On Monday afternoon, Iron Bowl week officially began for the Alabama Crimson Tide, as head coach Kalen DeBoer, as well as coordinators Nick Sheridan and Kane Wommack, took to the podium to preview the looming showdown with the Auburn Tigers on Saturday.
In this, each gave their thoughts on Auburn, while also taking a look back at some of the things that went wrong this past Saturday against Oklahoma.
Taking a look at Wommack in particular, here is everything that the Alabama defensive coordinator said about Auburn’s offense on Monday:
Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack comments on Auburn Tigers
“Very impressed with Auburn, and the way that they are playing right now,” Wommack said. “Obviously, my background, I have know Hugh Freeze for a long time, and have known a number of people on that staff, and think that they have done a really good job of getting their guys to continue to play at a really physical level, and they are playing really hard, and I thought those things showed up the other night against Texas A&M. Like everyone in the SEC, there has been some ups-and-downs, and it’s about fighting and finding a way to finish, and they are certainly doing that right now.”
Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack comments on Auburn running back Jarquez Hunter
“From a run game standpoint, they present a number of challenges for you,” Wommack said. “I think Jarquez Hunter is a phenomenal back, as tough of a back as we have seen. Creates a lot of yards after contact. Does a really good job of finding ways of being patient to create explosive plays in the run game. You’ve got some one-plus style offense with the quarterback, and then guys on the perimeter that can make explosive plays downfield, so we’ll have our work cut out for us, and am looking forward to the challenge, and excited to go play in a great rivalry game.”
Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack comments on Hugh Freeze’s offense
“I think like any good coordinator, he has found ways over the years to adjust to his personnel,” Wommack said. “I think that’s the challenge for everybody as you move to the end of the season, identifying what you do well as a team, but also what wrinkles you have to have. You’ve got to constantly be mixing and changing things in the SEC, and I think he’s done a really nice job of that the last couple of weeks. They are committed to running the football, and they are committed to creating explosive plays in their passing game downfield, and those are the things I think would be the staple of who he’s been over the years, and he’s done that a number of different ways and facets with different quarterbacks and offensive skill players. Ultimately, I think they do a great job of finding ways to establish a run, and then using that run game to create explosive plays downfield in the play-action game as well. RPO’s are certainly a piece of what they do, it always has been, and so they make you defend the lateral space out of their run game as well.”