Alabama Football: What to expect from the Tide against Ole Miss

Alabama football has another tuneup game this Saturday with an opportunity to develop both young players and depth against Ole Miss.

Offseason and early-season concerns about the relative weakness of the Alabama football schedule can be shed. LSU, Auburn and probably Georgia will provide plenty of late-season oomph to negate any weakness in the out of conference schedule.

The Alabama Crimson Tide does not need to run up scores against weaker teams. And if it did, Nick Saban would steadfastly refuse to do so.

For the Tide ‘doing your job’ on Saturday against Ole Miss is all about getting better. Plenty of youngsters will get looks in the expectation they can contribute to depth in the two-deep.

Tua and the four, fleet, sure-handed wizards will dazzle against a weak Ole Miss pass defense. Look for Matt Luke to try and bring heat. Like every other defensive team so far this season, getting pressure is the only option. It will not work. Tua and Sark and those four other guys are just too good.

The Tide running game may not dominate Ole Miss. Any serious weakness in run blocking could cause a quick, first-unit return for Deonte Brown.

The Crimson Tide defensive chess game will be all about player development. Crimson Tide fans should not be concerned if Terrell Lewis and D.J. Dale are on ‘pitch counts’ or even rested.

Ole Miss will have some success running, providing the Tide freshmen inside linebackers with a test. Phidarian Mathis, Byron Young and Christian Barmore could earn valuable extra snaps and game experience. Josh Jobe may even get a chance to redeem himself at cornerback.

The kicking game could be a bit of an adventure if Will Reichard is rested. That too brings opportunity for Skyler DeLong and Joseph Bulovas to step up.

Another interesting component will be the number of snaps for the backup quarterbacks. Tua should exit before the end of the third quarter. How much time is split between Mac and Taulia might provide hints of next season when the pair, along with Paul Tyson and verbal commit, Bryce Young battle to lead the Tide.

Alabama football fans should pay attention to any snaps including Kendall Randolph at tight end. In power sets, Randolph could provide an added run-blocking boost, given the Tide’s main tight ends are not well suited to play with a hand in the dirt.

It could be argued this post and others before show insufficient respect to Ole Miss. Disparaging the school and football program was never fun until Reverend Hugh Freeze came along. We rest our case.