Nick Saban built Alabama on the back of dominant defenses, but that’s not the case with the 2019 team who has been besieged by injuries and it’s time to be concerned.
Quinnen Williams, C.J. Mosley, Jonathan Allen and Minkah Fitzpatrick aren’t walking through that door. Alabama is used to rolling out an All-American team on defense who will go from Tuscaloosa right to starting in the NFL. It’s the big reason behind four of the last five national championships for the Crimson Tide. But the 2019 team has been beset by one injury after another and it’s time to be worried if you’re an Alabama fan.
Before the season started, preseason All-American linebacker and Butkus Award finalist, Dylan Moses, was lost for the year with a torn ACL. At the time, it was an obvious loss because he’s a big-name player with big expectations. Also at the same time, many likely shrugged their shoulders and said, “Next man up” thinking the Alabama assembly line of dominant defenders would churn out the next star.
The problem is Moses wasn’t the only injury on defense and wasn’t the only inside linebacker to suffer an injury. Alabama was already without senior Joshua McMillan. The inside linebacker position is not only vital for his own play but also lining up the rest of the defense and making sure they are in the right spot and the calls are being communicated in the huddle.
Alabama has an offense that can outscore anyone if need be and can get in a shootout with Trevor Lawrence and Clemson and Jalen Hurts and Oklahoma if necessary. But it never used to be necessary for Saban at Alabama.
This is a total departure from what made Alabama successful.
Alabama still has a record-breaking offense that led them to the National Championship Game last year. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, receivers Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III and emerging star running back Najee Harris can put up 50 on any given Saturday. That’s not a concern.
What’s a concern is if Alabama has the star power and the depth to contend with Trevor Lawrence and his cast of weapons and Clemson and former Tide quarterback Jalen Hurts who is putting up better numbers than Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray the last two years at Oklahoma.
In addition to Moses and McMillon out for the year, Alabama may be without starting defensive end LaBryan Ray who suffered a foot injury in the win vs. South Carolina and is out indefinitely. Ray was a preseason All-SEC selection and will be replaced in the starting lineup by true freshman, Justin Eboigbe. There is a fear Ray could be lost for the year.
No one is going to feel sorry for Alabama because all teams have to deal with injuries, and Alabama has recruited as well as any program, but when the number of freshman in the lineup start to increase, the chances of winning a championship decrease.
“I think we have to work hard with those guys to get them to play well,” Saban said on Monday. “There’s no substitute for experience. … We have a lot of young guys playing in the front seven.”
Moses and McMillon were already replaced by true freshmen Shane Lee and Christian Harris. Eboigbe would join fellow freshman DJ Dale as starters on the defensive line. And if Alabama needs another freshman to play a big role, they may not have former No. 1 overall recruit, Antonio Alfano who has flirted with entering the transfer portal and leaving Alabama.
Are these freshmen talented?
Of course.
Can they become great players like the Alabama legends mentioned at the beginning of this piece?
Sure, in time, they can.
Can they become All-SEC performers as freshmen and stop Georgia’s offense in the SEC Championship Game, Hurts and Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff semifinals and Lawrence and Clemson in a potential Championship Game rematch?
I’m always optimistic when it comes to Saban getting the most out of his guys, but that’s a lot of freshmen to put my faith into and I can’t do it. I’m worried. I wouldn’t say Saban is worried, but I’d definitely say he’s concerned.
Alabama football fans should be too.
Defenses win championships and Alabama ranks 40th in total defense, one spot below Texas Tech, the pass defense ranks 50th and rush defense ranks 45th. Somehow, Alabama still ranks 14th in scoring defense, allowing 12 points per game and are second in turnover margin.
Saban finds a way. Will he be able to find a way to his sixth national title at Alabama with so many freshmen playing big roles on defense?
This defense is good enough to get through the SEC West, although the showdown with LSU might be a game with both teams scoring 40-plus points. But Alabama doesn’t judge themselves on SEC West division titles anymore.
Seasons are successes or failures based on whether they’re bringing home hardware to Tuscaloosa.
For the first time in a long time, the Crimson Tide defense is vulnerable and their title hopes rest on a handful of freshmen defenders.