Alabama Football: 3 biggest questions marks heading into 2020

Mac Jones, Alabama football (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Mac Jones, Alabama football (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Anfernee Jennings, Alabama football (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

3. Will the defense return to dominance?

This seems like an odd question to ask about a team that surrendered only 18 points per game last season. However, it is the individual performances that raised eyebrows at times last year.

Start with giving up 459 yards to a South Carolina team that finished 4-8. The Gamecocks could not trade touchdowns with the Crimson Tide which resulted in the lopsided 47-23 score. Despite the Ole Miss game being out of reach in the second half, the 280 yards they surrendered was not a good look.

This team, which lost the national title game, did not look ornery in conference play defensively. They didn’t keep the gas pedal on the way Alabama teams usually do. The talent was not the issue last season, they had four and five-stars all over the field.

They did have a lot of key injuries defensively. They played a lot of young guys last season and that should help this year. They don’t have to worry about facing another historically great offense like LSU was last season.

They do return a lot of healthy starters this season and add some young pieces. Where the Crimson Tide need to improve most is the front-seven. They need to find the next great Alabama pass rusher. They had only two players with over six sacks last season. Alabama gave up almost 140 rushing yards last year.

If the front plays better, then the defense improves. If not, they will go bowling, just not for a title.