Alabama Football: 5 things to watch during 2019 A-Day game
1. Depth on the Defensive Line
Nick Saban has opined all spring about the importance of establishing depth on the defensive side of the football. It’s a genuine concern, particularly in the front seven, and something that Alabama will no doubt be working on throughout the summer and fall.
The defensive line is a particular area of concern. Depth was an issue up front last season, and now two starters are gone. Nose tackle Quinnen Williams was arguably the best defensive player in college football last season, projected to be a Top-5 pick in the NFL Draft at the end of month. Isaiah Buggs led the team with 9.5 sacks a year ago.
The unit got a boost from the unexpected return of senior defensive end Raekwon Davis, who was long expected to enter the draft after his junior season. He had a mostly disappointing year, though, necessitating his decision to return to Tuscaloosa to try and find the first round potential that he displayed as a sophomore.
The two key reserves along the defensive line are expected to fill the voids left behind by Buggs and Williams. Former five-star defensive end LaBryan Ray has been a key contributor since he was a freshman, and entering his third season on the capstone he is poised for a breakout year. Ray had 39 tackles, 6 for loss, and 3.5 sacks last year as a reserve.
Redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis is the favorite to replace Williams in the middle. He was a part of the defensive line rotation last year, and typically filled in nicely when Williams needed a breather. The staff hopes he’ll take a big step forward in 2019.
Behind those guys, things get dicey. There’s talent to be sure, but there’s very little game experience with the reserves, which means all the mental and physical reps they can get during the spring are vital.
Senior defensive tackle Tevita Musika joined the team last year as a JUCO transfer, but couldn’t claw his way into the rotation. He’s struggling to hold off the incoming freshmen currently.
Christian Barmore and Stephon Wynn Jr. both redshirted last year, but have plenty of talent to contribute.
Alabama is likely going to have to rely on a couple of the incoming freshmen to contribute right away. The two most likely candidates so far appear to be Antonio Alfano and D.J. Dale.
Alfano was the crown jewel of the Crimson Tide’s 2019 recruiting class. The five-star prospect was ranked as the No. 5 overall prospect in the 247 composites, and is fighting to learn the playbook quick enough so that he can make an immediate impact. He’s talented enough to be a rotational player as a true freshman.
D.J. Dale was much less heralded, but the 314 pound four-star recruit out of Pinson has opened a lot of eyes during spring practice. Davis has given him rave reviews, comparing him to former Tide defensive tackle and first round NFL Draft pick Da’Ron Payne. Dale might already be the No. 2 on the depth chart at defensive tackle, and has seen some reps with the starting unit.
One other thing to keep an eye on could be if Saban decides to get a little more creative up front. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Davis start getting some reps at defensive tackle, especially if Mathis or Dale aren’t quite up to par. He’s certainly big enough to clog the middle, and Saban could then shift one of his outside linebackers, a position in which Alabama has really good depth as long as they stay healthy, to the line.
Anfernee Jennings, Terrell Lewis, Christopher Allen, and Eyabi Anoma are probably Alabama’s four best pass rushers. Finding ways to get more than two of them on the field at once, particularly in obvious passing situations, would be beneficial.