After back-to-back losses, Kalen DeBoer and Alabama's coaches should be considering some shake-ups to the depth chart. There's no time to wait with the season on the brink.
Alabama sits at 5-2 with five games to go, and the only way to guarantee a berth in the College Football Playoff is to win all five games.
DeBoer said after the loss at Tennessee that the conversations were going to get more uncomfortable in the building. Part of that should include making some changes to the depth chart ahead of this weekend's matchup against Texas A&M. Whether it's veterans who aren't getting the job done or it's injury replacements, a shakeup might be just what the doctor ordered heading into this weekend's must-win game for the Crimson Tide:
Here's four moves Alabama should make:
1. Noah Rogers over Derek Meadows
Ryan Grubb said he was "disappointed" after the Tennessee game to learn that NC State transfer WR Noah Rogers only received two snaps. With Ryan Coleman-Williams out, Rogers was expected to see his first extended playing time of the season, but instead, sophomore Derek Meadows got the lion's share of the snaps. Meadows played 51 of a possible 55 snaps against the Vols and managed just two receptions for eight yards.
Alabama's receivers didn't do a good enough job of getting separation against the Tennessee secondary, which frequently left Keelon Russell without anywhere to go with the football.
Coleman-Williams is expected to miss this weekend's game as well, and Alabama will be looking for a boost. Perhaps that boost can come from Rogers, who was expected to play a significant role this season before his injury in spring practice.
2. AK Dear over Daniel Hill
Speaking of a player who was trending toward a big role pre-injury, we heard nothing but glowing reviews of sophomore AK Dear in fall camp before he suffered an ankle injury during the first scrimmage. Dear missed the first three games of the season, but made his return against South Carolina. He's only carried the ball twice so far, though.
Alabama's backs were ineffective against Tennessee. The offensive line played its worst game of the season, so that isn't a coincidence, but with EJ Crowell banged up, this feels like the week to give Dear a legitimate shot in the rotation.
3. Ivan Taylor over Keon Sabb
Putting Sabb on the bench won't be an easy move for Kane Wommack. Sabb is a player he trusts, and this is his third season starting at safety for the Crimson Tide. But he's been mostly ineffective this year, and a step slow responding to plays.
Sabb hasn't recorded an interception in his last 15 games. Taylor, on the other hand, has recorded two picks in six games this year despite playing significantly fewer snaps than Sabb.
The sophomore is the future at the position and needs as many reps as he can get. He makes more plays when he's out there, and Wommack should start transitioning toward Taylor as the full-time starter.
4. Zyan Gibson or Jorden Edmonds over Carmelo O'Neal
Zabien Brown's status for this weekend against Texas A&M is unclear after he left the Tennessee game in the second quarter and didn't return. If he's out, Dijon Lee and Carmelo O'Neal are likely going to start at CB, and that's a real concern.
Lee has not had the sophomore season anyone expected. O'Neal actually started in place of Lee against Tennessee, but he didn't fare much better. It might be time to give one of the talented true freshmen a shot.
Jorden Edmonds was the higher-ranked recruit, but he missed significant time with an injury he suffered during fall camp, which could mean former 4-star Zyan Gibson is ahead in the pecking order at this point.
Both were Top 70 players in the country last season. The talent for each is obvious, and with as poorly as Alabama's corners have played opposite Brown, it might be time to give Gibson or Edmonds a tryout.
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