Atlanta • As Alabama All-America defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick watched a YouTube video of last week's thrilling Rose Bowl between Georgia and Oklahoma, there was a sense of familiarity with the Bulldogs.
"We basically run the same defense. They added a couple of things just like we add some things," Fitzpatrick said. "Even the hand signals and stuff are pretty similar. It's pretty interesting."
Georgia coach Kirby Smart spent eight years as defensive coordinator for Alabama coach Nick Saban. Alabama's defenses have ranked in the top-20 nationally in yards per play every season since '08.