Alabama football defensive coordinator Kane Wommack he learned the lesson years ago from his father Dave.

Takeaways are almost like muscle memory.

“You’ve got to keep preaching it,” Wommack said. “You have to keep drilling it.”

So does Wommack, and he did. Again and again and again. As a result, Crimson Tide no. 7 has become one of the best nations in taking the ball away from the opposing offense.

Alabama has won at least three awards in five consecutive games. The Crimson Tide (8-2, 4-2 SEC) averages 2.4 takeaways per game, No. 3 in the nation.

That’s one more turnover per game than a season ago (1.4 per game, which ranked 58th nationally). In 2022, Alabama averaged 1.1 sacks per game. In 2021, 1.3. Even in 2020, the most recent national championship season, the defense averaged fewer turnovers: 1.7 per game.

Did Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer see this when he hired Wommack?

“Yes, I did,” DeBoer said. “I think given the nature of some of the things he really liked to do, and I think this year for Kane there’s been a combination of trying to incorporate what you’ve done in the past but also adapting to you. personnel and maybe where your strengths are with our defense right now.”

And creating a constant focus on takeaways.

Every practice, Alabama’s defense takes part in a pick-and-roll circuit. Wommack said it started in the spring, then continued in fall camp and on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during practices during the season.

There are six different exercises. Each has a different point of emphasis. One could be interceptions. Another, pushing the ball. Another, raking the defender. If there’s a way to take the ball away from the offense, Alabama’s defense practices it.

“What happens is, all of a sudden, you’re doing those drills day in and day out, and then you go to scout team periods and say, ‘OK, this period right here, we’re not going to work on approaches. , we will work on hitting the ball. I don’t want to see any conclusion,” Wommack said. “All I want to see is you punch the ball.”

If Alabama’s players aren’t doing enough, Wommack will let them know. Loud. This also applies to interceptions.

“If we give up too many picks in practice, he’s going to end up with that too just because we’re leaving them on the floor,” safety Malachi Moore said.

Buy-in from the players was key. It’s not just about the reps, it’s about the mindset. Alabama’s defense values ​​getting the ball.

“That changes the whole narrative of the game,” linebacker Jihaad Campbell said. “That gets the offense down the field to score points. That’s football right there. That shows care. That shows toughness.”

A bag is good, but a webbing bag is much better. A deflected pass is good, but an interception is better. A tackle for a loss is good, but forcing a fumble is better.

Wommack did that, and the players took it to heart.

“When Domani Jackson comes off the rim on a corner kick, he’s thinking, ‘Oh, I’ve got a chance to knock this ball down,’ and that’s the exact same drill he’s been doing for nine months now, he’s hitting the ball in that.” the exact moment,” Wommack said.

Consider muscle memory.

Alabama has developed it, which has become clear in recent games. Now, the Crimson Tide will look to continue the sweep on Saturday (6:30 p.m., ABC) in Norman against Oklahoma.

“It becomes the identity of who we are as a team,” Wommack said. “He’s got to keep moving forward.”