Kane Wommack wants Alabama football defense to focus on these areas before Tennessee

Alabama football got the win against South Carolina, but the defense still had some issues.

Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kane Wommack listed several areas where his side of the ball needs to continue working to improve.

He cited “lack of execution” on third down.

“Not putting our eyes in the right place, doing our job at a consistent level,” Wommack said. “So those are things that we’ve got to continue to do, and that’s not just in pass coverage. Some of it was in pass rush.”

Wommack said he thinks Alabama has made improvements in its pass rush and generating pressure. “But we’re still not optimizing our ability to rush as a unit on a consistent basis and then play coverage on a consistent basis on third down, and particularly fourth down.”

Alabama allowed South Carolina to convert 7 of 15 third-down attempts. That was an improvement from allowing Vanderbilt to convert 12 of 18 the week prior, but not far off.

That’s why the focus remains on third down and the elements of good third down defense such as pass rush and coverage.

“So those are certainly the areas that we’ve got to emphasize as we moving forward,” Wommack said.

Wommack said if Alabama wants to be the defense it is capable of being, it must execute at a more consistent level on third down.

It will have its next opportunity on Saturday as No. 7 Alabama travels to Knoxville to face No. 11 Tennessee.