Alabama Football: The one player the Tide can’t afford to lose
By Dakota Cox
Who is the one Alabama football player the Tide can’t lose in 2020?
The 2020 season, if it occurs, will be unlike any other in college football history. Alabama football will face unprecedented times, just like the entire world is. However, talent has always been the constant.
Even with the talent on the roster, depth will become more important in 2020. Between typical injuries, a daunting conference-only schedule, and the potential of having to quarantine, players will simply have to miss games. There is no avoiding that this fall. With that being said, I believe that there is one player who must stay healthy for the Tide. That player is Patrick Surtain.
Why is Patrick Surtain Alabama football’s irreplaceable player?
The most irreplaceable player for the Tide doesn’t mean the best. It doesn’t even mean the most valuable. You could argue that Najee Harris, Jaylen Waddle or DeVonta Smith bring more value to the Crimson Tide. However, Surtain is in a unique situation. There is plenty of depth on offense, but the secondary already has fresh faces in the starting lineup. Losing the only player with significant experience would hurt the Crimson Tide. If Najee Harris missed games, Trey Sanders would be a star. As long as either Smitty or Waddle can play, the receiving corps is good. Alabama football can even afford to lose Mac Jones with Bryce Young on the bench.
The other contender for Alabama’s most irreplaceable player is Dylan Moses. Moses’s absence last year was obvious. The defense was misaligned, and the inside linebackers made plenty of mistakes. However, there is actual depth at the inside linebacker position now. Losing Dylan Moses would be devastating, but Alabama football would be more prepared to handle that loss.
You also have to note the fact that the Tide will face plenty of elite wide receivers. Ja’Marr Chase’s LSU Tigers and George Pickens’ Bulldogs come to mind. Surtain is going to have to lock down at least part of the field to slow these guys down. The Tide could easily get exposed without him in these games.
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Alabama doesn’t want to lose anyone for the 2020 college football season. However, I genuinely believe that Patrick Surtain would be the hardest to replace. Perhaps the emergence of Josh Jobe will flip this script.