Alabama 2018 Preview: Will the QB dance become a mess?

January 9th, 2018. Tua Tagovailoa replaces Jalen Hurts as Alabama’s quarterback mid-game after Hurts fails to show up, and wins the game for the Crimson Tide in overtime. Tuscaloosa celebrates (again). Athens mourns (again). Nick Saban breathes a sigh of relief. After all, he’d lobbied the program ever since the Tide lost to Auburn and didn’t get into the SEC Championship Game and might not have gotten into the danged play-off. Rammer Jammer was played, sung, and chanted. A lot. Someone swore that they saw Bear Bryant in heaven, crying.

Roll onto August 2018 and a controversy still reigns around Tuscaloosa. Who’s going to be the starting quarterback when the team kicks off against Louisville? Will it be ‘Tua’ or will it be Jalen? Tua’s had a few drives in a huge game, where he went 14-24 for 166 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT. That wasn’t a great performance, but it was a hell of a lot better than Hurts’ on the night. And if Crimson Tide fans had been honest with themselves, Hurts wasn’t great last season, saved only by his excellent legs and a throwing arm that’s at best OK.

Jalen’s Dad is threatening with transfer if his little son isn’t given the starting job. Tua seems to be happy as-is. Saban’s getting asked the questions every 90 mins about the job, and it must be driving him mad.

Anyway, that’s the 2018 off-season. What’s going to happen to the Crimson Tide DURING the season?

OFFENSE

Regardless of who will be the QB in town, the great news for him is that he’s got two wonderful running backs to plough the road in Damien Harris, who ran for 1,000 yards and 12 TDs and Najee Harris, who rushed for over 10 yards per carry in the National Championship Game. Brian Robinson and Joshua Jacobs will prove to be good back-ups – particularly as Saban likes to platoon his running backs. And if Hurts doesn’t start, then the Tide loses some speed on the outside.

Oh, and the New Tide Quarterback may be stinging from the loss of Calvin Ridley, but Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs and DeVonta Smith are all fine. Also, Xavian Marks can absolutely fly, and the unfortunately-named frosh (and the fifth-best overall player in Texas) Jaylen Waddle can absolutely fly too.

Offensive-line wise, three veteran players will fill in the line, with future NLF first rounder Jonah Williams the standout.

DEFENSE

The losses are going to be huge to this team. Gone to the NFL are leaders Minkah Kirkpatrick, Rashaan Evans, Ronnie Harrison, Da’Shawn Hand and Daron Payne.

Everyone’s expecting the Tide to reload, because that’s what they are used to. I’m sorry, but the secondary’s probably going to be a little rougher, although Deionte Thompson is expected to shine at safety. One of Trevon Diggs, Patrick Surtain and Savion Smith will play in the corners. It’s been noted that all but 1 of the INTs from the corner spot has gone professional, which means that offenses will try and go downtown. The first game against Louisville – a team not noted for its quiet defense – should be interesting from that point-of-view.

Otherwise, Anfernee Jennings, Mack Wilson and Dylan Moses lead a LOADED linebacking corps, and we’re excited about the damage Raekwon Davis (8 sacks last year), Isaiah Buggs and Quinnen Williams will cause.

SCHEDULE

Sept. 1 vs. Louisville (in Orlando)
Sept. 8 Arkansas State
Sept. 15 at Ole Miss
Sept. 22 Texas A&M
Sept. 29 Louisiana-Lafayette
Oct. 6 at Arkansas
Oct. 13 Missouri
Oct. 20 at Tennessee
Oct. 27 OPEN DATE
Nov. 3 at LSU
Nov. 10 Mississippi State
Nov. 17 Citadel
Nov. 24 Auburn

Alabama should roll (tide) in its first three games against Louisville, Arkansas State and at Ole Miss before having a bit of a battle with Texas A&M. After surviving that, they’ll smash Louisiana-Lafayette, Arkansas, Missouri and Tennessee. The dates at LSU and at home to Mississippi State could be toughies, while the home game to $1 million-receiving Citadel won’t. The best game on Bama’s schedule could be the home game to Auburn, which could see two unbeatens going for the SEC West title, if the Tigers do their bit. 

PREDICTION: 12-0. SEC WEST CHAMPIONS