Since 2008, the Alabama defense has finished outside the top 10 nationally in total defense a grand total of one time, in 2014, when it finished 12th. That particular unit was caught transitioning between being the big, sometimes lumbering and intimidating defense it was in the beginning of the Crimson Tide dynasty to the sleeker group that has continued the empire’s rule.



What does this have to do with the 2018 defense? Not much, other than a remarkable run of consistency through the exodus of talent each and every season. Early departures to the NFL? No problem. Alabama always fields a top-10 defense.



What makes that stat all the more impressive is the fact that, in all of those seasons (2008-13, 2015-17), the defense ranked inside the top five. For context, no other school in the country had more than three top-five seasons in total defense in that span (Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Ohio State, TCU and Wisconsin).



With eight drafted players...