Terrion Arnold reveals what Alabama defense learned in scrimmage

There will be many changes on the defensive side of the ball next season at Alabama. Changes in their defensive coordinator and with some of their star personnel make that inevitable. Even so, there’s one thing that sophomore defensive back Terrion Arnold says is going to make them elite again, regardless of those changes.

Arnold addressed what the Crimson Tide defense learned during their scrimmage on Friday during his media availability on Monday. He says they have seen plenty of things about who they are that suggest that they are committed to getting things right on that end. Come season’s end, Arnold thinks that will help this specific defense at Alabama go down as one of its best from under Saban.

“We’ve learned that we can be a really, really great defense,” Arnold said. “We just have to put all the little things together. I feel like we have a lot of guys that have, like, a lot of want to and more grit. And we really want to, like, refine the standard and really bring it back to a positive outcome.”

“I feel like this defense is gonna be like one of the great defenses,” stated Arnold.

Those words explicitly carry a lot of weight with them. Still, there’s no reason to say it’s either possible or impossible, especially at this stage of the spring.

One reason they could is the return of Kevin Steele for his third stint in Tuscaloosa. He has his work cut out for him but he’ll be up for the challenge but after previously posting top defenses in the SEC at LSU and Auburn as well as working at both Clemson and Miami. In total, he’s bringing four decades worth of defensive experience with him to get this right.

Another reason is the personnel that’s still available to him. Yes, we’re all aware of how difficult it will be to replace players like Will Anderson, Jordan Battle, Henry To’oTo’o, and Brian Branch. With that said, players like Arnold are a start alongside others like Kool-Aid McKinstry and Dallas Turner.

So, will this defense remind those down in T-Town of their top defenses old? Maybe not. Don’t tell them that, though, as they, along with Arnold, fully anticipate being at that level next season.