Alabama football is looking to get its third-down defense back on track against South Carolina .
Considering South Carolina has one of the worst third-down conversion rates in the country at 30%, ranking 121st out of 133 teams, opportunity is knocking. Banging, rather.
Co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Maurice Linguist said Tuesday that the Crimson Tide has spent the week honing in on situational football and a "respect" for the Gamecocks ' vertical passing game, led by dual-threat redshirt freshman LaNorris Sellers .
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"They did it against LSU . They did it this past week," Linguist said, referencing South Carolina's visit from Ole Miss .
The Gamecocks fell 27-3, going 1-for-4 on fourth-down chances but managed some success on third-down opportunities, converting 5 of 16.
For reference, Ole Miss has allowed opponents to convert just 25% of third downs in 2024, tying Utah at No. 3 in the country for third-down defense. Across blowouts over Wake Forest and Middle Tennessee State, the Rebels defense went 8-for-24. Georgia Southern only converted 3 of 17 chances against Ole Miss, while Kentucky was successful on just 4 of 16.
Linguist said Alabama wants to "challenge the intermediate throw game."
"We've been statistically a really solid group on third down," he continued. "That was not the case last week."
Alabama allowed Vanderbilt to convert 12 of 18 third downs, which ultimately resulted in the 40-35 upset that saw the Crimson Tide's national ranking in third down defense sink to No. 9 from No. 2.
And the schedule doesn't get any easier with Tennessee, Missouri , LSU and Oklahoma remaining down the stretch.
"Emphasis for us this week: play situational football, third down, getting off the stops, getting off the field, respecting the sticks and then red-zone defense," Linguist said.
"Forcing kicks in the red zone, making sure that they're not scoring touchdowns in the red zone if they get down there," he said.
According the Linguist, the "plan is in place" for South Carolina, although Sellers has been giving Alabama some trouble in the film room.
"I think anytime you see a dynamic quarterback that can run and throw − it's always on our minds, because you have the play, and then you have the extended play," Linguist said.
The question is what Alabama does when Sellers extends plays and whether the defense can contain him when he drops back or gets out.
Linguist wants to make sure that his guys' eyes are situated in the right place so that South Carolina doesn't get the chance to "create explosives."
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football defense locked in on South Carolina and LaNorris Sellers
