Stanford came in with 26 seniors and an elite SEC level line on both sides of the ball. This was trench warfare and we got smushed plain and simple! Stanford doesn't have amazing skilled players, they have a "GREAT" O Line line that makes average skilled players look amazing! In order for us to beat them we need to get evil on the D line! Before we attack our D line let's remember they are coached to play the way they play. This then brings up a far more real question asked many times before, can a bend don't break defense win against an elite team with ball control and a huge line? To me Stanford was our best measuring stick to what Bama would do. Ball control, gap penetration, smash mouth, drag their feet second half with a 2 touchdown cushion. Stanford didn't even disguise their power plays, we just couldn't stop it. We have the size on the D line, just not the talent yet to handle a vastly well coached O line. Yesterday was the first time I really sensed how much we miss Clay, Dion and Kiko for gap penetration.
I would say Nick Aliotti should take a good look in the mirror before he addresses his D line in meetings today. His defensive philosophy is great when we are ahead by 30 and teams have to take chances and he can capitalize. Last night Stanford didn't allow either and his defense was exposed, just like Stanford did last year.
In my humble opinion we need a SEC caliber defensive coordinator and "bend don't break" needs to turn into "nasty and intimidating"
This is a fixable problem, but Aliotti needs to change his defensive mindset or be replaced.
Further our kick off return coverage has been rotten for years, giving teams the ball on the 35 or 40 routinely must stop, also very fixable or just kick the ball into the end zone!
We learned a great deal yesterday, and our deficiencies are glaring yet fixable!
