The Alabama Crimson Tide got a decisive 38-14 victory over Wisconsin on Saturday. That result moves this team to 2-1 on the season with a bye week coming up before Kalen DeBoer and company travel to Athens to take on Georgia in Week 5.
If Alabama wants to have success in a hostile environment against the Bulldogs, the pass rusher has to continue what it started against the Badgers on Saturday. After coming into the game without any sacks through the first two weeks, the Crimson Tide managed to bring down Wisconsin quarterback Danny O'Neil four times.
Soon after the win, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer was asked about the uptick in pass rush productivity in Week 3.
"That's great to see," DeBoer told reporters. "We may send some pressure at times, but there were some sacks where our guys just won their one-on-ones and continue to work off each other. There's a couple times where the quarterback made passes, there's gonna be times where there's a lane that opens up. They got good football players, too.
"But for the most part, I thought we were there. And it was the next guy, running to the ball carrier, running to the quarterback. And so just continue to harass them over and over and over. Just being present. So, I love the effort that the guys gave. We'll see more on the film, but it seemed positive."
Obviously, that's exactly the type of performance fans were hoping to see coming into the season. Four sacks from four different players, including LT Overton, Qua Russaw, Yhonzae Pierre and freshman London Simmons. Russaw was one of the players who spoke to the media following the game, and he was glad to do a better job finishing that he did the week before against Louisiana-Monroe.
"It felt good, just taking advantage of my opportunity," Russaw told reporters. "I got an opportunity last week, and I didn't get the quarterback down. So, it felt good."
Apparently, getting quarterbacks on the ground has been an emphasis for Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack, which is understandable when you consider that the Crimson Tide finished the 2024 season tied for No. 69 in sacks per game with just 1.92. Combine that with what we saw through the first two weeks of 2025 with zero sacks, and that's something that had to be addressed.
"He brought that up a lot," Russaw said. "Just emphasizing we got to get the quarterback on the ground. Coming into the week last year, y'all know we ain't do good, do what we needed to do. So, throughout the practice week, we I emphasized that."
Once again, Alabama's defense has to continue moving in this direction. The SEC slate coming up after the bye week isn't going to be kind, and generating as many negative plays as possible for opposing offenses would be a great way to help out an offense that's starting to find its way with Ty Simpson now under center.