Alabama football fans always think of seasonal transitions as a reloading process. This time Nick Saban has called it a rebuild … sort of.
For many Alabama football fans, it is heresy to suggest a Nick Saban team ever needs a rebuild. Whatever the outcome of a season, the prevailing perspective is just reload and move on. The 2019 season is a bit different. Even so, it does not mean the Alabama Crimson Tide will not be a front-runner for another national championship opportunity.
For those Alabama football fans chafing at the rebuild idea, Nick Saban has already called it “sort of a rebuild.” If Nick says it, it must be so. Let’s dive into where the Crimson Tide must rebuild the most.
- Last season the secondary had to be totally rebuilt. There is less attrition in 2019 but in the CFB Playoff, unacceptable weaknesses were evident in the secondary. Four of the returning secondary members have ample experience. Four more (to account for potential injuries) must step up to play at a high level.
- The defensive line must return to a pass rush level requiring the Tide to rush no more than four; while replacing Quinnen Williams and Isaiah Buggs.
- The punting game clearly needs a rebuild. As does the placekicking, which last season added a slew of missed PATs to the perennial problem of field goal inconsistency.
- The offensive line is not a complete rebuild but at least until Deonte Brown returns from suspension, three of five slots will be new starters. And that Brown suspension is expected to continue past a road game in Columbia, SC.
- A solid backup to Tua might also be an issue. Should Tua go down again, can Mac Jones step in and run the full package of the new Crimson Tide offense? We don’t know exactly what that offense will be, but we do know Mac does not have the same skill set as Tua.
- There is last season’s weakness at inside linebacker. It is a position hampered by past recruiting shortfalls. Dylan Moses will lead but he needs a solid running mate and two backups who don’t cause a dropoff when called upon.
- Then there is the Crimson Tide revolving door coaching staff. Alabama football fans are optimistic about the new staff. We were optimistic this time last season, as well. Nick Saban staff members have a springboard to coordinator and head coach jobs, making it hard to manage turnover. The result is a damaging loss of coaching continuity.
Given all the above “sort of” seems sort of like an understatement. Maybe we should call it a rebuild – Alabama style. There is no doubting Nick Saban is up to the task.