football Preview
Bama Preview: Kalen DeBoer Takes Over
Offense | Depth Chart
Win Total, Predictions, Season Keys
CFN 2024 Preview: All 134 Teams