DALLAS -- When A'Shawn Robinson talks, people listen. When he yells ...

Duck.

There's no room for foolishness or lollygaggers when the 308-pound Alabama defensive lineman's keeping an eye on things. Along with Jarran Reed, the defensive anchors have turned into a two-man accountability patrol.

Together, they helped change the mindset of a defense that took a beating this time last year. Now they're back in the College Football Playoffs to right the wrongs of last year's 42-35 loss to Ohio State. Everyone's subject to the scrutiny. When a reporter cited Robinson's weight at 320 pounds, he cut off the question to state that correct 308 figure.

"A'Shawn will call you out on anything if he feels like it's not right," linebacker Reggie Ragland said. "That's the type of guy he is. He helps run the team and if he doesn't like something, he's going to let it be known. If guys aren't running to the ball, he's going to let it be known."

It works, too.

"Yeah," Ragland said incredulously. "Have you seen A'Shawn?"

Robinson said it's a sign of mutual respect. They hold themselves to the same high standard.

"It's very successful," he said. "I'd say me and Reed, we monitor everybody and make sure everything is up to par just like we all have to have our stuff up to par. It's mainly us two controlling that."

Reed's cool with that.

"We have to be the alpha dogs of the team," he said. "Everything starts up front so if you're weak up front, your defense is going to be weak."

Robinson had a similar view of the role.

"As the d-line, you've got to be that enforcer," he said. "You're the dogs of the defense so you have to make sure everybody is on point as well as you are."

It wasn't always that way, though.

Reed said they didn't have that mentality up front last season, his first at Alabama after transferring from junior college. That Ohio State loss was a wake-up call. Buckeye Ezekiel Elliott became the first Alabama opponent to rush for 200-plus yards since Cadillac Williams in 2003.

That didn't sit well in the locker room. The defensive lineman vowed to make a change starting with the off-season conditioning program. They just happen to be considered one of the best defensive fronts in program history. And they're a big reason Alabama's playing Michigan State in Thursday's Cotton Bowl semifinal in Arlington.

The peer-to-peer justice isn't a closed-doors thing. They handle that business right there on the practice field.

"There's nothing to hide," Reed. "We're all men. Nobody takes it personal. There's a fact we have a job to do."

Linebacker Denzel Devall, the serial smiler on Alabama's defense, isn't one to make those kinds of mistakes. And when he does, the senior's not quite so easily intimidated.

"It's funny to me," he said.

Oh yeah?

"Me and A'Shawn, we have a relationship," Devall said with a grin. "He can't pull that tough-guy act on me."

Safety Eddie Jackson said he, Cyrus Jones and Geno Matias-Smith have fun with Robinson. They'll drop their voice to his low octave and shout his trademarked "pick it up" command.

They, like Devall, have been around a while. The rest fall in line quickly -- one group in particular.

"Probably like the skill guys," Devall said. "They kinda run from him."