Defense way ahead of Tide offense so far

Let’s review: Alabama rushed 43 times for fewer than 70 yards in Friday’s scrimmage.

The Crimson Tide defense ran up nine sacks, 13 tackles for loss and three interceptions, including Tyrone King’s 24-yard return for a touchdown.

Somebody hide the sharp objects around offensive coordinator Jim McElwain. He might be having night terrors, thinking the Easter Bunny wears No. 25 and plays middle linebacker.

McElwain gets no quarter when facing Nick Saban’s defense. While the coordinator is off limits to media most days, McElwain has been entertaining — and brutally honest — in rare interview sessions.

“Going against what our defense does and what those guys do in that defensive meeting room makes you realize maybe you don’t know that much ball, know what I’m saying?” he said in his most recent appearance.

“These guys are really good. Other than really getting depressed after a couple spring practices … The great thing is what you see against them is cutting edge,” McElwain said. “There’s things that you’re going to see and it helps you prepare in the long haul and for your guys to see those different looks. No, I can’t say enough about our defense. They’re really good.”

Which is what you would expect the offensive coordinator to say after his unit couldn’t move the ball against a veteran squad with nine returning starters.

Only those comments didn’t come this spring. They were from the week before the Sugar Bowl, and they were about last season. When Alabama’s questions surrounded its young linebacker corps, thin defensive front and inconsistent secondary. When McElwain inherited four returning starters and two All-Americans in his offensive line. When he had the school’s record-setting quarterback for his senior season.

Can you imagine McElwain’s torment so far this spring? He might consider trading places with Capt. Richard Phillips right now. With Rolando McClain solidly in the middle, right behind Terrence Cody? With Saban moving Dont’a Hightower all over the field? With Javier Arenas looking like a shutdown corner?

Things have looked pretty different on his side of the ball, too. No Antoine Caldwell at center. Marlon Davis is gone. Andre Smith is headed to the NFL. Both tight ends will be new. Greg McElroy has potential, but John Parker Wilson has started the last three seasons.

McElwain and offensive line coach Joe Pendry are undoubtedly submerged in finding the right combination up front, the strengths of a new group of players and, yes, an identity for a unit that played punishing football that made very few mistakes a year ago.

That’s a tall order, and it looks even more daunting when flailing against a defense that may be just as good as Crimson Tide fans hope. Alabama isn’t ready to score a ton of points, but it may not need to score many to be successful this fall.

Alabama doesn’t have to be razor sharp at this Saturday’s A-Day Game. McElwain and Saban probably would like to see more of that identity start to take shape.

No, the timetable is far more generous than the end of spring practice. The urgency must wait until September and beyond. McElwain knows what’s coming. He learned a lot last year in his first lap around the Southeastern Conference.

“You hear about it, but until you experience it each week, the defenses in this league — I mean, you name the team — it’s really outstanding,” McElwain said. “Every week’s a new test, no matter what you’re doing and where you’re at.

“The biggest thing was the matchup situations that you have to look for in this league. … What I mean by matchup is make sure you account for somebody because they’re a real difference-maker. And all of a sudden you leave yourself on the edge somewhere else and that (other) guy’s good enough to beat you.”

The good news is Alabama’s offense faces that kind of opponent every day. The bad news is the opponent is still way ahead.