It might feel a bit different, but football is set to return to Tuscaloosa, Ala. in a matter of days. After blowing by Missouri on the road last week, No. 2 Alabama should get a bigger test Saturday as it squares off against No. 13 Texas A&M for its home opener inside of Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Today we will examine where Alabama stands by providing three observations, two questions and one prediction heading into Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff.
Three observations
Saban provides updates on injury, illnesses
Alabama’s defense should see some reinforcements this weekend, both on and off the field.
After being unable to travel with the team during its trip to Missouri last week, safeties coach Charles Kelly was back at work Wednesday, Nick Saban announced during his post-practice Zoom call with local reporters. The head coach also provided an update on defensive lineman Christian Barmore, who did travel with the team but did not play while recovering from a minor knee injury.
“We’re hopeful he’ll be able to contribute in the game as well,” Saban said.
Barmore earned Freshman All-SEC honors last year, recording six tackles for loss and two sacks with five quarterback pressures and two pass breakups over 12 games. The 6-foot-5, 310-pounder is listed as a co-starter with Justin Eboigbe and Phidarian Mathis at defensive end on Alabama’s official depth chart.
Kelly, who’s in his second season with the team, was replaced by analyst Mike Stoops during the game against Misouri. Due COVID-19, the NCAA is allowing programs to promote analysts to on-field positions if a coach gets sick and is forced to step away from the program.
While Alabama should have Barmore and Kelly back for this weekend’s game, it appears the Tide will be without tight end Major Tennison, who is dealing with an intestinal illness unrealted to COVID-19. Saban said the illness kept Tennison out of the game agianst Misouri, stating the redshirt junior would have played and “was doing extremely well” before becoming ill.
Tennison made one start over 13 appearances last season, pulling in three receptions for 21 yards and a touchdown.
Texas A&M’s running game is tough to stop
If Week 1 is any indication, the Aggies have a dangerous duo on their hands at the running back position. Isaiah Spiller enters Saturday’s game as the SEC’s top rusher after piling up 117 yards against Vanderbilt. Meanwhile, converted receiver Ainias Smith seems to be fitting in well at his new home after rushing for 51 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
“I think they’re a very talented group,” Saban said during the SEC teleconference Wednesday. “The two of them are great change-of-pace guys, and sometimes they play together, which is another set of issues that you have to deal with defensively.”
Fortunately for Alabama, it seems well adept at handling the run this season. Last week, the Tide held Missouri to 69 yards on 34 carries (2.03 yards per attempt), the lowest total in the conference outside of Mississippi State’s pass-happy offense.
Along with limiting Texas A&M’s backs, Alabama will also need to find a way to contain Kellen Mond. Over his last two meetings against the Tide, the dual-threat quarterback has rushed for a combined 188 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries.
Saban begins a four-game span against former assistants
During the SEC teleconference Wednesday, Saban was reminded of an interesting quirk in this season’s schedule. Beginning this week, the head coach will face off against a former assistant in four straight games.
Following Saturday’s game against Jimbo Fisher and Texas A&M, the Tide will travel to Ole Miss for a game against Lane Kiffin’s Rebels. Next up will be a much-anticipated home meeting against Georgia and Kirby Smart followed by a trip to Tennessee to take on Jeremy Pruitt’s Volunteers.
“Well, I never thought of it that way,” Saban said with a laugh. “I never really even realized what you just said, but I guess it is true. I’m really happy for the guys that did a great job for us here and got opportunities to become head coaches, which is what they probably all really aspired to be and worked hard to be.
“It’s very challenging when you play folks that know you well, but we also probably know them a little bit, too.”
Saban has fared far better with that challenge than his former protégés, boasting a 19-0 all-time record against former assistants once they become head coaches. Saban is 3-0 against Fisher and 2-0 against both Smart and Pruitt. He is 1-0 against Kiffin, but that game came before Kiffin had served under him.
Two questions
Will Texas A&M kick to Waddle?
Perhaps the Aggies learned their lesson last season. Boasting the reigning Ray Guy Award winner in Braden Mann, Texas A&M didn’t shy away from punting to Jaylen Waddle during last year’s 47-28 defeat to Alabama.
That didn’t go so well for the men in maroon. While Mann booted a few bombs, Waddle made him pay every time. The dynamic return man averaged 32 yards per attempt on his four returns, including a long of 43 yards.
“Everybody asked me about their great punter and I said it’s good for us because we’ll get some return opportunities,” Saban said after the game. “And we got some.”
Earlier this week, Fisher was asked about how to defend such an explosive return.
“Well, first of all, you get great hang time on your kick,” he responded. “You get your gunners out and win the battles, and you try to pin him or you don't let him touch it.”
Sounds simple enough. But what happened last year?
"We had a couple wrong and didn't get down on coverage on a couple times,” Fisher explained earlier this week. “We just had big discussions on that in our special teams meetings today about what we're doing, how we're doing it and procedures which we're using."
Waddle went on to lead the nation in punt returning last season, averaging a school-record 24.4 yards per attempt. Mann has moved on to the NFL where he serves as the punter for the New York Jets.
Last week, Texas A&M freshman punter Nik Constantinou averaged 45 yards on his two punts with a long of 53 yards. Neither of the punts were returned. Will he dare boot the ball to Waddle this weekend?
If Mond struggles, will Texas A&M change QBs?
Heading into the season, Mond was considered one of the SEC’s top returning quarterbacks. That didn’t seem to be the case during last week’s game against Vanderbilt as the senior completed 17 of 28 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown while fumbling the ball three times, two of which were recovered by the Commodores.
"Listen, Kellen, I went back through the game decision-making was well,” Fisher said. “There was about four or five throws I wish he could have made, a rail route twice right there, low-balled our tight end one time and a ball across the middle we hit but it could have got up for a big one.”
Fisher was asked whether or not he would make a change at quarterback against Alabama if Mond’s struggles continue over the weekend. While the head coach stated that his starter “did a lot of good things with the football” against Vanderbilt, he seemed to leave the door open for a possible switch, especially if turnovers continue to be an issue.
“We got to get that ironed out,” Fisher said. “But, yes, every player is (replaceable), but still I mean Kellen's played a lot of football, has a lot of experience and we'll keep playing and doing what we're doing, and you keep developing those other guys."
One prediction
Alabama’s defense has a big day
Motivation from the week before? Check.
Uncertainty at the opposing quarterback position? Check.
An opposing offense that is struggling with turning the ball over? Check.
The signs certainly point toward a big day for Alabama’s defense on Saturday. Last week, the Aggies struggled to score against Vanderbilt, turning the ball over three times in a 17-12 victory.
Things could get even worse for Texas A&M this week as Will Anderson Jr., Christian Harris and Dylan Moses will look to fluster Mond into making mistakes which should create opportunities for Alabama’s secondary to make plays.
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