Notebook: Alabama defense continues upward trend with shutout of Mizzou

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama pitched its second shutout of the season on Saturday as the Crimson Tide defeated No. 21 Missouri, 34-0, at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

It marked Alabama’s first shutout against an SEC team since Oct. 31, 2020 (Mississippi State, 41-0) and the Tide’s eighth time holding a top-25 team scoreless since 2010. Per SEC Network analyst Cole Cubelic, that’s three more than the next three teams combined.

The defense was again opportunistic, forcing three turnovers. That makes 10 in the last three games. This time, however, the offense was able to capitalize, scoring 14 points. Entering its second and final bye week of the 2024 season with a 6-2 (3-2 SEC) record, Alabama is now +7 in turnover margin with 18 takeaways gained compared to 11 lost.

“There’s some good vibes when it comes to taking the football away defensively,” said Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer. “They’re hunting it. They’re anticipating a little bit. So a little bit more of an attacking mindset and not so much on their heels and just making every yard count.”

Alabama limited Missouri to 239 total yards on Saturday afternoon, including just 72 through the air. That was the fewest by an SEC team against the Tide since Tennessee’s 44 in 2017. Brady Cook, the Tigers starting quarterback, left the game with an injury, but he was 7-of-12 for 30 yards before his exit. Star receiver Luther Burden caught three passes for three yards, which was his lowest single-game total since his freshman season in 2022.

Mizzou wasn’t fully healthy, but neither was the Alabama secondary, who was missing safety Keon Sabb. His replacement, sophomore Bray Hubbard recorded seven tackles and one of the three interceptions forced by the Tide defense – all on UM backup Drew Pyne.

“Hats off to them,” DeBoer siad. “I thought they had a really good week of practice, considering a lot of moving parts over the last 2-3 weeks, especially in the back half. I thought they went out and executed and made no excuses about how much someone was practicing and anything like that. They just knew the work had to be the work and went out there and did a nice job. 

“Made some plays, some diving interceptions and things like that. Made their breaks, and that’s what I appreciate.”

Tide keeps improving on third down

Alabama’s defense was able to get off the field against Missouri. The Tigers attempted 13 third downs and converted three of them (23 percent). Since the Vanderbilt game, Alabama’s third down defense has steadily improved. The Tide entered the trip to Nashville with the nation’s No. 2 third-down defense but struggled mightily. But Alabama has been better.

Alabama’s third-down defense in October

Vanderbilt – 12-of-18 (66.67)
South Carolina – 7-of-14 (50.0)
Tennessee – 6-of-14 (42.86)
Missouri – 3-of-13 (23.07)

“I know we have our goals and what we think we need to do each and every week, but just flat out having that each week be something that we can hang our hat on, whether it’s takeaways or now, after today’s game, just getting off the field on third down,” DeBoer said.

“Those are momentum builders. Those are the positives that you can take from today, apply it and everyone kind of looks at each other and believes that you can go make that play and get that stop.”

DeBoer said it is something Alabama can build off of moving forward as it enters the final month of the regular season. But safety Malachi Moore appreciated the more immediate effects.

“We’re not as tired,” Moore said. “It feels great getting off the field. I think that’s a key thing for us is getting off the field and getting that rest. I feel like we’ve been doing a better job of getting off the field, especially on third, and giving the ball back to the offense.”

Alabama able to secure the shutout

Alabama had held Missouri off the board the entire afternoon, but the Tide inserted some of its reserves in the fourth quarter. The Tigers put together their most productive drive on their final possession, marching 88 yards in 14 plays and 6:42 minutes. Alabama’s backups were gashed for four run plays of 10 or more yards as the Tigers cracked the red zone.

Facing a 4th and 1 at the UA 1, DeBoer sent out his starters to try and preserve the goose egg on the scoreboard. But Moore urged the head coach to call a timeout ahead of the play.

“We kind of got in a little pickle,” Moore said. “There were too many people on the field. I had counted and seen there was too many people. I had seen Coach DeBoer call for it first, and so I was just trying to help him out on that.”

DeBoer added, “I wanted them to really get that shutout there. It’s why I called the timeout. If there was any type of question at all, I wanted to let us get our feet in the ground and be able to play football. So I wanted that for them because I know they’ve been working extremely hard and just staying the course and appreciate the effort today.”

With the correct number of players now on the field, Alabama tried to get one final stop. Damon Payne and Justin Okoronkwo combined to stop Marcus Carroll for a loss and turnover on downs to give the ball back to the offense, which was then able to run out the game clock.

Being able to get a key fourth-down stop and keep Mizzou out of the end zone was “big”

“We wanted to finish the game off on the right foot,” Moore said. “The whole game, we kind of were just going on the 1-0 mentality, then when it gets to the end, we don’t wanna give up any score. For us to come back in the game and get a big 4th and Goal on the one, that’s a big-time spot, and it says a lot about our team responding to adversity.”

DeBoer saw a different level of physicality

Alabama’s defense has been trending up since the loss at Vanderbilt. The Tide has been better on third down each week and has forced 10 combined turnovers in its last three games, but the 34-0 win over Missouri was different to the first-year head coach. He revealed that when he was asked what it was like to play with a comfortable lead, unlike the last three games.

“I thought was a little different level of physicality,” DeBoer said. 

Mizzou was without Cook for part of the game and leading rusher Nate Noel did not play due to injury. Cook was ineffective when he did play, and before the fourth quarter, Alabama only gave up 82 rushing yards – the Tigers produced 85 during the fourth to finish with 167.

The passing attack gets a lot of attention, but DeBoer praised Missouri’s well-roundedness, as well as his defense’s ability to combat that and be the aggressor in the lopsided victory.

“I know they lost their quarterback there, but even when he was in there, we were doing some really good things defensively,” DeBoer said. “The run game has been something that really gets them going, and I thought we were around the football. I know at the end, they popped a couple when we had some different guys in there. But I’m really appreciative of the physicality we brought to the table.

“And the execution. Just being where they’re supposed to be. The play action didn’t really get a chance to open up off any run, so guys were in their spots, eyes were in the right places. Just discipline with their jobs and doing their job at a high level. So always room to improve, and I know we’re gonna continue to do that.”

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