UPDATE: What Clinton-Dix Suspension Means For Alabama

Alabama announced Wednesday that S HaHa Clinton-Dix has been suspended indefinitely. Mandatory credit: USA TODAY Sports

Alabama coach Nick Saban announced Wednesday the indefinite suspension of S HaHa Clinton-Dix for a violation of team rules.

Not surprisingly, Saban declined to specify on the specifics or nature of Clinton-Dix’ offense.

UPDATE: The Tuscaloosa News reports Alabama assistant strength coach Corey Harris was put on administrative leave Thursday for loaning money to Clinton-Dix.

Tuscaloosa News reporter Aaron Suttles also writes Alabama compliance uncovered a connection between Harris and a sports agent.

The move comes mere days after the top-ranked Crimson Tide seemed to resolve secondary issues that plagued it during a 49-42 win at Texas A&M in Week 3.

With those holes apparently plugged – and with Clinton-Dix playing a big role – Alabama smothered Ole Miss 25-0 last week.

Now the Crimson Tide will trudge through its coming games sans one of the nation’s top safety prospects.

Saban expects Landon Collins and Geno Smith to fill the void left by Clinton-Dix, whose original backup – Nick Perry – is out for the year while recovering from shoulder surgery.

The natural question for Alabama is simple: How much will the absence of Clinton-Dix affect the secondary?

Well, consider two factors.

First, try to remember a time over the past four seasons when Saban has failed to recruit one of the top three recruiting classes in the nation. Alabama will never hurt for talent or raw potential as long as Saban roams the sideline. As the al.com story points out, Collins was a five-star prospect himself.

The better news for Crimson Tide fans comes from the schedule. The LSU showdown is still five weeks away. The next four games are against Georgia State, Kentucky, Arkansas and Tennessee. None of those teams are likely to pick on underachieving or one-step-slow safety with any regularity.

Clinton-Dix features some of the best in-game instincts in the nation, which is why he is considered among the top safeties. Alabama will miss his big-play ability for as long as it is without the star defensive back.

However, the Crimson Tide is loaded enough – and the schedule devoid of quarterbacks on the level of Johnny Manziel, Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger – to keep on rolling.