Let’s just say Alabama’s defense last year couldn’t stop a screen door in a hurricane. Missed tackles, no pressure, and Vanderbilt—yes, Vandy—hung 40 on them like it was 1906 again. That’s not exactly Roll Tide material. So when Ryan Grubb, fresh off a brief NFL stint, returned to college football and took the Tide’s OC job, he knew this wasn’t a plug-and-play gig. But instead of throwing shade, Grubb saw something valuable hiding in plain sight: the one cashing a $4.65 million check to fix all of that mess—Kane Wommack.

Alabama’s new defensive coordinator isn’t here to sip Gatorade and collect checks. His 4-2-5 swarm defense, now in its second year, is making life hell in practice for all the right reasons. Grubb popped onto “The Game with Ryan Fowler” and didn’t hold back with the praise.

“I’m thankful for it,” he said. “Those guys like Domani Jackson, Zabien Brown, all these guys. That is exactly what we need to go against every day because it reminds our guys of, you know, we have a talented receiving core, but the type of players that they’re going to have to beat every week in the SEC and to compete for a national championship.” Translation? This isn’t a charity scrimmage. These practices are pure war, and Grubb’s offense is leveling up every rep.

That’s the beauty of this setup. Alabama’s got weapons. Big ones. But all the firepower in the world means nothing if your guys aren’t used to getting punched in the mouth. Ryan Grubb doubles down on the former South Alabama HC’s defense: “It keeps us hungry because there’s certainly days we come out and get the better of the defense, and there’s day we come out and get humbled. And that’s something that I think is part of the process. So, not only do I think Kane’s got really good players over there, but they’re well-coached and smart and really talented. It’s fun, and I know these guys appreciate the competition.”

Bama’s 2025 secondary is low-key stacked with a mix of vets and fresh talent. Domani Jackson, Bray Hubbard, and Keon Sabb bring the experience, while five-star freshman Dijon Lee and hard-hitting Ivan Taylor are already turning heads. Spring ball showed this group’s got speed, size, and swagger. Even with a few transfers out, the Tide’s DB room looks deep and ready to roll. Practicing against Wommack’s aggressive, tight-coverage scheme is forcing the Tide’s young receivers to sharpen up fast.

Grubb knows what it takes to beat elite secondaries—he cooked one up in Seattle, and he perfected the recipe with Penix Jr. at Washington. So if he’s giving Wommack his flowers, best believe it’s earned.

In 2024, Alabama’s defense struggled, allowing opponents to convert 62% of third downs after halftime. Tackling was optional. Pressure was nonexistent. That loss to Vandy? Embarrassing doesn’t even cover it. But now? The unit returns top-10 production, and the hunger is real. These aren’t the same boys who folded in the fourth. They’re meaner, faster, and they’ve got something to prove.

Grubb’s whole vibe is simple: iron sharpens iron. He knows that going up against a legit SEC defense every day will expose every weakness in his offense before the real bullets fly. That’s why he said this kind of competition “keeps us hungry.” One day, they’re lighting up the secondary. The next? They’re humbled. And that’s the recipe he wants cooking all summer long.

And let’s not forget the man behind the scheme. Wommack isn’t some dime-a-dozen DC. He’s done wonders at South Alabama, and now he’s got elite athletes flying around. The chess match between him and Grubb in these practices might just be the secret sauce that brings Bama back to the promised land. With that kind of daily warfare, don’t be surprised if Alabama’s offense comes out in Week 1 looking like it’s already been through the Playoff.

Ryan Grubb breaks silence on Alabama’s starting quarterback

Now about that quarterback situation—the one that’s had the entire Crimson Tide fandom in a slow boil since Jalen Milroe dipped. Kalen DeBoer and Ryan Grubb had been playing coy for weeks, but now the truth is out. Ty Simpson’s the man—for now.

“Ty took care of the football better. He operated better,” Grubb told Tide 100.9. “Especially towards the latter part of the spring, he really started to show more of those characteristics.” It’s the classic sandwich praise: build him up, remind folks he isn’t perfect, then seal the deal with a little respect. The keyword here is earned.

Simpson isn’t the flashiest name on the board, but he’s got the inside track. Why? Experience and command. Keelon Russell is a five-star prodigy. Austin Mack knows Ryan Grubb’s system inside out. But Simpson’s the one who made Grubb say, “If we’re playing a game tomorrow, Ty’s starting.” Back in April.

That’s not just talk. Alabama’s loaded everywhere else—stacked receivers, a big-boy offensive line, and now a defense that actually shows up. What they need is a steady hand at QB1, and Grubb sees that in Simpson. Six games, 381 passing yards, and three rushing scores might not jump off the page, but this isn’t Madden—it’s about poise and trust.

Grubb doubled down again last Thursday, when Ryan Fowler asked if Ty Simpson is still your guy if Bama plays tomorrow. “He is.” That’s all he needed to say when asked if Simpson would start Week 1. This isn’t about flash. It’s about trust. And right now, Simpson’s got the keys to the Tide machine heading into their showdown against Florida State on August 30. The seat’s hot, but it’s his to lose.