Loeffler said Tide D is toughest test yet

Heading into the 77th Iron Bowl, the Alabama defense is No. 1 in the SEC in scoring, total yards, passing yards and rushing yards. Even though the Tigers have gone up against top-notch defenses like LSU and Georgia, offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler said the Alabama defense will be the toughest the Tigers have seen all year.

“Absolutely,” Loeffler said. “That’s not to downplay the LSU defenses, the Georgias of the world, because they’re excellent also. But this is a big, powerful, stout front. They understand their job, they play great team defense. They play together as a unit. The linebackers are young and talented and I think its an exceptionally well-coached secondary.”

Alabama’s rush defense is No. 3 in the country and holding opponents to 75.6 yards a game so there will most likely be a heavy burden placed on the passing game. Loeffler said he will take lessons from LSU and Texas A&M, who are the only two opponents Alabama has allowed to break 300 total yards all season.

“Just go look at, the rush defense stats in our conference are unbelievable,” Loeffler said. “If you watched how LSU and Texas A&M were moving the ball, they had to put it in the air. That’s the formula.”