On Saturday night in Tiger Stadium, the Alabama Crimson Tide lost Que Robinson, one of their top pass rushers, to injury for the remainder of the 2024 season.
A starter for the Crimson Tide at outside linebacker, Robinson was one of Alabama’s top pass rushers this season. He was tied for the team lead with four sacks. Robinson was in the midst of a career year: 23 tackles, seven TFL, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack commented on the injury as part of his Monday afternoon press conference:
“Que, he’s done a tremendous job this season, and unfortunately will not be with us for the rest of the year,” Wommack said. “That’s a hard thing to go through as a player, and that is certainly hard on us a team. When you have a guy that’s been so productive for us, he’s a leader for us. I’ve been so impressed with Que and his level of urgency every single day, the leadership, and demanding presence in terms of holding the standard that I think he really has brought to some of our younger players and younger guys in that room. He’ll still have to continue some of those roles of being a great leader, he’s just going to have to do it from an off-the-field role.”
Wommack addressed how Alabama will try to replace Robinson:
“We’ll have to continue to step up and move on without him,” Wommack said. “I’ve got a lot of confidence in some of our younger players that I think have stepped up in that position already. Qua Russaw, and Yhonzae Pierre is doing a really good job, and am starting to get more out of him. Those guys are excited for the challenge of next man up mentality, and when you look in, as the season goes on, these are the defining moments. Do players step up in the moment when they’re needed, and ultimately that will determine our success here in the back end of the season.”
Another option Alabama and Wommack could use is inside linebacker Jihaad Campbell off the edge, which is a position he saw time at in high school.
“We’re doing those things with Jihaad already as a pass rusher, and some sub-package things,” Wommack said. “He’s such a difference maker wherever you put him on the field, and you want to find creative ways to get him one-on-one matchups from a pass rush standpoint. There’s things that we can do from a standpoint of if we show him as a defensive end, and then drop him into coverage, then there’s different things scheme-wise we can do from that perspective. Certainly in terms of giving us pass rush, I think that is a piece of his game, and that is what to me makes him such a well-rounded player. You can play him as an inside backer, an outside backer, or a rush edge. That dude’s playing four different positions for us right now, and is able to hold a lot of volume in terms of what we ask him to do. Jihaad’s playing at a really high level, and we’re going to utilize him any way we can.”
Yes, the loss of Robinson is a big one for Alabama’s defense. However, the Crimson Tide have multiple depth options that could play key roles in withstanding injuries at outside linebacker.
