Alabama defense reasserts its dominance in Vandy shutout

NASHVILLE (TNS) — Amid the smiles after a dominant victory, there was little satisfaction to be found among several members of Alabama’s defense Saturday evening.

A program which annually features one of the top defenses nationally, the Crimson Tide (4-0, 1-0 SEC) reasserted itself with a 59-0 win over Vanderbilt, which began the game with the nation’s No. 1-ranked defense.

“We knew we hadn’t played our best game yet, and today we came out and we played to the standard that coach (Nick) Saban always talks about,” middle linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton said. “I’m sure there’s still a few things we can correct, but this was good momentum to get into SEC play.”

Coming off a disappointing win over Colorado State, which rolled up 23 points and nearly 400 yards, coaches made sure their players understood that that was unacceptable.

“The coaches challenged us a lot throughout the week and we responded to the challenges,” Hamilton said. “So we came out and got after it, and it showed today.”

Much to the pleasure of head coach Nick Saban.

“I thought this was our best week of practice defensively (this season), and I think it showed in the way we played in the game,” Saban said. “I was really pleased with the way the defense played, and I was really pleased with the way they practiced all week.”

There was plenty to be pleased about.

Alabama’s yardage differential of 599 yards (677-78) was the largest in school history, surpassing the previous best of 544 in a 77-6 blowout of Virginia Tech in 1973. The 78 total yards allowed was the fewest since giving up 92 yards in a 34-0 win over Louisiana-Monroe in 2015.

The shutout was particularly rewarding for several players.

“Definitely, that was one of our goals today and we accomplished it,” Ronnie Harrison said.

Alabama once again sits atop the SEC standings in scoring defense (10.0 ppg) and rushing defense (70.25 ypg).

Alabama never allowed Vanderbilt past its own 44-yard-line, and was 1 of 10 in third-down conversions. Vandy’s deepest penetration and one first down came on its first possession.

Beginning with a tipped interception by safety Ronnie Harrison, the Commodores finished 0-for-9 on third downs and tallied just two more first downs over the final 58 minutes of action.

“I think it went interception, punt, punt, fumble, … you have to stay on the field and finish drives,” Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason said of the team’s first four offensive series. “(Alabama) dominated time of possession, (and) that can’t happen.”

Kyle Shurmur, who entered the game as the SEC’s leader in pass efficiency and completion percentage, certainly didn’t finish that way after completing just 4 of 15 passes for just 18 yards and an interception.

Despite not registering a sack for the second straight game and just a single tackle for loss, Saban credited an improved pass rush for “affecting him a little bit.”

Part of the difference on defense was the return of veteran linebackers Rashaan Evans and Anfernee Jennings, who both missed the previous two games injuries.

“We really just wanted to play with passion, man, that’s what I told the guys, we just have to play with more passion like we love this game,” Evans said. “And I felt like we did that this game, (but) we want to continue to do that this year.”