Alabama Football: 3 bold predictions for Crimson Tide offense

Alabama football’s offense will be bold in 2020.

There is plenty of reasons to be excited about Alabama football this season. Although the Crimson Tide season should have already started, there is plenty of hope for the upcoming year. Alabama will be replacing four first-round players from 2019’s team on the offensive side of the ball, but they appear to be ready to go this season.

There are plenty of predictions you could make about this offense, but most are almost guaranteed to happen. Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith will thrive, Mac Jones will begin the season as the starter, and Najee will have an impact in both the running and the passing game. Let’s save the bland opinions for other articles. Let’s get bold with our predictions, starting with the offensive line.

Alabama’s O-line will win the Joe Moore Award

Since the Joe Moore Award was announced in 2015, no team has won it twice. Alabama football took home the trophy for the best offensive line in its inaugural season, and they are poised to win it in 2020. If you look at the depth chart for the Tide, you can see why there is reason for optimism. Alabama returns four of their five starters from last year, and they will likely be the frontrunner for the trophy. It’s always bold to predict a trophy winner before a single snap is played, but I expect the Crimson Tide to hoist this monstrous trophy.

Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith will each have 1000 receiving yards

Both Smith and Jerry Jeudy had 1000 receiving yards last year, but that was with Tua Tagovailoa under center. No matter how Mac Jones looks this year, this offense will run through Najee Harris and the offensive line.

This goal will be hard to achieve in a 10-game regular season, but I believe that more SEC games means more meaningful snaps. Waddle won’t get to feast against the Georgia State defense, but he will be playing more in fourth quarters than we’re used to seeing. If Alabama makes it to the national title game, they would likely play in 13 games. That’s how many we saw them play last year, so this is within the realm of possibility.

Slade Bolden will have another passing touchdown

Alabama football loves to run the wildcat on third and fourth downs. They did it with Josh Jacobs in 2018 and Slade Bolden in 2019. Although Trey Sanders could easily see some direct snaps, expect Slade Bolden to play some wildcat in 2020. He threw for a passing touchdown near the goalline last year, and I think we could see that play again.

Bolden is very efficient in short-yardage situations. Watch out for him to make a difference as both a receiver and as a wildcat quarterback.

This offense is going to be dynamic and dangerous. Expect the unexpected in Tuscaloosa this fall.