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Alabama Football: Fair or not, 2019 is national title or bust for Tide

By Dakota Cox

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 11: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates by hoisting the College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy after defeating the Clemson Tigers in the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 11, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Crimson Tide defeated the Tigers with a score of 45 to 40. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 11: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates by hoisting the College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy after defeating the Clemson Tigers in the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 11, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Crimson Tide defeated the Tigers with a score of 45 to 40. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 01: Raekwon Davis #99 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts in the first half of the AllState Sugar Bowl against the Clemson Tigers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 01: Raekwon Davis #99 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts in the first half of the AllState Sugar Bowl against the Clemson Tigers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

A defense with new faces, but plenty of old ones, too

A few weeks after the Alabama football season, there is a day all fans dread. That is the day where juniors decide whether or not to declare for the NFL Draft. Most of the eligible starters declare, but Raekwon Davis decided to return for his senior year. He will be the anchor of Alabama’s defensive line.

Another player on the line to watch is DJ Dale. Dale is projected to be a starter at defensive tackle despite being a freshman. There is talent at the position, so he would only start if he was the real deal. It appears that this is the case for the Tide.

At linebacker, the biggest concern is depth. Terrell Lewis and Anfernee Jennings return as outside linebackers, but they are losing both Christian Miller and Eyabi Anoma from last year’s team. With both Jennings and Lewis having an injury history, health is crucial for the position. Dylan Moses will be one of the nation’s best inside linebackers, and Joshua McMillon will likely start alongside him.

The secondary will be one of the best in the country this season. The Tide love to play in nickel, and the five defensive backs they will use will all be strong. Josh Jobe will slide in at corner, and Patrick Surtain will move over to Star. You also have Trevon Diggs, one of the best cover corners in college football. Diggs is coming off of an injury last year, but there is no reason to believe it will hinder him at all in 2019.

At safety, Shyheim Carter will start in place of Deionte Thompson. Carter is making the transition from corner to safety, a move that many Tide defensive backs have made in the past. You also have Xavier McKinney at strong safety, a ball-hawking player who had a strong finish to the season.

There are some depth and inexperience issues, but there are plenty of stars on the field to make some big plays for Alabama football in 2019.

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