Saban highlights program veterans while assessing Tide defensive front

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – After Alabama’s first preseason scrimmage last week, head coach Nick Saban said the Crimson Tide has 5-6 defensive linemen that are playing “pretty well” in camp, but the position group needed more players to perform with consistency in practice.

A week later, were members of that group able to make any progress in that area?

“I’m never satisfied with how the defense plays,” Saban said Saturday. “We gave up some plays today early in the scrimmage. We’ve got to be able to play the run a little bit better. We’ve got to be stronger at the line. We’ve got to strike out of our hips, control blockers, get off blocks better, fit the runs better. We’ve got a lot of things we can improve on. 

“Jaheim Oatis has done a really good job. Tim Keenan has had a really good camp. Justin (Eboigbe) has done a really good job. We need more guys to play with more consistency. Can’t make mistakes in pass-rush lanes. Can’t make mistakes when we’re running stunts and games and pressures. That’s one thing we need to continue to work on cleaning up.”

This marked the second week in a row that Saban praised Oatis and Eboigbe, who are a couple of veterans on Alabama’s defensive line. But this is the first time that Keenan’s name has been mentioned by the head coach. Keenan is now in his third season with the Crimson Tide after he redshirted in 2021 and appeared in two games this past year. According to sources, Keenan got some first-team reps in between Eboigbe and Oatis during the second scrimmage.

That third spot on the first defensive line is typically reserved for Tim Smith, a senior, who Saban said has been up and down and needs to play with more consistency. Smith opened the closed practice with the second unit but later received reps with Alabama’s first-team defense.

The Tide’s defensive front has some returning starters from last year’s team but will have some new contributors this fall, as well. Keenan appears to be on his way to being one of them, and in his post-scrimmage press conference, Saban revealed the squad’s third outside linebacker. A couple of experienced players return at that position with Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell back, but with Will Anderson now a pro, Alabama needed others to step up at that spot.

A program veteran that has seemingly done exactly that is senior Quandarrius Robinson, who has played in 20 career games for the Tide but has a chance at an increased role. Saban was asked about him after the scrimmage and provided his overall thoughts on the group.

“We have three guys at outside linebacker that I think have experience, have knowledge, have played a significant amount, and Q is one of those guys,” Saban said. “We have a lot of confidence in him. But again, this is all about everybody’s ability to stay focused and not make mental errors and do their job all the time, and the more experienced guys obviously do that better. 

“But it’s important that they do it to set a good example for other guys on the team, and that’s something that we keep pushing that group of outside ‘backers to do.”

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