There was a lot to like about Alabama's national championship team from a year ago, but perhaps the most dominating aspect of that team was its powerful, suffocating defense. Many of those players have gone on to the NFL, but several decided to come back for another run. One of those returning players is linebacker Ryan Anderson, who has developed as leader on the defense and has set the tone for this season.
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He and his teammates care little about what the promise for this team could be and they made it clear that they have no interest in living in the past.
"I don't get into potential," Anderson said. "I played with a lot of guys in high school that had potential. So I don't get into all that. It's about showing up to work every day and getting better."
"Last year is last year. Those guys are gone," he said. "We love them all, we wish them all well, but we focus on the people that's here right now. We've got what it takes, we've got the leaders that we need in place. It's just about action and getting everybody to (fall in line)."
Anderson is ready to get everybody in line as well.
"All the older guys have to do it first," he said. "Because if we don't do it, they're not going to do it. They're going to think that's the way that it's done. If they see us doing it (and think), 'That's how they've been winning around here. And if they're not doing, we're not doing it.' And that's not the case. It starts up top."
