Alabama football: 3 offseason questions Crimson Tide need to answer
By John Buhler
Nick Saban’s Alabama football team will be one of the very best this upcoming college season.
Despite falling in heartbreaking fashion to Georgia up in Indianapolis, look for the Alabama football program to bounce back and have another outstanding season this fall.
Nick Saban may not be getting any younger, but the Crimson Tide will remain a national championship contender for as long as the greatest head coach the sport has ever seen is still roaming the sidelines. While getting back to the College Football Playoff would be huge, anything short of winning the national championship should be viewed as a disappointment for this team.
Now firmly in the dog days, here are three offseason questions the Crimson Tide have to answer.
Alabama football: 3 offseason questions the Crimson Tide will have to answer
3. How much of an impact will Jahmyr Gibbs provide in the ground game?
The Crimson Tide made a few big splashes by way of the transfer portal this offseason, none potentially bigger than prying running back Jahmyr Gibbs away from the Ramblin’ Wreck of Georgia Tech. The Dalton, Georgia native may be the biggest reason why the Crimson Tide should get past the Georgia Bulldogs in Atlanta. Then again, Gibbs will now be handed a full SEC schedule.
Playing with better players will, in theory, bring out the best in Gibbs. He has a capable stable of backs backing him up in Jase McClellan, Trey Sanders and Roydell Williams. However, Alabama is not beating teams like Georgia and Ohio State consecutively if the Crimson Tide cannot control the clock with a consistent ground game. There is so much pressure on Gibbs, but he has to be ready.
If Gibbs hits the ground running like most people expect he will, he can be an All-SEC First Teamer.