USC vs. Alabama: 3 Things to Watch
The Alabama Crimson Tide kick off their 2016 season in Dallas against the USC Trojans. Below we share our “three things to watch”. These are things that will be a factor not just in today’s game, but will also show signs of things to come over the course of the season. Let’s begin.
1. Who on Earth is Going to be the Quarterback?
In his press conference yesterday, Nick Saban made it clear that Cooper Bateman, Blake Barnett, and Jalen Hurts are all still alive in the quarterback battle. Saban had said previously that Bateman and Barnett were both going to play against the Trojans. Might we see Hurts as well? At this point anything is possible. Whoever it is will have to face a tough USC secondary. We will see how they do.
2. How Will the Running Backs Split Snaps?
This is the first year of Saban’s tenure at Alabama, that the Tide don’t have a clear-cut number one option ready to take over in the backfield. That could mean that the tide goes to more of a committee approach. Bo Scarbrough, Damien Harris, and B.J. Emmons are all extremely talented runners. However, none of them have significant experience.
It looks like Bo Scarbrough will be the starter, but I’d be surprised to see him get 40 totes in a game like Derrick Henry did. Expect Harris and Emmons to be real contributors, especially given Alabama’s uncertain quarterback situation. The Tide may lean on the running game in this one.
3. Will the Front Seven take Time to Reload?
Last season, Alabama had one of the best front sevens in the history of college football. Unfortunately, they lost several players from that unit, such as: Reggie Ragland, A’Shawn Robinson, and Jarran Reed.
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Nevertheless, the Tide are still stocked with a bevy of potential playmakers. Jonathan Allen and Tim Williams are elite pass-rushers. Daron Payne is a wall in the middle. And Behind them Reuben Foster is a human missile. The only question is will Alabama’s newer players take time to grow into larger roles. If they do, USC’s ground game could be a real problem for the Tide.
Conclusion
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