The Alabama football defense will face a significant challenge in the Rose Bowl. The Crimson Tide will face a Michigan team that has a more balanced offensive attack than some of the SEC teams Alabama has faced this season.
This season, Michigan had two players receive Heisman Trophy votes: running back Blake Corum and quarterback JJ McCarthy. Michigan is known for its defense, but as Alabama prepares to face the UM offense in the College Football Playoff on Jan. 1, here are three key players for the Crimson Tide defense.
Mr. Dallas Turner
It’s no secret who is driving Alabama’s defense. Turner was named SEC defensive player of the year following the conference championship game against Georgia, and he is a fearsome presence off the edge.
With Will Anderson gone to the NFL, Turner bec
ame the Tide’s top pass-rusher this season. Throughout the 2023 season, he and teammates Chris Braswell and Justin Eboigbe have been terrorizing quarterbacks.
“We just gotta bring our hard hats whenever we play them, and we just gotta be the more physical team,” Turner said as Alabama kicked off Rose Bowl practice. “We gotta practice like that throughout the week, pick up on every single tendency that they do as an offense”
If Alabama is to be stopped,Turner and Michigan’s balanced attack will need to go after McCarthy.
Caleb Downs’s
In his first year at Alabama, the true freshman safety established himself as an important member of the secondary. He took over as starter in the season opener against Middle Tennessee State and has remained there ever since.
He was named SEC Freshman of the Year by the league’s coaches and is a finalist for the Shaun Alexander Award, which is given to College Football’s top freshman. Downs leads the Tide in tackles with 99 and has intercepted two passes this season.
“He already knows what he needs to do as a player,” Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry said. ” He’s a good player who prepares properly and does everything correctly, so I’d just tell him to be himself.” That’s all I’d tell him in any game or whenever he asks me a question: just be yourself. I know we have faith in him and that he will do his job.”
Downs recently replaced McKinstry as Alabama’s leading punt returner, bringing one all the way back for a touchdown against Chattanooga. The youngster will need to continue to step up in order to have a successful game against Michigan.
Deontae Lawson’s
Deontae Lawson, Michigan’s defensive signal-caller and inside linebacker, will play an important role in the balanced offense. He’ll also have to pay attention because limiting Corum will be a major focus for the Crimson Tide.
This season, Alabama has had strong linebacker play, most notably from Jihaad Campbell, who stepped into the starting lineup while Lawson and Trezmen Marshall recovered from injuries. Lawson, on the other hand, is the group’s leader, ensuring that the defense is properly aligned.
So far this season, he has 61 tackles, including 5.5 for loss. He’s also had three sacks.
Lawson, as one of the team’s leaders, will need to perform admirably against Michigan.
