TAKEAWAYS from Alabama's DEFENSIVE performance vs. Texas A&M | CFB, SEC | Travis Reier & Jimmy Stein

Jimmy, we're shifting gears this afternoon to the Alabama defense, which, like the offense... found itself working into the depth chart at various spots of the unit as Saturday's game against Texas A&M wore on.

Among the issues, Jimmy, another Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. suspension that we become aware of.

Red Morgan is ejected from the game for targeting there in the first half.

And then some of the injuries up front that played into maybe A&M having success on the ground there in the first three quarters of the game.

Yeah, you hate spending so much time talking about injuries, but it is a major story with this team after playing eight consecutive weeks without a bye and just being banged up.

I think in terms of losing guys for the season, it hasn't been that bad probably compared to most teams, probably about average or so.

But in terms of getting guys just banged up and either playing hurt or out for a few weeks, boy, it totals up, and it affects everything, Travis.

For instance, Devin Tompkins started the season playing both outside at Bandit and inside, but then you lose Desmond Yumiozulu.

No one else has really any real experience at that time at Bandit, so now Tompkins has to play outside more than the plant.

That was more than you, and that affects the pass rush because he's a great pass rusher for his size.

But he doesn't flash to the quarterback like a typical 245 pound player.

He's a big 300 pound dude.

So he's outside almost all the time.

And then what happens? Then you lose Terrence Green.

You really need Tompkins inside once you lose Terrence Green, but you can't afford to move him inside full time.

Now, thankfully, Fatua Toa Henry has developed.

We're going to talk about him incessantly during this during this happy hour show.

But it just shows how the injuries affect things.

You've got to play Tompkins outside more than you want.

And then while you're doing that, you also lose Terrence Green inside.

And then in the secondary, as you alluded to, Alabama really has only played, I can't recall a fourth one.

They've only played three guys at Husky through eight games.

The starter, Red Morgan, and the backups, Drake Kirkpatrick and Chuck McDonald.

Well, you lose Drake or Patrick to the second suspension.

You know, is that going to be permanent? I don't know.

Jimmy, we're shifting gears this afternoon to the Alabama defense, which, like the offense... found itself working into the depth chart at various spots of the unit as Saturday's game against Texas A&M wore on.

Among the issues, Jimmy, another Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. suspension that we become aware of.

Red Morgan is ejected from the game for targeting there in the first half.

And then some of the injuries up front that played into maybe A&M having success on the ground there in the first three quarters of the game.

Yeah, you hate spending so much time talking about injuries, but it is a major story with this team after playing eight consecutive weeks without a bye and just being banged up.

I think in terms of losing guys for the season, it hasn't been that bad probably compared to most teams, probably about average or so.

But in terms of getting guys just banged up and either playing hurt or out for a few weeks, boy, it totals up, and it affects everything, Travis.

For instance, Devin Tompkins started the season playing both outside at Bandit and inside, but then you lose Desmond Yumiozulu.

No one else has really any real experience at that time at Bandit, so now Tompkins has to play outside more than the plant.

That was more than you, and that affects the pass rush because he's a great pass rusher for his size.

But he doesn't flash to the quarterback like a typical 245 pound player.

He's a big 300 pound dude.

So he's outside almost all the time.

And then what happens? Then you lose Terrence Green.

You really need Tompkins inside once you lose Terrence Green, but you can't afford to move him inside full time.

Now, thankfully, Fatua Toa Henry has developed.

We're going to talk about him incessantly during this during this happy hour show.

But it just shows how the injuries affect things.

You've got to play Tompkins outside more than you want.

And then while you're doing that, you also lose Terrence Green inside.

And then in the secondary, as you alluded to, Alabama really has only played, I can't recall a fourth one.

They've only played three guys at Husky through eight games.

The starter, Red Morgan, and the backups, Drake Kirkpatrick and Chuck McDonald.

Well, you lose Drake or Patrick to the second suspension.

You know, is that going to be permanent? I don't know.