Alabama has found a magical salve to shelter its young defense early this season: a high-powered offense.
The Crimson Tide, which faced preseason questions due to an inexperienced defense, has made it easier by building quick leads and forcing opposing offenses to try to keep up.
"The way they throw the ball, they can score fast, or they can put together a long drive to take up the whole quarter," Tide defensive lineman Damion Square said. "As a defensive player, that's big time to know that you can make three stops in a game and the offense is going to put up points every time you make a stop."
Alabama, which visits Arkansas on Saturday, has scored at least twice in its first three possessions of each game so far. The Tide leads the Southeastern Conference in total offense.
"It really helps us out because it keeps us off the field and it keeps us fresh when we do go in," linebacker Jerrell Harris said. "It helps us out in the long run."
With the help, the defense has also shined. Alabama has the best total defense in the conference, too.
"We haven't needed to take much pressure off them," offensive lineman Barrett Jones said. "They've done a great job. We've just try to go out there and score as many points as we can, week in, week out."
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Defined roles: Alabama's rushing attack makes things so much easier on the offensive line, Jones said.
A pancake block isn't required or, with Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson running the ball, ever necessary.
"With our RBs, we cover up guys and make them make arm tackles. Our RBs do a great job of breaking arm tackles. I'm not sure if I've seen an arm tackle bring one of them down all year."
Plus, the linemen don't need to worry about helping those two in the defensive backfield.
"We also say we leave the safeties and corners for them," Jones said. "They usually take care of the rest."
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