Alabama Football: Final report card for Tide’s 2019 season

Overall defense grade: B-

Anytime you grade an Alabama defense you are usually grading it not against the season it had, but against other Crimson Tide defenses.

When you evaluate the defensive line, it is not the rankings against the run that first come to mind. The linemen are compared and evaluated against Alabama legends like Terrance Cody, Jared Allen and Quinnen Williams.

When we look at the pass rushers and linebackers we are looking for the next Derrick Thomas, Reggie Ragland, Dont’a Hightower and Rolando McClain.

That is not fair, but such is life when you put on that crimson and white.

That being said, this unit was young and hit with key injuries. They didn’t have the dominant down linemen this season. They played well against average to good offenses but struggled against the elite offensive competition.

Defensive standouts

Anfernee Jennings: 83 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks. With the loss of Dylan Moses to injury and no contribution to the pass rush by any down linemen, Jennings anchored the front seven this season for the Crimson Tide. The fifth-year senior had a stout season playing equally well against the run as well as the pass.

Xavier McKinney: 95 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, two interceptions. Despite being called on to “quarterback” the defense without ever having to do so before, McKinney had a monster season. He played all over the field from his safety position contributing to both the run defense and the pass defense.

Jared Mayden: 59 total tackles, four interceptions. Mayden, a ball-hawking defensive back led the Crimson Tide in interceptions.

Defensive Line: C+

This was not the typical dominating Alabama defensive line from years past. In addition to playing two true freshmen along their three-man front, their reserves were also underclassmen save one senior transfer. They were solid against the run but did not generate a pass rush.

Without linebackers Anfernee Jennings and Terrell Lewis, the Crimson Tide do not have a pass rush. Their five, sometimes six, man defensive front rotation generated just seven sacks — Jennings had eight by himself. The biggest disappointment has to be Raekown Davis. After an 8.5-sack sophomore season, Davis has been absent from the pass rush with just two sacks the last two seasons.

Linebackers: B

The Crimson Tide definitely missed both Dylan Moses and Joshua McMillian at linebacker this season. Fortunately for the Tide true freshmen, Shane Lee and Christian Harris filled in admirably on defense. Both Jennings and Lewis had big seasons for the Crimson Tide had big seasons in Tuscaloosa.

Despite the two freshmen playing well, Moses’ veteran presence and knowledge of the defense was missed this season as the young Crimson Tide defenders often missed plays because they were out of position or couldn’t diagnose what the offense was doing.

Secondary: B

There isn’t a unit on this team more maligned than the Crimson Tide secondary. However, the only team that torched the Crimson Tide through the air was the LSU Tigers. Joe Burrow had eight incomplete passes and three touchdown passes to go along with almost 400 yards passing.

The Tide secondary had a good season surrendering under 200 yards passing per game and finished fifth in the country in interceptions. Sophomore cornerback Patrick Surtain II got better this season after his trial by fire as a true freshman. Both of their safeties were outstanding this season leading the team in interceptions.

Special Teams: B-

The kicking game in Tuscaloosa is usually an adventure and this year was not much different. Kickers Joseph Bulovas and Will Reichard made only 67 percent of their field goals this season and missed four extra points. However, the Crimson Tide returned three punts and a kickoff for touchdowns this season while finishing 11th in the country in kick return coverage.