Alabama football’s head coach Kalen DeBoer revealed Monday LT Overton was doubtful ahead of the Crimson Tide’s upcoming playoff game against Oklahoma.
The defensive lineman missed the SEC Championship with what DeBoer described as an ‘illness.’ Overton has been a consistent force for the Tide when healthy. He has 35 total tackles this season to go along with six tackles for loss and four sacks.
Wommack feels the different personnel groupings his defense runs will help the Tide make up for Overton’s absence.
“I counted up the other day,” Wommack said. “I think we’ve had 16 different personnel groupings that we’ve carried in games, which is more than what I’ve done in the past. But I think it’s how we utilize our roster better, and we’ll continue to do those things in moving guys around, so that we can generate a pass rush, get the right people on the field at the right time.”
The Alabama defensive coordinator went on to point out specific players, who will fill the bandit (field-size defensive end) role against Oklahoma.
“But certainly Jordan Renard, you’ve seen Keon Keeley,” Wommack told reporters. “We’ve even moved in certain packages, you’ve seen James Smith play the bandit field position.”
Overton has been able to affect different quarterbacks this season with four quarterback hurries to go along with his four sacks. Wommack plans to use the Tide’s Wolf linebackers (edge rushers) more in place of Overton in pass-rush situations with the veteran out.
“And then from a pass rush standpoint, which you asked about, I don’t know if you noticed, we’ve been doing this for six, seven weeks now, but putting Yonzae Pierre over there a little bit, and then putting one of those other Wolves in there from a pass rush standpoint,” Wommack said. “So, we’ll continue to find different personnel groupings. I think that’s my job. We’re not reinventing the wheel in terms of what we’re doing defensively, but who goes in what places and how we move those guys around. I mean, to me, that’s a big piece of what I do here on the backend of the season.”
Alabama travels to Norman to take on Alabama on Friday. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CST.
