We do this every week regardless of the opponent. Alabama doesn't need X-Factors to step up and win this game against Eastern Illinois. The result is a foregone conclusion. It will be an Alabama beatdown.
Eastern Illinois is one of the worst opponents Alabama has faced in decades. In Bill Connelly's rankings across all levels of college football, Eastern Illinois ranks No. 270. There's a reason you can't find betting odds for this game: it's going to be a name-your-score bloodbath.
But this is a perfect time for Alabama to work out the kinks, particularly on offense, that have plagued them in recent weeks.
It's a perfect time to get a look at a few players who could have a major impact on how the rest of this season goes for the Crimson Tide.
3 potential X-Factors for Alabama against Eastern Illinois - and beyond
QB Ty Simpson
If you've followed this series all year, you know I normally try to find players a bit off the beaten path when discussing "X-Factors." Not this week.
Ty Simpson has been a little bit off for several weeks now. He's not been as sharp as he was in the middle of the season when Alabama reeled off four straight ranked wins. He struggled in wins over South Carolina and LSU, doing just enough to lead the Tide to wins. He struggled at times again last week in the loss to Oklahoma, missing throws he normally makes and crucially turning it over twice.
This is the perfect get-right opportunity for Simpson. Just like how he used the game against UL Monroe in Week 2 to bounce back after the loss to Florida State, which set Simpson on the path to becoming one of the best quarterbacks in college football, this game against Eastern Illinois can be that for him again heading into the Iron Bowl next week.
I know these types of games are the ones fans hope to see younger players in. Austin Mack and Keelon Russell could use the reps at QB, but Kalen DeBoer would be smart to leave Simpson out there as long as possible to work out the kinks and find his rhythm.
RB AK Dear
Apparently, running the football is now part of the criteria for determining the playoff teams. Who knew. So it would behoove the Crimson Tide to continue running the football better.
Last week was actually a pretty nice step forward in that department, even if the raw statistics don't really show it. Alabama finished with 80 rushing yards - a number that jumps to 108 if you remove sack-yardage. And that came against an elite Oklahoma defense.
Alabama may have finally settled on the offensive line, for the most part. I would expect the move of Wilkin Formby to RG and freshman Michael Carroll at right tackle to be permanent. The only rotating last week was between Kam Dewberry and Geno VanDeMark at LG.
Daniel Hill looks to have supplanted Jam Miller as RB1, though Miller might still "start." Hill carried the ball 15 times to Miller's nine last week, and averaged a full yard extra per carry.
Perhaps this is the week to finally give freshman AK Dear a real look in the backfield? Dear has some explosive ability as a runner that has been sorely missing from the Tide's backfield, and in a game that should never really be in doubt, this would be a good chance for DeBoer and OC Ryan Grubb to give Dear some carries behind the first-team offensive line to see if he could perhaps be a difference maker down the stretch.
LB Qua Russaw
Kane Wommack said on Monday that Qua Russaw was "close" to making his return last week against Oklahoma. He was a game-time decision, but ultimately didn't play. While there's certainly an argument to be made to keep him on the shelf for an extra week to ensure he's 100% for the Iron Bowl, this could also be a nice opportunity to slowly work him back into the fold by giving him some snaps this weekend.
Yhonzae Pierre should remain the starter at Wolf LB, but Russaw will provide quality depth at the position and potentially allow Wommack to get even more creative in the 3rd-and-long packages. Pierre and Russaw may be the two best pass rushers on the team, so working out ways to get both of them on the field in obvious passing situations could help Alabama create more havoc in the backfield.
I would expect Russaw to be on a pitch count, but he should get a handful of snaps this weekend in his first action since the Georgia game.