THREE REASONS FOR OPTIMISM
1. The offensive guts
Alabama arguably possesses the nation’s top guard tandem with Tyler Booker on the left side and Jaedon Roberts on the right. The Crimson Tide also could claim the same at center, where Parker Brailsford has followed coach Kalen DeBoer from Washington to anchor an imposing front. Having the experience of redshirt junior quarterback Jalen Milroe is obviously a benefit, but this interior offensive wall is Alabama’s top strength.
2. Linebacker leaders
There is change all around in Tuscaloosa following 17 seasons of Nick Saban, but the familiarity of redshirt junior linebacker Deontae Lawson and junior linebacker Jihaad Campbell has been a huge plus through this transition. Lawson tallied 67 tackles last season and has switched from jersey No. 32 to jersey No. 0, which is boss, while Campbell racked up 66 tackles.
3. And the new guy
With Kirby Smart entrenched at Georgia, his alma mater, and with Jim Harbaugh bolting Michigan for the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers, staying one step ahead of an NCAA show cause penalty in the process, Alabama went out and got the best available coach college football had to offer. DeBoer posted a sparkling 25-3 record during his two seasons at Washington, and him not having a background in Deep South football shouldn’t be a detriment. It wasn’t long ago when Alabama hired a hot commodity basketball coach out of Buffalo, and all Nate Oats has done in his six seasons is amass two Southeastern Conference regular-season titles, two league tournament crowns and one trip to the NCAA Final Four.
THREE REASONS FOR CONCERN
1. Halloween stretch
The second half of Alabama’s schedule begins with an Oct. 19 visit to Tennessee, followed by a home game against Missouri and, after an open date, a trip to LSU. This is the unquestioned key stretch for the Tide, who traveled to Knoxville and to Baton Rouge two years ago only to lose on the last play of each game. The most anticipated contest on Alabama’s schedule is Georgia’s visit on Sept. 28, and a loss to the Bulldogs would magnify this three-game Halloween gauntlet even more.
2. The back end
Saban, now an ESPN analyst, said at SEC media days last month that his biggest concern with the Tide from a personnel standpoint is their secondary. Safety Malachi Moore is the only defensive back with starting experience for the Tide, who are overrun with transfers in their last line of defense. Domani Jackson, formerly of Southern California, and DaShawn Jones, who transferred from Wake Forest, could be the starting cornerbacks, while Moore likely will be joined by former Michigan safety Keon Sabb.
3. Filling those shoes
College football’s best example of successfully replacing a legend occurred more than half a century ago at Nebraska. Bob Devaney had guided the Cornhuskers to a 101-20-2 record from 1962-72 and won national titles for the 1970-71 seasons. He was replaced by Tom Osborne, who would compile a 255-49-3 mark and win three national crowns. The list of those who couldn’t replace a legend is much longer, and the SEC has more than its share of quality examples with Alabama (Ray Perkins following Bear Bryant), Auburn (Doug Barfield following Shug Jordan), Florida (Ron Zook following Steve Spurrier) and Georgia (Ray Goff following Vince Dooley). DeBoer can afford to lose a game or two in the 12-team playoff era. Just don’t even think about missing out on the playoff itself.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com.