Alabama doesn't have the luxury of easing into life without linebackers Shaun Dion Hamilton and Mack Wilson.
Both Hamilton and Wilson sustained injuries during Saturday night's 24-10 win over LSU, with Hamilton suffering a broken kneecap that has scratched the rest of his college career. Wilson underwent foot surgery Sunday and will miss more than a month, so his best-case scenario is playing in a bowl game.
Next up for the Crimson Tide is a trip to Mississippi State and the challenge of facing Bulldogs dual-threat quarterback Nick Fitzgerald.
"They have a lot of quarterback runs, so you're basically playing against the wildcat (formation) on every snap," Alabama coach Nick Saban said Monday during his weekly news conference. "He has great ability to throw, so that's something you also have to take into consideration. When they do pass, his ability to scramble creates problems for the defense.
"These kinds of guys create problems for everybody on defense, and not just the linebackers."
Fitzgerald leads the No. 18 Bulldogs (7-2, 3-2 SEC) in rushing with 801 yards, 6.9 yards per carry and 12 touchdowns. He is complemented by running back Aeris Williams, who has 776 yards, averages 4.8 per carry and has scored twice.
On the passing front, Fitzgerald is 133-of-234 (56.8 percent) for 1,459 yards with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Alabama had a well-stocked defense last November and made life miserable for Fitzgerald, who rushed 11 times for 15 yards (1.4 per carry) and completed just 10 of 33 passes for 145 yards and an interception. The Crimson Tide mauled the Bulldogs 51-3.
Senior Rashaan Evans and redshirt junior Keith Holcombe are now the starting inside linebackers for Alabama, with Holcombe sliding in for Hamilton. The top backup will be freshman Dylan Moses, a consensus top-50 prospect in the 2017 signing class.
"This creates some opportunities for other people," Saban said. "I don't think this is a situation where people ought to sit around and say, 'I'm going to have to pick up my game now.' Everybody should have been picking up their game to start with.
"Everybody's got to be who they are, do what they do and be a good teammate."
Alabama has been playing without outside linebackers Christian Miller and Terrell Lewis since the opening 24-7 win over Florida State in Atlanta.
"All those injuries are unfortunate for those guys, and our prayers are with those guys," redshirt sophomore outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings told reporters Monday. "We're just trying to focus on the next man up. We trust the coaches to have the next man ready to go."
Junior defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick did not practice Monday after sustaining a hamstring injury against LSU, but Saban expects him back today.
There will be no return for Hamilton, who tallied 37 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble this season. In his career, the 6-foot, 235-pounder from Montgomery had 131 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and two interceptions.
"He's probably one of the smarter players we've had in my time here in terms of being able to make adjustments, being able to make calls and helping other players play better," Saban said. "There were a lot of things he did very well, and he was a very productive player."
Tide tidbits
Alabama's home game next week against Mercer will have a noon EST kickoff on the SEC Network. ... Saban said the Crimson Tide did not block well up front when asked about Jalen Hurts being sacked four times Saturday night. ... Sports Illustrated reported Monday that multiple members of Alabama's 2009 national championship team received money for signing memorabilia, with defensive lineman Terrence Cody being the most notable name. ... Alabama is 81-17-3 all-time against Mississippi State, while Saban is 14-1 against the Bulldogs.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.