Alabama Football: CFB week two wrap and possible changes for Ole Miss
By Ronald Evans
As Alabama football moves into SEC play, the Tide’s schedule is looking better thanks to strong SEC performances. Some changes are possible for Ole Miss game.
There has been little eventful Alabama football news from the first two Ole Miss practices. The Crimson Tide got one freshman (Stephon Wynn) back and lost another (Jalyn Armour-Davis) to injury. It is not known if Wynn will get snaps against Ole Miss. He did drills Tuesday afternoon, not in a black, no-contact jersey.
There has been no new news and for a change, almost no insider buzz about Jalen Hurts this week. Alabama football fans will keep counting up to five games of participation before discarding redshirt concerns.
There was one noticeable adjustment during the Tuesday practice. True freshman, Patrick Surtain Jr. worked with the first unit at cornerback. In nickel drills, Surtain and Saivion Smith were at the corners with Trevon Diggs at star. Deionte Thompson and Xavier McKinney were at their regular safety positions.
That player grouping has been used a bit in the first two games. Sometimes, Shyheim Carter has been the other safety instead of McKinney. In dime, the five would adjust with Carter going to safety while McKinney moves to the money position.
Going up against a tough unit of Ole Miss receivers would be a stretch for most freshman corners. Surtain is better than most. Possibly a lot better. Is he ready this soon to face top competition? Alabama football fans may find out Saturday. The potential move makes sense in one way. Both Surtain and Diggs have a couple of inches on Carter. Three of the top four Ole Miss receivers are over six feet tall.
SEC looking strong in first two weeks
The maligned 2018 Alabama football schedule is looking stronger after the first two weeks of the season. Auburn, LSU and Mississippi State wins have shown strength in the conference. The close loss from the Aggies against Clemson is also a plus for the Crimson Tide. The Tennessee and Arkansas losses have not hurt so far since not much is expected of either team this season.
At least so far, a less stiff than normal Alabama football schedule looks tougher. The latest ESPN FPI has seven SEC teams on the top 25. While it is WAY too early to predict the CFB Playoff final four, (not that it is stopping anyone else) it is possible to at least contemplate another pair of SEC teams.
Lessons will be learned on Saturday in Oxford. Seeing how much QB pressure can be put on Jordan Ta’amu will be one. How well the not deep, defensive line holds up against a ‘speedball’ offense will be another. And the old ugly head gets reared again – does the Crimson Tide have a placekicker who can produce under pressure?
It should all be fun, except maybe the kicking part.
Ole Miss (the offense at least) is no pushover. The real meat of the ’18 season schedule begins the next week. Jimbo and his Aggies are better quicker than we had assumed.