Last season, our Alabama Crimson Tide Preview 2019 notes that the Tide won 14-straight games. Those Alabama Crimson Tide wins included the SEC title game, where they beat Georgia 35-28, and the CFP semifinal, where they took down Oklahoma 45-34. The Tide’s one loss was in the CFP Championship game. In that contest. Clemson beat Alabama easily 44-16. Will the Crimson Tide rise once again make it to the national title game?
In 2019, the Crimson Tide averaged 45.6 PPG (3rd) and 323.6 YPG (6th) in the air. Although they averaged just 198.4 running yards per contest (42nd), that was plenty. Their total offensive yards came to 522 YPG (6th). The defense allowed on average 18.1 PPG (12th). Opponents gained just 3.5 yards per rush and 6.5 yards per pass. They gave up 121.3 ground YPG (19th) and 198.3 air YPG (33rd). Total yards allowed were 319.5 PG (16th). Our Alabama Crimson Tide Preview 2019 finds that this team is loaded on both sides of the field and should be both an offensive and defensive juggernaut.
Alabama Crimson Tide Preview 2019– Offense
Our Alabama Crimson Tide Preview 2019 finds that this team is well-suited to take down the SEC and will be highly competitive in the hunt for a CFP spot. Last season, junior Tua Tagovailoa (69.0 COMP%, 43 TDs, 6 INTs) set a new college football record for passing yards per game (199.4). He’ll start again. Four of Alabama’s top five return, including Jerry Jeudy (68 REC, 19.3 AVG, 14 TDs), the Biletnikoff Award winner, and Henry Ruggs (46 REC, 16.1 AVG, 11 TDs). The team loses two of their top three rushers but the number two guy, junior Najee Harris (783 YDs, 6.7 AVG, 4 TDs), does come back. Although the offensive line loses three starters, they are still stacked.
Defense and Special Teams
On defense, junior LB Anfernee Jennings (51 TKLs, 6.5 SCKs, 7.5 TFL) returns after posting 11 PBU and six QBH. Senior DE Raekwon Davis (55 TKLs, 4 TFL, 6 QBHs), who is 6’7” and 309 lbs., is part of a choice trio upfront. The defense recorded 45 sacks. Junior MLB Dylan Moses (86 TKLs, 3.5 SCKs, 6.5 TFL) is back as the team’s top tackler. The defensive backs include free safety Xavier McKinney (73 TKLs, 3 SCKs, 3 TFL). As a sophomore last season, he posted 11 PBU and two INTs as well as two QBHs.
Alabama special teams are the weak point on this team. In limited action last season, freshman punter Skyler DeLong averaged 34.4 YPP. Freshman PK Joseph Bulovas was 75-81 on extra points and 14-18 on field goals. His longest was 49 yards. Both come back for their sophomore seasons. Punt returns, which were handled by Jaylen Waddle (16 RET, 14.6 AVG, 1 TD), were a strength. Josh Jacobs (14 RET, 30.6 AVG, 1 TD) brought back kicks and also did a fine job. But he is gone.
Coaching and Recruitment
Head coach Nick Saban (146-21 Alabama, 237-63-1 Overall) has been with the Crimson Tide for a dozen years. Saban has led this team to 11 straight top 10 national finishes. As usual, he must replace his highly successful offensive and defensive coordinators. There’s a lot of talent on this team. Of the 27 new players, three are rated as five-star recruits and 23 four-star. But there’s less depth in terms of experience than one would like. Still, we expect Saban and his coaches to, once again, do another fine job.
Our Alabama Crimson Tide Preview 2019 – Final Word
Our Alabama Crimson Tide Preview 2019 projects this team to be the winner of the SEC West and the league title. We fully expect Alabama to be in the playoffs. If they suffer injuries, this team will need to see their new guys step up quickly. Big tests will be away against Texas A&M on October 12 and at home versus LSU on November 9. The LSU defense is especially tough this season, as it has been in recent seasons.
