Playing football at this level is tough. One day, you're Lou Gehrig, and the next you're Wally Pipp.
As a freshman, Dijon Lee was a standout for the Crimson Tide and jumped ahead of senior Domani Jackson for the starting role opposite Zabien Brown at CB for several games last season. With experience and another offseason under his belt, Lee and Brown were projected to be one of the top CB tandems in college football.
Unfortunately, things don't always go as planned, and Lee might find himself on the opposite end of a Wally Pip situation in his second season in Tuscaloosa.
After another week of struggles in coverage against Georgia, along with an unacceptable mental mistake in the fourth quarter that cost Alabama a chance to get the ball back, leading to an eruption from Kalen DeBoer that Tide fans had not seen before, Lee could see his role reduced this week against Tennessee.
Kane Wommack hinted at a potential shakeup during his Monday press conference.
“Obviously, Dijon at the end of the game, that is not the standard of how we operate,” Wommack said. "I listen to Coach DeBoer talk all year about the discipline that we play with in those moments, and showing guys clips of guys playing outside themselves and playing emotional. Very disappointing with all the time and effort we put into that, that showed up in that moment. But he will be held accountable for it, and we will continue to move forward as a football team.”
That accountability might come from reduced playing time, not just because of the mental mistake at the end, but because of what Lee has put on tape this year through six games.
“My job is to get the most out of every single player in our defense,” Wommack said. “The things that I need to do to get him to execute at a higher level than what he’s doing, from an execution standpoint, that’s one facet. And then the other facet is being held accountable for the penalty there at the end of the game. There will be some things that we will do this week, and some things that moving forward - my job as a coordinator is based on the production that you put on the field, the role that you have moving forward. From a rep-based standpoint, that will be reflected in what guys have done to this point.”
Mercer transfer Carmelo O'Neal could have a major opportunity against Tennessee
It's hard not to read into Wommack's words and believe there could be a shakeup opposite Zabien Brown this week. It would not be a surprise to see Mercer transfer Carmelo O'Neal step into the starting role at Tennessee.
O'Neal has been operating as Alabama's primary backup at CB, logging between 15 and 20 snaps a game, depending on the week. Wommack stated, prior to discussing Lee's issues, that O'Neal would "continue to elevate his role moving forward."
That's a pretty strong hint that the Mercer transfer will have a big opportunity on his hands this weekend in Knoxville.
Alabama has to improve in the secondary, whether that's at corner or safety. A position group that was supposed to be the biggest strength on this year's team has turned into an unexpected weakness. Through six games, the Crimson Tide ranks 105th in the country in yards per pass play allowed.
That's not going to get the job done. Not for a team with national championship aspirations.
So don't be surprised to see a shake-up at CB this week, and don't be surprised if it's not the only shake-up we see in the secondary in the near future.
Add us as a preferred source on Google