{"id":65803,"date":"2024-08-14T13:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-14T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/?p=65803"},"modified":"2024-08-14T13:30:00","modified_gmt":"2024-08-14T18:30:00","slug":"deontae-lawson-serving-as-tide-dcs-voice-on-the-field-thanks-to-new-technology-rule","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/deontae-lawson-serving-as-tide-dcs-voice-on-the-field-thanks-to-new-technology-rule\/","title":{"rendered":"Deontae Lawson serving as Tide DC\u2019s \u2018voice on the field\u2019 thanks to new technology rule"},"content":{"rendered":"

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. \u2013<\/strong> After Alabama\u2019s scrimmage on Saturday, head coach Kalen DeBoer<\/a><\/strong> said the Crimson Tide took time at Bryant-Denny Stadium to practice using new technology.<\/p>\n

New this fall will be the option for teams to use coach-to-player communication through the helmet to one player on the field. Identified by a green dot on the back of the player\u2019s helmet, most would think of the quarterback as the primary user of this new tool. But the defense gets to utilize it, too, and for Alabama, that designation goes to the Mike linebacker.<\/p>\n

While Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kane Wommack<\/a><\/strong> said Alabama is getting a number of players accustomed to communicating via helmet, Deontae Lawson<\/a><\/strong> is the top candidate.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s my voice on the field,\u201d said Wommack after Alabama\u2019s 11th preseason practice. \u201cIt\u2019s not just getting the call in but there are certain things that I may want to communicate to him about the situation, understanding of the offense, what they\u2019re getting ready to do.\u201d <\/p>\n

Communication between coach and player will be turned off with 15 seconds remaining on the play clock or when the ball is snapped, whichever comes first, according to the NCAA<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Because of this, Wommack believes some teams will continue to signal plays from the sideline while others continue to exclusively relay calls from headset to helmet. For Alabama\u2019s new defensive coordinator, \u201cthere\u2019s a fine line\u201d because of the comms cutoff.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happens afterward when an offense is going to make a check?\u201d Wommack said. \u201cYou\u2019re going to see some offenses that are going to go really fast. I think that\u2019s going to be helpful to us on defense because I can immediately get a call to the core, and they can communicate to about seven or eight guys immediately.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen teams are going fast, you\u2019re going to see some teams that wait until after 15 seconds and then they go, so now the defense is back to the normal signaling. It will be a cat-and-mouse game, and I\u2019m excited to see how to navigate that. I just want to stay ahead of the curve.\u201d <\/p>\n

Alabama LB Deontae Lawson (Courtesy of UA Athletics)<\/p>\n

Alabama has been practicing with the new in-helmet communication since the spring, and that has allowed for a smoother operation during UA preseason camp, Lawson told reporters.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going pretty well right now,\u201d Lawson said Tuesday. \u201cI had it in the spring, so I tried to get all my difficulties out in the spring. In fall camp, it\u2019s gone good.\u201d <\/p>\n

Lawson is entering his fourth season at Alabama and has 15 career starts under his belt. Last year as a redshirt sophomore, the Mobile native took over the role of signal-caller of the Tide\u2019s defense. The fast-approaching 2024 football season will see Lawson once again lead Alabama on the defensive side of the ball, only this time in Wommack\u2019s new scheme.<\/p>\n

The fourth-year linebacker has now fully embraced his role as the voice of UA\u2019s defense.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just doing it. That\u2019s what I do,\u201d Lawson said. \u201cI feel like I\u2019m a quarterback of the defense, and I\u2019ve gotta be able to communicate at the highest level and be able to do my job and get guys on the same page so we can execute as a defense.\u201d <\/p>\n

However, Lawson isn\u2019t the only player who can call the Tide\u2019s defense. He deemed veteran defensive back Malachi Moore<\/a><\/strong> as another quarterback on that side of the football, as well as his running mate at inside linebacker, Jihaad Campbell<\/a><\/strong>. The latter saw an increased role last year, too, and gives Alabama two high-level players in the middle of its defense.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s elite,\u201d Lawson said of Campbell. \u201cHe\u2019s coming to work every day, he\u2019s learning everything he can. He could be a signal-caller, as well. It\u2019s great to have two guys in the inside \u2018backer room that can be a signal-caller. It\u2019s easier to communicate to the rest of the guys.\u201d <\/p>\n

Under former head coach Nick Saban<\/a><\/strong>, Alabama\u2019s defense was often described as complex. With Wommack now the coordinator for DeBoer\u2019s first season, Lawson agreed with a question on Tuesday about not having to think as much and having chances to make plays.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust go out there, be a football player and fly around,\u201d Lawson said. \u201cI feel like this defense is made for inside \u2018backers. That makes me happy. You can just fly around, know your job and compete at the highest level.\u201d<\/p>\n

The post Deontae Lawson serving as Tide DC\u2019s \u2018voice on the field\u2019 thanks to new technology rule<\/a> appeared first on On3<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. \u2013 After Alabama\u2019s scrimmage on Saturday, head coach Kalen DeBoer said the Crimson…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-65803","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65803","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=65803"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65803\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65844,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65803\/revisions\/65844"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65803"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=65803"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=65803"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}