Alabama Football: The Crimson Tide has question marks on offense next season, but wide receivers are not a position group for concern.
The Alabama Football offense will be rebuilt by Bill O’Brien. The Tide’s offensive schemes will not be fundamentally changed. The Nick Saban, Alabama Football offense has evolved through four Offensive Coordinators, going back to Lane Kiffin. The fifth OC, Bill O’Brien will start with offensive pieces from Kiffin, Brian Daboll, Mike Locksley and Steve Sarkisian. O’Brien’s own ideas will be incorporated and the ’21 Crimson Tide offense will emerge.
Can the ’21 offense come close to the Crimson Tide’s recent explosive offenses? There is little reason to believe it can’t. There will be significant personnel changes. A new quarterback, three new offensive linemen, a very different running back rotation to replace Najee Harris, and not least, DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle must be replaced.
The successor to Mac Jones is not officially Bryce Young, but a different QB1 will have to unseat Young. There is no questioning his talent, only his lack of experience. DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle were major reasons for Mac Jones’ success. Bryce Young will need similar support from his wideouts for the Crimson Tide to compete for another championship.
Crimson Tide fans need not be concerned about the ’21 wide receivers. Holmon Wiggins has the player resources to make up for the exits of Smith and Waddle. The pair will probably not be replaced by another pair of younger Crimson Tide receivers. Instead, a deeper rotation could be used in the ’21 season. In the aggregate, four or five guys could come close to matching what Tide wideouts produced last season.
John Metchie will be the ‘go-to’ guy. Slade Bolden will also be a primary target. The competition for the next three wideouts will be intense. Speed, good hands, route-running are three essential components for a successful Crimson Tide wide receiver. Another one is equally valued by the Alabama football staff; dependable, consistent blocking. That fourth attribute will go a long way in determining which players get the most snaps.
Xavier Williams and Javon Baker, though used sparingly last season have the best chance to start. Six less experienced players all have a chance to become one of the Tide’s main guys in the fall. Combined, Traeshon Holden, Thaiu Jones-Bell, Jacorey Brooks, Agiye Hall, Christian Leary and JoJo Earle have speed, size and abundant skills.
The expectations for Leary are high because he provides impressive speed. Earle is already being compared to a Jaylen Waddle. But any of the six can become a Crimson Tide breakout star.
Jahleel Billingsley, though not technically a wide receiver, will also be a top target. He has skills equal to wideouts and will present mismatch problems for any defense.