For Kalen DeBoer , the talk had always been about what could have been for Alabama football's defensive unit.
For a team that entered Saturday with 21 turnovers in nine games, not one had ended in a defensive touchdown. Each one, DeBoer said, ended in a conversation about what should have happened: where a player should have cut back, how he had a clear path along the sideline.
That conversation was not needed in the second quarter Saturday.
After cornerback DaShawn Jones jarred the ball loose on a hit against Parker Wroble , freshman cornerback Zabien Brown picked it up and saw green grass, helped by blocks from Domani Jackson , Malachi Moore and LT Overton .
Defensive touchdown scored. Seal broken.
"He was hype," Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell said of defensive coordinator Kane Wommack. "He was proud. We've been banking on that all year so far."
It was bound to happen for this defense at some point, DeBoer said, a unit with an unrelenting attacking mindset.
"Three-and-out is what they're shooting for," DeBoer said after Alabama's 52-7 win against Mercer. "But right now, the position they're putting our offense in, putting points on the board now, too, it's really good."
After three turnovers against Mercer, adding an interception by Qua Russaw and a forced fumble by Domani Jackson recovered by Damon Payne Jr., Alabama has 24 turnovers in 10 games, which is near the top in college football.
Overall, Alabama allowed one touchdown and 202 yards of offense.
The turnovers are seemingly here to stay for the Alabama defense. As for the defensive touchdowns?
"There's going to be a lot more coming, don't worry," Campbell said. "There's going to be a lot more coming."
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football is confident more defensive touchdowns are coming
