Alabama must improve turnover numbers in 2023

Alabama not appearing in the College Football Playoff last season was a rare sight, but so was their lack of turnovers caused on the defensive side of the ball.

Generating turnovers usually comes easy to the Crimson Tide defense, regarded as one of the best units in the country year in and year out. And BamaOnline‘s Clint Lamb and Jimmy Stein recently spoke the team’s struggles last season.

“It was just a freak anomaly last year, Alabama’s lack of turnovers, because where do turnovers start?” Stein asked. “With a pass rush and good DBs. Alabama had Will Anderson and Dallas Turner as the primary pass rushers and then had a third pass rusher so good they created a whole package to get him on the field. Then they littered the field with NFL defensive backs.”

The Crimson Tide didn’t lack any talent in the pass-rushing or defensive back department last season, with two defensive linemen/edge rushers and three defensive backs being selected in the 2023 NFL Draft. But for some odd reason, Alabama could not take the ball away, recording just seven interceptions and recovering six fumbles on the season.

“You would think with that formula, you’re going to lead the nation in interceptions, or you could, and instead there were like zero. But don’t look at it like well they just couldn’t rush the passer, we thought they could but they couldn’t. Alabama was third in the SEC in sacks. I know they didn’t lead the nation, but they were third. And those DBs were selected by the NFL, it’s not like they’re not good players,” Stein explained.

The Crimson Tide had a -2 turnover margin last season, their first time in the negatives in their last five seasons. And even though many players who were responsible for their few turnovers last year are no longer on the team, that doesn’t mean their numbers as a team will plummet even more. As Stein used a baseball analogy to describe the aberration that was Alabama’s turnover crisis.

“I think sometimes sports just work this way Clint. Sometimes you may have Clayton Kershaw for the Dodgers pitching against Max Scherzer for the Mets and you think you bought your ticket to watch a one-to-nothing game and then it sends up being 10 to 8,” Stein concluded.

Hopefully, the Crimson Tide can have a better turnover fortune next season, as it’s likely been a point of emphasis for head coach Nick Saban this offseason and will continue to be going forward.