Fansided

Nick Saban: Alabama has a lot of question marks

By Patrick Schmidt

Jul 17, 2014; Hoover, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban talks to the media during the SEC football media days at the Wynfrey Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 17, 2014; Hoover, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban talks to the media during the SEC football media days at the Wynfrey Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Alabama started the 2013 season with an 11-0 start, but the focus in the offseason has been the two-game losing streak to close the season vs. Auburn and the Sugar Bowl loss at the hands of the Oklahoma Sooners that has the Crimson Tide facing a number of questions heading into 2014.

More from College Football

Nick Saban met the press at SEC Media Days on Thursday and was met with a number of questions about the number of questions his Alabama team faces after failing to win a SEC or National Championship for the first time in three years.

Saban faced a number of questions about conference expansion, scheduling, the College Football Playoff, but the biggest question facing the Crimson Tide is who is under center for the season opener against West Virginia.

The biggest wildcard in college football is Jacob Coker who is the assumed starting quarterback for Alabama. He has the talent to thrive in this offense, but becoming a leader and establishing a rapport with Amari Cooper and the rest of his receivers will be a question that has to be answered early.

Greg McElroy and AJ McCarron won the National Championship in their first year as the starting quarterback at Alabama, but even McElroy said at Media Days that his former team is not a “lock” to make the Playoff this year.

Live Feed

Alabama Football: Over-Under wins and locked-in games for SEC teams
Alabama Football: Over-Under wins and locked-in games for SEC teams /

Bama Hammer

  • Alabama Football: On predictions, certainty and upsets in CFBBama Hammer
  • Alabama Football: Eboigbe, Moore to lead talented position groupsBama Hammer
  • Alabama Football Should've Sat Bryce Young in the 2022 Sugar BowlSouth Bound & Down
  • Alabama Football: SEC populated with unproven OCsBama Hammer
  • Alabama Football: Nothing 'terrifying' about Tide QB situationBama Hammer

    • The secondary is another question mark for the defense with true freshmen Marlon Humphrey and Tony Brown potentially starting at two cornerback spots, at least playing a number of snaps in nickel situations, even if they are former five-star recruits. Landon Collins may be the best safety in the country, but he can’t be everywhere.

    A’Shawn Robinson may be the best defensive lineman Saban has ever coached, but is there enough depth on the line and can they get to the quarterback and can Trey DePriest replace the production and leadership C.J. Mosley brought to the field and the locker room?

    A lot of programs across the nation would love to have the question marks that Saban’s team has, and no team can replace NFL talent the way Saban and Alabama can do with the amount of No. 1 recruiting classes he has assembled.

    Home/College Football