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How thin is Alabama's D getting?
Oct 10, 2018, 2:30 PM
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One thing I find fascinating and it hasn't really been remarked-upon: Alabama just lost junior CB Trevon Diggs with a broken foot - probably for the year, though it's possible he might be back (although probably not in game shape) if the Tide make the playoffs.
This is interesting because the Tide were already paper-thin at CB. That leaves them JUCO transfer Saivion Smith - previously of LSU and Gulf Coast Community College in Perkinston, Mississippi - and three true freshmen for the Tide at the CB position - and that's all. Patrick Surtain Jr - a former 5-star - slides into the other starting spot, and a couple of 4-stars (Josh Jobe and Jalyn Armour-Davis) are the backups. Neither are overly big - they're both listed at 6'0", but Jobe came into camp at 173 pounds, and Armour-Davis was 160. To say that's way off what the Tide normally have is putting it mildly.
They're also starting true sophomore Xavier McKinney - another former 5-star and a former teammate of Tre Lamar's at Roswell HS - at one safety position; he's another new starter this year. Again: a very talented guy, but way inexperienced...and McKinney isn't a big dude either.
The Tide are normally, deep, experienced, and huge in the secondary. They're none of those things this year.
To add to the fun the Tide lost a boatload of LB's to the graduation, the NFL, attrition, injuries, and other sports. At least six LB's who were on the roster last season no longer are, and what you see at their four LB spots are some veteran starters - Christian Miller (RS SR), Anfernee Jennings (RS JR) and Wilson Mack (JR) who with the exception of Jennings didn't really play much in previous years and definitely had to wait - and wait, and wait - their turn behind what seems to have been more talented guys, and they're backed up by an upjumped former walk-on redshirt senior (Jamie Mosley) who has seven solo tackles for his entire career. After that, they're down to true freshmen again. This is not a vintage LB crew for Alabama, whatever, and once you get past those starters they're back to very talented...and utterly inexperienced.
Their DL isn't as good or deep as it was in previous years, either, though it is probably the strongest unit of the three.
Add it all up, and you can see why the Tide are ranked just 25th in total defense this year, allowing 332.2 yards per game. That number is likely to get worse with the loss of Diggs, who was their one veteran corner...now they're down to a JUCO transfer and three true freshmen, none of whom was on the team last year. Ouch.
Mind, Alabama's defensive woes have been masked by the fact that their O has been scoring at will this year...but it still begs the question: does Alabama this year really have the defense - and especially the defensive depth - of a team that's going to go deep into the postseason? Because the Tide are pretty much at the red line before one or two more injuries anywhere in their back seven could completely gut their defense.
Everybody's in awe of their lopsided scorelines...but what might end up being the real story are the cracks that are quietly appearing in Alabama's foundation. Worth keeping an eye on.
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