Sun Belt Sports Fans

Alabama 41, North Texas 0

Yes, the Alabama Crimson Tide’s biggest tests await. In fact, one of Bama’s five-star showdowns of the season is coming up this weekend when the Arkansas Razorbacks come to Tuscaloosa. However, while contests against downmarket opponents might not get much national buzz, it’s still worth noting that after three games in 2011, the Tide’s defense is cresting.

Yes, Alabama’s defense – the anchor and the soul of the 2009 national title team near the Capstone – is flourishing once again after experiencing a lot of hard knocks in 2010. One year ago, Alabama was getting smoked – particularly in its back line of defense – by the likes of South Carolina and Auburn. This year, Alabama hasn’t yet gotten the chance to confront elite SEC foes, but based on a dominating performance in week three against the North Texas Mean Green, Dixie’s Football Pride is ready to enter conference competition.

North Texas is in a rebuilding phase, that’s true. However, UNT – now led by longtime offensive line coach and former Iowa State boss Dan McCarney – promised to be tougher and far more rugged this season. North Texas made a concerted push to create a new identity, a profile very different from the one it cultivated under former coach Todd Dodge, a guru of the spread passing offense and an advocate of finesse-first football. North Texas wants to be able to punch opponents in the mouth, but in week three, the Crimson Tide wouldn’t allow the Mean Green to do anything of consequence at all.

Alabama’s defense pounced on UNT from the get-go at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The swarming gang of 11, expertly coached by head man Nick Saban and defensive coordinator Kirby Smart, showed that it was ready for Arkansas by limiting the Mean Green to just 169 total yards and only 68 on the ground. This was a shutout that was never in doubt. Whereas, for instance, Eastern Michigan scored only three points against Michigan this past Saturday but constantly threatened to score, UNT didn’t sniff much of anything against Alabama.

The Crimson Tide’s offense got lost in the conversation on Saturday. Yes, Alabama rolled up almost 600 yards of total offense and imposed its will on North Texas’s physically overmatched defense. However, at the end of the day, this Bama bunch is going to sink or swim based on its defensive prowess. After a third straight game in which it has totally dismantled an opposing offense, the Tide’s defense has made the strongest statement possible in non-conference play. As long as this performance continues, the only thing Bama’s offense has to worry about is this: protect the ball.

Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer