Depth on defense paying dividends for Tide

TUSCALOOSA — Alabama linebacker Dont’a Hightower went down with a season-ending knee injury and Nico Johnson and Cory Reamer have stepped up.

Crimson Tide cornerback Javier Arenas missed Saturday night’s game with bruised ribs and Tyrone King and Marquis Johnson stepped in.

Backup nose tackle Josh Chapman was sidelined with an abdominal strain Saturday and Kerry Murphy answered the call.

While the season’s bumps and bruises have mounted in recent weeks, Alabama’s defense has changed its looks but not its results.

The Crimson Tide, top-ranked in the Associated Press poll this week and No. 2 in the BCS standings, hasn’t given up a touchdown in eight quarters. They lead the SEC in rushing defense (63 yards per game) and total defense (227 ypg).

Alabama defensive end Lorenzo Washington remembers when the team could not have sustained similar injuries and stayed successful.

“In 2007 I broke my ribs in the Tennessee game. I played the whole second half of the season with broke ribs,” Washington said before Monday’s practice.

Sitting out wasn’t really an option at the time. No one was ready to play behind him.

“There was nobody ... I didn’t have a choice,” he said. “Unless you absolutely couldn’t go, you had to go.”

Washington noted that quality depth doesn’t just help in an emergency. It affords players to catch a breather during the game.

“It’s just beneficial,” he said. “Javy had whatever was wrong with his ribs. It’s beneficial for him to sit out so he didn’t aggravate it more. He’s out there playing defense and then returning (kicks). He’s getting hit all the time. That game rest is going to help him along on down the season.”

Alabama coach Nick Saban said the defense has played well in the wake of losing Hightower. And the loss of Arenas Saturday was a test, too. But he also noted the season-ending knee injury to Damion Square early in the season was significant.

“I know from your standpoint Damion Square is not a household name around here, but he was a very good player and had a significant role as a defensive end,” the coach said.

“So we just have to have people continue to step up and fill these roles, play hard, execute, do the right things so that we can execute together as a team,” Saban said. “So far, we’ve been able to do that.”

Middle linebacker Rolando McClain said he’s encouraged with the progress the linebackers have made since Hightower’s injury.

“They practice like they’re starters, so when Dont’a went down, Nico stepped in and did a good job and Cory stepped in and did a good job,” McClain said.

Alabama played much more out of its nickel package against South Carolina, so Johnson’s playing time was reduced. But McClain said the freshman from Andalusia is getting more comfortable.

“I can tell in practice. He’s working hard and he watches a lot of film,” McClain said. “He comes in early. Sometimes he beats me in to watch film and that’s surprising.

“He’s doing a good job in practice, probably because he knows what to do. If you can play without thinking at linebacker, you can be so much better. That’s what he’s doing — reacting instead of thinking.”

McClain said he wants to see more of that from Johnson.

“Nico is a freshman. I don’t expect him to know everything. I don’t expect him to be perfect,” he said. “I told him before the game if you see the ball, get it. I don’t care if you make 100 mistakes. If you see the ball, go tackle the person with the ball.”

Washington said Murphy did a nice job filling in for Chapman, who plays for Terrence Cody in most third-down situations.

“I think Kerry did very good, especially on short notice,” the defensive lineman said. “He’s been in there practicing and been in the rotation some, but I don’t necessarily think he was expecting to play. Everybody thought Chap was going to go. He wanted to go, too.”

Murphy’s comfort level with the defense is getting better.

“The thing coming in with anybody, especially on that defensive side, is it’s a difficult system to learn and play in,” Washington said. “A lot of it’s technique and knowing your assignments. ... I think he’s done a good job trying to learn.”