Alabama’s defense absolutely shut down Kamario Taylor and the Mississippi State offense, turning in a monstrous performance that saw them roll to a 56-23 win on Saturday. This wasn’t just a win; it was a statement from a defensive unit that looks like it’s finding its groove in a big way.
Kamario Taylor Couldn’t Breathe
The defensive line for Alabama was relentless. They were in Kamario Taylor’s face all night, making him hold onto the ball and daring him to make a play. We’re talking five sacks and nine tackles-for-loss. That’s just suffocating. Defensive lineman London Simmons said their approach is simple: keep sound, keep those gaps locked down, and rush as one unit. You saw that consistency pay off big time against the Bulldogs.
Mississippi State scraped together 302 total yards of offense, with 284 of those coming through the air, but they only averaged 4.3 yards per play. Their run game? Forget about it. Alabama held them to a pathetic 18 rushing yards on 30 attempts. Think about that: less than a yard per carry. Taylor finished with 258 passing yards, three touchdowns, and two picks, completing just 56% of his attempts. He even had to leave the game early in the fourth quarter with an apparent injury after taking hit after hit.
Coach Kalen DeBoer was hyping up his guys up front, saying, “You know that if you can just keep coming after him, we felt like we can get there. We believe in our guys up front, and what they’re capable of.” He knew if they could keep Taylor from throwing quick and force him to hold onto the ball longer, eventually they’d “get home.” And boy, did they ever get home.
Hands Everywhere, Points on the Board
That intense pressure up front turned directly into game-changing takeaways, which is exactly what a championship-level defense does. Safety Bray Hubbard forced a fumble, and London Simmons got one too. Then linebacker Caleb Woodson snagged an interception, and defensive back Dijon Lee Jr. capped it off with another pick that he took to the house! That’s not just a big play for Lee Jr., that’s Alabama’s fourth defensive touchdown in just five games. Are you kidding me?
DeBoer summed it up perfectly, saying his guys are “attacking, and again, it’s playing aggressively. It’s playing confidently.” He added that when they know who’s got their back, they can balance those risk-reward plays. That aggression and confidence are exactly what you saw tonight.
This kind of consistent, aggressive play is exactly what Coach DeBoer has been talking about. With four defensive touchdowns in five games, this unit isn’t just stopping offenses, it’s scoring points. Watch out, because if Alabama keeps this up, their defense is going to be a problem for anyone left on their schedule.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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