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Most important position: Alabama Crimson Tide
If you ask coaches, theyāll tell you over and over again that winning takes offense, defense and special teams. (Forget kickers at your own risk.)
But thatās painting with too broad of strokes, because every season inevitably comes down one facet of the game, whether itās a weakness thatās exploited or a potential question mark that becomes a strength.
Alabama doesnāt reach last seasonās playoff without Blake Sims emerging at quarterback. Auburn, a year earlier, doesnāt make it to the title game without its offensive line. On the flip side, imagine how much better Florida would have been with a capable QB last year. What about Ole Miss with a stronger running game or South Carolina with better a defensive line?
So what will it be for each team this year? Whatās the one position group thatās most important to each programās success?
All week weāll be attempting to answer that question. Today we start with Alabama.
Alabamaās most important position group: safety
Cyrus Jones is back for his senior season, Tony Brown should be more comfortable after playing in all 13 games as a freshman last year, and former five-star signee Marlon Humphrey is no longer encumbered by a redshirt.
Who will help them over the top, however, is another story.
The familiar faces at safety are gone, whether itās a star like Landon Collins or a veteran presence such as Nick Perry or Jarrick Williams. Just one of those players returning would have been a reason for optimism this season.
But instead Alabama is faced with a series of questions: Is true sophomore Hootie Jones ready for the spotlight? Three years later, can Geno Smith fulfill the promise he showed as a freshman? Setting aside the hype, what can we really expect from Ronnie Harrison as a rookie? How will Eddie Jackson do after making the transition from corner to safety this offseason? For that matter, do we believe heāll have the same athleticism he showed pre-knee surgery?
Now itās important to note that Alabama doesnāt need every one of those questions answered in a positive manner. Three out of five would be a win. But nonetheless, thatās a lot for coach Nick Saban and defensive coordinator Kirby Smart to work on.
Alabamaās front seven should be able to cover up many of the cornerbacksā mistakes by getting pressure on the quarterback. Their D-line could be the best in the SEC, if not the country. But the safeties will have to hold up their end of the bargain.
Youāre only as strong as your last line of defense, and without them, Alabamaās playbook is shot.
With them, Saban and Smart's defense could be special once again.
ESPN's SEC BlogāContinue reading...
If you ask coaches, theyāll tell you over and over again that winning takes offense, defense and special teams. (Forget kickers at your own risk.)
But thatās painting with too broad of strokes, because every season inevitably comes down one facet of the game, whether itās a weakness thatās exploited or a potential question mark that becomes a strength.
Alabama doesnāt reach last seasonās playoff without Blake Sims emerging at quarterback. Auburn, a year earlier, doesnāt make it to the title game without its offensive line. On the flip side, imagine how much better Florida would have been with a capable QB last year. What about Ole Miss with a stronger running game or South Carolina with better a defensive line?
So what will it be for each team this year? Whatās the one position group thatās most important to each programās success?
All week weāll be attempting to answer that question. Today we start with Alabama.
Alabamaās most important position group: safety
Cyrus Jones is back for his senior season, Tony Brown should be more comfortable after playing in all 13 games as a freshman last year, and former five-star signee Marlon Humphrey is no longer encumbered by a redshirt.
Who will help them over the top, however, is another story.
The familiar faces at safety are gone, whether itās a star like Landon Collins or a veteran presence such as Nick Perry or Jarrick Williams. Just one of those players returning would have been a reason for optimism this season.
But instead Alabama is faced with a series of questions: Is true sophomore Hootie Jones ready for the spotlight? Three years later, can Geno Smith fulfill the promise he showed as a freshman? Setting aside the hype, what can we really expect from Ronnie Harrison as a rookie? How will Eddie Jackson do after making the transition from corner to safety this offseason? For that matter, do we believe heāll have the same athleticism he showed pre-knee surgery?
Now itās important to note that Alabama doesnāt need every one of those questions answered in a positive manner. Three out of five would be a win. But nonetheless, thatās a lot for coach Nick Saban and defensive coordinator Kirby Smart to work on.
Alabamaās front seven should be able to cover up many of the cornerbacksā mistakes by getting pressure on the quarterback. Their D-line could be the best in the SEC, if not the country. But the safeties will have to hold up their end of the bargain.
Youāre only as strong as your last line of defense, and without them, Alabamaās playbook is shot.
With them, Saban and Smart's defense could be special once again.
ESPN's SEC BlogāContinue reading...
