SEC’s Best in-Conference Games: Number 5: Alabama at Ole Miss
Alabama Offense vs. Ole Miss Defense:
As it has for the past two seasons, the Alabama Crimson Tide will have a new starting quarterback this season. I had thought, until perhaps a week ago, that Cooper Bateman would be that new starting quarterback. But Tide insiders have been raving about the performances of redshirt freshman Blake Barnett, and true freshman Jalen Hurts. When I attended Alabama’s Fan Day I thought Hurts was the most impressive. At this point who even knows who will win?
The running back position needs a new starter as well, but the waters are much less murky here. Bo Scarbrough is set to start with Damien Harris and true freshman B.J. Emmons backing him up. Scarbrough is essentially a Derrick Henry clone. He’s big, strong, and surprisingly fast. Harris struggled as a freshman last season but looked much better during the A-Day game. Emmons is young but he runs hard. He was very impressive at Fan Day.
The one offensive position where the Tide has an incredible amount of experience is at wide receiver. Calvin Ridley is a star already. Ardarius Stewart is getting better with every game, and he has all the tools needed to be a star as well. Robert Foster was starting ahead of Ridley before he was injured against Ole Miss. Transfer Gehrig Dieter can just plain catch the football. If Bama can find a quarterback, this group’s potential is limitless.
On the offensive line Bama returns three starters. Fortunately, one is left tackle Cam Robinson. The other is Ross Pierschbacher who is moving from left guard to center this season. Alphonse Taylor may have lost his job at right guard. Bradley Bozeman has been taking first team reps there during Fall Camp. Lester Cotton and Jonah Williams are penciled in at left guard and right tackle respectively.
The Ole Miss defense also has some key pieces to replace. They lost star nose tackle Robert Nkemdiche to the NFL Draft as well as both starting safeties. The Rebels are also inexperienced at inside linebacker.
Fortunately for the Rebels, Hugh Freeze has recruited well. Also, the returns of tackle Issac Gross and nickelback Tony Conner should help things tremendously. Finally, the Rebels return two stud defensive ends in the forms of Fadol Brown and Marquis Haynes. Those two, along with Gross, should terrorize Brandon Harris all game long.
Advantage: Ole Miss (Again, early in the season. Bama’s quarterback situation may still be iffy)
Next: Special Teams and Coaching