UCLA Football Preview: Bama State Defense Hasn't Seen an Offense as Fast as the Bruins
UCLA Football Preview: Bama State Defense Hasn't Seen an Offense as Fast as the Bruins
How will the Hornet defense keep up with the Bruin offense, which plays almost 50% faster than Bama State's previous opponents?
UCLA Football Preview: Bama State Defense Hasn't Seen an Offense as Fast as the Bruins
The Hornet base defense looks to be a little different. Expect Bama State to play with four defensive linemen. Beyond that, it gets more complex. The Hornets will start two linebackers and four defensive backs.
However, rather than playing a straight 4-3 defense with four linemen and three linebackers, the final position appears to be a hybrid linebacker/corner to help with pass coverage without going to a true nickel defense.
Defensive Line
The Bama State defensive line is filled almost exclusively with upperclassmen. Redshirt junior Andrew Ogletree will get the start at nose tackle. So, even though they are playing four linemen, one of the two tackles will line up over the center.
The other tackle will be redshirt senior Brandon Gaddy. Gaddy is currently tied for second on the team in tackles with 13 including 4 TFLs.
On the outside of the defensive line, the Hornets will start senior Nelson Jordan II and sophomore Stefon Young-Rolle. Young-Rolle appears to be one of the playmakers on the Bama State defense. He leads the team with three sacks and he has made nine tackles including 3.5 TFLs so far this season. Jordan will see his first action of the season this week. He is the third player to start in this position in three weeks.
Linebackers
The linebacking unit is the least experienced on the Hornet defense with two sophomores and a freshman starting. Redshirt sophomore middle linebacker Colton Adams appears to be one of the best guys on the defense. He is the team leader in tackles with 14 but just one has been a TFL. Sophomore Demaurez Bellamy is the weakside linebacker and he has made eight tackles so far including one TFL.
Freshman Adrian Maddox will start at the hybrid linebacker/DB spot. The importance of this role in the Alabama State defense is witnessed by the fact that Maddox’s 13 tackles ties him for second in tackles. At the same time, he is the only Hornet to grab an interception so far. Maddox’s backup Cail Jackson, Jr. played at Ventura College last season.
Secondary
The secondary will see Bama State start three seniors and a junior. Strong safety Irshaad Davis is the only non-senior starting in the unit. Despite that, Davis was a first team all-SWAC selection last season. Jeffery Scott will be the other starting safety.
While left corner Naytron Culpepper has recorded just four tackles so far this season, he was named to the Second Team all-SWAC last year. Culpepper leads the team in pass breakups with three. On the right side, Keenan Isaac is the team’s leading tackler in the secondary. So far, he has 10 tackles including 0.5 TFLs. Isaac is second in pass breakups with two.
Analysis
On paper, the Bama State defense looks formidable. They are averaging 123 yards rushing per game and 123.5 yards passing. But their two opponents have been Howard and Miles College. While their opponents have run about 70 plays per game against them, it will be interesting to see how the Hornet defense holds up against an offense designed to play even faster than that.
Personally, I think beating the nearly 50-point spread will be tough, but it isn’t out of the realm of possibility. However, UCLA cannot come out sloppy like they did last week against Bowling Green.
Go Bruins!!!
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