The Alabama defense has a clear EDGE versus Texas
The Alabama Crimson Tide under Nick Saban consistently has star power on the defensive side of the ball. For Alabama’s 2022 team, three of their defense’s biggest stars are located at EDGE with Will Anderson, Dallas Turner, and Chris Braswell.
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“All three very athletic, play with great effort and great motor, and have the skill set to win with one-on-one pass rush opportunities,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday.
Those three EDGE defenders may be what keeps Sarkisian and offensive coordinator Kyle Flood up into the night ahead of the Longhorns’ tussle with the No. 1 Tide, especially considering who they’ll task with stopping the dynamic trio.
In his second career start, true freshman Kelvin Banks will be asked to hold up at left tackle. On the other side of the line, redshirt senior Christian Jones will face the most difficult challenge of his career at right tackle. How much success those two players, one brand new to the college football and the other near the end of an up-and-down career, have stopping the best defenders in the sport will determine much of the Longhorn offense’s fortune.
Jones and Banks will have some help in the backfield in passing situations when players like Roschon Johnson and Bijan Robinson stay in to protect. Johnson admitted Monday he knows he has to keep an eye on Anderson, who recorded 5.0 tackles with one for loss against Utah State.
“He plays very well,” Johnson said. “He plays hard. He runs to the ball. He does all the things that you would want from a defensive end. We’re definitely going to have to gameplan and account for him.”
Though Anderson and Turner will draw most of the attention, but Braswell is an intimidating player in his own right. After a quiet 2021, Braswell started this year strong with four tackles, one for loss, and a forced fumble against the Aggies. Turner acknowledged Monday the progress Braswell has made since last year and explained why he’s a challenging player to stop.
“I think for Chris, I think what makes him unique is he has great speed,” Anderson said Monday. “He has big, heavy hands. He’s very good against the run. He can pass rush very good, he’s a good player, and we’re excited to have him on the team.”
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Aside from keeping backs in to protect quarterback Quinn Ewers and help the Longhorn tackles, Sarkisian plans to utilize every available method to bolster his team’s ability to block Anderson, Turner, and Braswell. In the Texas win over Louisiana-Monroe, offensive lineman Andrej Karic wore No. 92 and lined up as a tight end on a handful of snaps.
Part of the reason behind the move was to shore up tight end depth in light of Jahleel Billingsley‘s NCAA suspension and give Jeff Banks‘ tight end room needed numbers. Against Alabama, it offers Sarkisian an extra blocker capable of assisting the Longhorn offensive tackles.
“It’s one thing to do it and then just hold onto it for an emergency,” Sarkisian said. “I’m of the mindset that if we’re going to practice something, let’s put it to use. We were able to get him in there some at tight end. We didn’t major in it, but it’s good to know he can go in there and function if need be.”
Starting a true freshman and an inconsistent senior against three of the best EDGE defenders in the nation is not an ideal situation for Sarkisian and company. The Crimson Tide trio create a distinct disadvantage for the Longhorn offense ahead of Saturday’s game.
Between max-protect sets and six O-lineman looks, Texas is pulling out all the stops to try and diminish the effect Anderson, Turner, and Braswell have on the game.
How effective the plan is won’t be known until Saturday.
