The side of the football with the most uncertainty heading into the 2013 season for Alabama was the defense. After finishing 2012 with the stingiest defense in the nation, five players were taken in the 2013 NFL Draft, including a starter at each level. The big question was would the newcomers be able to step in and have the same impact or would the Crimson Tide deal with unfamiliar growing pains?

The beginning of the year didn't do much to convince fans that this unit was on par with some of Nick Saban's elite groups. In a much-anticipated rematch with Texas A&M, Johnny Manziel torched the Tide on a record-breaking afternoon in College Station. 628 yards and 42 points later, pessimism began to set in around Tuscaloosa.

But fast-forward five weeks. Despite that historically bad effort in September, Alabama has reclaimed the nation's best scoring defense before the calendar moves into November.

How have things changed so dramatically? Simply put, the Crimson Tide is in the middle of its best defensive stretch under Saban. Let's look at some numbers:

  • Alabama has held opponents scoreless in 17 of 20 quarters since Texas A&M.
  • Alabama has only allowed 16 points in five games (3.2 per game). To give you some perspective, Saban's previous best was 29 points in five games during 2011,  the 2005 defense allowed 19 points, and the 1992 defense's best five-game stretch ended with 28 points allowed.
  • The Crimson Tide has only allowed 142.8 passing yards per game, 74.2 rushing yards per game, and only 217 total yards per game.

Keep in mind that this team has done this with starting defensive back Deion Belue missing time with a toe injury and starting safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix missing a couple of games due to a suspension. Despite a number of new players getting significant playing time, Alabama hasn't let up on its defensive domination.

With a good LSU and Auburn offense still remaining, the numbers might trend back up. But Alabama is back in position to lead the nation in total defense for the third straight season.

No one would have predicted that in September.

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