Scoring touches off competition on defense
Da’Ron Payne hasn’t stopped talking about his touchdown for three weeks. The University of Alabama defensive tackle likes to remind everyone about it – especially players who haven’t yet scored themselves. It has gotten to a point where linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton is just about sick of hearing his relentless chatter.
Payne doesn’t plan on stopping any time soon, though.
“He scored a two-inch touchdown,” Hamilton said. “He’s thinking that he ran 100 yards or something.”
It wasn’t two inches, nor was it 100 yards. Payne ran into the end zone off a 3-yard fumble recovery early into the third quarter at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
The bragging rights should be shared, though. Payne wasn’t the only defensive lineman to score during that game. Jonathan Allen recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter, and he ran it back a long 75 yards for a score.
Yet, Payne seems to be more vocal about his moment of glory.
“He thinks he’s some kind of world-class athlete when I’m sure that (Alabama coach Nick) Saban probably could have picked up the fumble and walked, took one step and scored a touchdown,” Hamilton said.
Payne simply shrugs off Hamilton’s jibes.
“He’s just hating,” Payne said.
It’s a fun competition growing within the Crimson Tide defense, but not without some backing.
Alabama leads the nation with five defensive scores in as many games this season. Opposing offenses have only posted five touchdowns against the unit. The only time the defense didn’t make it into the end zone was against Kent State, but neither did the Golden Flashes.
“I think every defensive player probably visualizes about it day in and day out,” defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson said. “But if it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t.”
It hasn’t happened for Tomlinson yet, but at least Payne and Allen represent the rest of the defensive line. The defensive backs lead the way with three of them having found ways to score.
Marlon Humphrey started the trend during Alabama’s season opener against Southern Cal, returning an interception 18 yards for a touchdown. Eddie Jackson did the same against Western Kentucky, but from 55 yards out. Ronnie Harrison was the outlier, scoring off a 55-yard fumble recovery rather than an interception during Alabama’s most recent game against Kentucky.
The linebackers are the only defensive bunch that has not scored.
“We talk about that as a group, ‘Why haven’t we scored yet?’” linebacker Rashaan Evans said.
The focus, however, remains on turnovers. Any touchdown is just an extra bonus.
Besides, without Evans’ help, Harrison wouldn’t have been able to add his name to Alabama's touchdowns list. Evans sacked Kentucky quarterback Stephen Johnson, ultimately forcing the fumble Harrison was able to run off with for a touchdown.
“It’s attacking the ball that’s been the thing that we’ve emphasized the most,” Saban said. “It’s not about the resulting touchdown.”
Some players beg to differ, though. The internal competition remains.
“One linebacker has got to get in the end zone,” Hamilton said.