Alabama Football: Five reasons Alabama wins the ’18 CFB Playoff

4. Nation’s Transcendent Group of Linebackers

Alabama boasts the nation’s finest set of linebackers.  Junior Lyndell “Mack” Wilson and sophomore Dylan Moses man the inside linebacker positions. Senior Christian Miller, juniors Terrell Lewis, and Anfernee Jennings will terrorize the quarterbacks from the outside. The only time that this group was entirely healthy and played together was in the Crimson Tide’s first game against Florida State.

This premier linebacking unit will be the strength of the Alabama defense.  New defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach Tosh Lupoi and inside linebackers coach Pete Golding will be creative in adequately employing the talented unit.  Wilson and Moses both played snaps as outside linebackers creating versatility among the linebacking corps.

An effective pass rush is needed as the Tide loses six key players from the secondary. Having Lewis and Miller healthy against Clemson and Georgia showed the pass rush they can provide when on the field.  Lewis had an enormous sack against Georgia in overtime leading to the Bulldogs kicking a 51 field goal instead of scoring a touchdown.  Miller also delivered a sack in the title game.

Seniors Jamey Mosley, Keith Holcombe, junior Joshua McMillion, sophomores Vandarius Cowan and Christopher Allen provide excellent depth.