Alabama Football: 3 biggest 2021 offseason questions facing the Tide

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Jan 11, 2021; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields (1) runs away from Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Will Anderson Jr. (31) in the fourth quarter in the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Can the Tide repeat their great defensive performance?

Except for maybe Georgia, Alabama’s defensive performance in the SEC does not matter a lot. The Crimson Tide is far superior to anyone they play in the conference. What matters to the Crimson Tide is how they play in the conference title game and the College Football Playoff.

Though Alabama’s defense is not the focal point of the conference like it was before the game changed, the Tide defense was lights out in the last three games of their season on their way to winning the title.

Florida did score against Alabama in the title game, but many of those points were after the game was out of reach. Alabama shut down the Irish running game and harassed Justin Fields all game in the national championship. Can the Tide play that well next season?

This season the Tide are without Christian Barmore upfront, Dylan Moses at linebacker and Patrick Surtain II, leaving for the NFL Draft. Despite these losses, this is an experienced defense. There are upperclassmen all over the defense; the only projected underclassman starter is sophomore phenom Will Anderson Jr.

If the defense plays as well as it did this past postseason, Alabama could be the leader in the clubhouse coming into this season.

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