Evolution of a Process: Change in defensive philosophy – Tuscaloosa News (subscription)

By Aaron Suttles Sports Writer

Editors note: This is the third in a series. For more on this series, go to http://www.tidesports.com

For a stretch of time, no defense was as large and fierce as the University of Alabamas. Not coincidentally, it was the most feared defense in the country during that period, too.

Terrence Cody came to Alabama weighing more than 400 pounds, and big-bodied players flying around became the norm, although none were as large as Mount Cody. At its frightening height in the Nick Saban era, the Alabama defense regularly had linebackers weigh more than 260 pounds.

It was a time of league and national dominance for Crimson Tide defenders, who threw that weight around.

Then along came Kevin Sumlin and Johnny Manziel into Tuscaloosa in 2012 and things began to change. Offenses got faster and used the entire width of the field. They made defenses uncomfortable and flat-out exhausted with their pace.

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Evolution of a Process: Change in defensive philosophy - Tuscaloosa News (subscription)