1. Inside linebacker play from the freshmen
By now, the entire country knows that Alabama defensive coordinator Pete Golding will start not one, but two true freshmen to open the season at the inside linebacker positions. All eyes on the freshmen duo, especially on 6-foot-0, 246 pound Shane Lee who will take over at the MIKE position for injured Dylan Moses.
Moses suffered a season-ending knee injury earlier this week, which bumped Lee to the starting role. The MIKE position calls the entire defense for Alabama, which is obviously a tall order for someone who was playing high school football at this time just one season ago.
Christian Harris will start at the WILL position after senior Joshua McMillon suffered a season-ending knee injury during Alabama’s first scrimmage. Nick Saban had high praise for Harris all fall camp, saying he plays fast and makes plays.
2. Steve Sarkisian’s red-zone approach
The Crimson Tide finished the season with major read-zone woes, and interesting to see how the Crimson Tide executes in the red-zone during Saturday’s game against Duke. While the likelihood of big-time plays is tremendously high with the number of Crimson Tide explosive players, red-zone execution will play a pivotal factor in this team’s season success.
How will Sarkisian use tight end Miller Forristall, will Jaylen Waddle’s name be called on, how about Tyrell Shavers? Will Sarkisian grind it out with his imposing backs or will a play-action or a zone read with Tua Tagovailoa be the call? For reference, the Crimson Tide had a red-zone scoring percentage of just 82.28, which was 78th in the entire country last season.
3. Alabama's offensive line
The Alabama offensive line has looked exceptional during fall camp and straight up, their starting five are massive: At left tackle is 6-foot-6, 310 pound Alex Leatherwood, at left guard is 6-foot-7, 360 pound true freshman Evan Neal, at center is 6-foot-3, 315 pound Chris Owens, at right guard is Florida State grad transfer Landon Dickerson at 6-foot-6, 308 pounds, and at right tackle is 6-foot-5, 320 pound Jedrick Wills Jr. Leatherwood and Wills started every game last season as sophomores, but the three interior offensive linemen are new additions under new offensive coach Kyle Flood
. I’m also watching to see how much playing time Emil Ekiyor and Matt Womack get with the first-team offensive line as they have each played extremely well as of late.
4. Corners
At the corner positions when in the nickel package, which Alabama runs most of the time, the Crimson Tide will start senior Trevon Diggs and sophomore Josh Jobe. Diggs is a big physical corner at 6-foot-2, 207 pounds who missed most of last season with a foot injury. Jobe earned his stripes playing corner against Oklahoma and against Clemson.
The Crimson Tide has moved Patrick Surtain Jr. out to the nickel position, so I’m watching to see how each fare in the opener.
5. The field goal and the punting unit
Last season, the Crimson Tide struggled kicking field goals, PATs, and its punting game was lackluster, to say the least. This year, the Crimson Tide has high hopes in true freshman Will Reichard who will not only kick field goals but also share the punting duties with Skyler DeLong. Last season, Alabama missed nine, yes nine PATs and punter Mike Bernier averaged 38.0 per punt.
Game Details
No. 2 Alabama (0-0) vs. Duke (0-0)
Saturday, August 31, 2:30 p.m. CT
TV: ABC
Line: -34 Alabama
Play by Play: Seve Levy, Analysts: Brian Griese and Todd McShay, Sideline: Molly McGrath
By now, the entire country knows that Alabama defensive coordinator Pete Golding will start not one, but two true freshmen to open the season at the inside linebacker positions. All eyes on the freshmen duo, especially on 6-foot-0, 246 pound Shane Lee who will take over at the MIKE position for injured Dylan Moses.
Moses suffered a season-ending knee injury earlier this week, which bumped Lee to the starting role. The MIKE position calls the entire defense for Alabama, which is obviously a tall order for someone who was playing high school football at this time just one season ago.
Christian Harris will start at the WILL position after senior Joshua McMillon suffered a season-ending knee injury during Alabama’s first scrimmage. Nick Saban had high praise for Harris all fall camp, saying he plays fast and makes plays.
2. Steve Sarkisian’s red-zone approach
The Crimson Tide finished the season with major read-zone woes, and interesting to see how the Crimson Tide executes in the red-zone during Saturday’s game against Duke. While the likelihood of big-time plays is tremendously high with the number of Crimson Tide explosive players, red-zone execution will play a pivotal factor in this team’s season success.
How will Sarkisian use tight end Miller Forristall, will Jaylen Waddle’s name be called on, how about Tyrell Shavers? Will Sarkisian grind it out with his imposing backs or will a play-action or a zone read with Tua Tagovailoa be the call? For reference, the Crimson Tide had a red-zone scoring percentage of just 82.28, which was 78th in the entire country last season.
3. Alabama's offensive line
The Alabama offensive line has looked exceptional during fall camp and straight up, their starting five are massive: At left tackle is 6-foot-6, 310 pound Alex Leatherwood, at left guard is 6-foot-7, 360 pound true freshman Evan Neal, at center is 6-foot-3, 315 pound Chris Owens, at right guard is Florida State grad transfer Landon Dickerson at 6-foot-6, 308 pounds, and at right tackle is 6-foot-5, 320 pound Jedrick Wills Jr. Leatherwood and Wills started every game last season as sophomores, but the three interior offensive linemen are new additions under new offensive coach Kyle Flood
. I’m also watching to see how much playing time Emil Ekiyor and Matt Womack get with the first-team offensive line as they have each played extremely well as of late.
4. Corners
At the corner positions when in the nickel package, which Alabama runs most of the time, the Crimson Tide will start senior Trevon Diggs and sophomore Josh Jobe. Diggs is a big physical corner at 6-foot-2, 207 pounds who missed most of last season with a foot injury. Jobe earned his stripes playing corner against Oklahoma and against Clemson.
The Crimson Tide has moved Patrick Surtain Jr. out to the nickel position, so I’m watching to see how each fare in the opener.
5. The field goal and the punting unit
Last season, the Crimson Tide struggled kicking field goals, PATs, and its punting game was lackluster, to say the least. This year, the Crimson Tide has high hopes in true freshman Will Reichard who will not only kick field goals but also share the punting duties with Skyler DeLong. Last season, Alabama missed nine, yes nine PATs and punter Mike Bernier averaged 38.0 per punt.
Game Details
No. 2 Alabama (0-0) vs. Duke (0-0)
Saturday, August 31, 2:30 p.m. CT
TV: ABC
Line: -34 Alabama
Play by Play: Seve Levy, Analysts: Brian Griese and Todd McShay, Sideline: Molly McGrath
