The Alabama Crimson Tide have already been nabbed as possibly the best defense in the country and possibly the greatest defense in Alabama history. The Tide return nine of 11 starters, and they are coached by possibly the best head coach and defensive mind in the college game in Nick Saban.

This defense will have two first-rounder safeties and possibly two more at linebacker. There is talent returning all over the place, and there are five players who have been picked as preseason first teamers.

But what’s really an accurate measure of this defense?

It’s true, a year ago in 2010, this defense held their opponents to a dismal 13.5 points per game. Also, the Tide finished No. 1 in total defense and No. 2 in rush defense.

However, a more accurate measure for some is the way the Tide finished 10-3 overall, after some predicted this team to return to the BCS National Championship like in 2009.

When Alabama played the better offensive teams on the schedule last year, they gave up much more than 13.5 points per game as an average.

The Tide gave up on average 26.75 points per game when they played the likes of Arkansas, South Carolina, LSU and Auburn. They were the four toughest games on the Tide’s schedule, and they lost three of the four and barely escaped against Arkansas. This defense was more or less taken to the woodshed against South Carolina and had a monumental collapse in the Iron Bowl against in-state foe Auburn.

All I’m saying is let’s not crown this defense as possibly the ‘greatest ever’ to play in Tuscaloosa. Let’s sit back and take in all the facts and watch this season play out before we don them the best ever.

Now I do think, on paper, that Alabama will have the SEC’s top defense. The defensive line has big-time prospects and players but the pass rush has to improve drastically from a year ago. The linebackers are probably the best in the country, and the secondary has athletes, depth and talent all over the field.

However, in 2011, when the big games arise on the schedule – namely Arkansas, Florida, LSU and even Mississippi State and Auburn – this defense has to rectify what was lost a year ago.