Story by
The Tuscaloosa News
Alabama football DC Wommack discusses what must be stopped first vs Tennessee
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- Alabama football DC Wommack discusses what must be stopped first vs Tennessee
Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava has the arm to strike for six points from anywhere on the field. But as Alabama football prepares for Saturday's road game at Neyland Stadium, Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kane Wommack isn't losing sight of what he sees in the Volunteers offense: an attack that wants to run the ball first and foremost.
"When you look at what this team is, this is a run football team. They're spreading you out with their receiver splits so that they can establish one on ones in the run game, and they can basically say, they're going to separate the pass coverage from the box responsibility and who is leveraging those plays," Wommack said. "So for us, based off different personnel groupings, they'll have and the formations they'll come out in, we're going to have to be able to defend the lateral space and the vertical space on the outside, but also make sure we're leveraging the box because this is a run football team. They want to establish the run. Then they set that up to take shots downfield."
Advertisement
Those shots downfield go to much more explosive receivers than what Alabama faced last week against South Carolina , or the week prior against Vanderbilt. Tennessee's Bru McCoy and Squirrel White are established threats and two of Iamaleava's favorite targets. Although it's freshman Dont'e Thornton Jr. who has been the most explosive statistically, averaging 32.8 yards per catch on nine receptions.
Two weeks ago, Arkansas toppled Tennessee 19-14 with a stout defensive effort that included a heavy dose of dime (six defensive backs) in the secondary. Thus far in his first season as Alabama's defensive coordinator, Wommack has steadfastly stuck with a nickel look (five defensive backs), but didn't rule out the use of a sixth defensive back against the Volunteers.
"I think for us, you don't want to get too far from home base, who you are, and what you do," Wommack said. "But from a personnel package standpoint, we'll always look at whatever we think is the optimal scheme and personnel to get our players in the right position."
Tennessee (5-1, 2-1 SEC) and Alabama (5-1, 2-1 SEC) will kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday (ABC).
Advertisement
Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread is also the weekly co-host of Crimson Cover TV on WVUA-23. Reach him at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on X.com @chasegoodbread.
TENNESSEE WEEK: Three things to know about Tennessee before facing Alabama
HOW TO WATCH: What channel is Alabama vs Tennessee football on Saturday? Time, TV schedule for 2024 game
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football's Wommack discusses key to stop Tennessee offense
