A Look Ahead to Alabama: The Front Seven

Virginia Tech will face a very big and very talented defensive front when
they line up against Alabama on September 5. The Tide will be a tough team to
block. Fortunately for the Hokies, they have experience playing against a
defensive front seven that schemes in a similar way to Alabama.

Alabama’s basic scheme is a 3-4, but in reality they are a versatile defense
that can use multiple fronts. They have big, athletic linebackers who are bigger
than Virginia Tech’s defensive ends. At any point those guys can pass rush off
the edge, or they can all drop back into coverage and make things difficult for
opposing quarterbacks. While Virginia Tech has seen a similar scheme in UVA’s
defense, the Hoos don’t run it with the type of talent that Alabama possesses.

The Numbers

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