2018 Recap: Whenever I talk about them, I have the same mindset I do with the New England Patriots. Each year, they’re penciled in as the favorite to win the SEC West, make the conference title game, win the conference title game, make the playoffs and get to the national championship game. They entered the season as the defending champs for the fifth time. Tua Tagovailoa entered the year as the starting quarterback which gave Alabama a different looking offense that we were accustomed to seeing. At times, I often compared Bama to the Golden State Warriors because when they would blow their opponents out, they’d sit the starters in the fourth quarter. Alabama finished with another perfect regular season, won the SEC West and got back to the SEC title game. Tua struggled in the game and ended up being taken out because of a knee injury. Jalen Hurts came in a saved the day. Bama clinched the one seed in the playoffs, defeated Oklahoma and then got embarrassed in the title game against Clemson.
Key Losses: RB Josh Jacobs, RB Damien Williams, TE Irv Smith, OL Jonah Williams, C Ross Pierschbacher, DT Quinnen Williams, LB Christian Miller, LB Mack Wilson, S Deionte Thompson.
2019 Outlook: Of course, I like Alabama to win the SEC West once again, the sixth time in a row. As expected, there’s some changes with players leaving for the NFL and coaching moves, but that won’t slow Nick Saban down at all. Tua is back for another year along with his receiving weapons (Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs, Jaylon Waddle & DeVonta Smith) and the running game will be in good hands with Najee Harris, Brian Robinson and incoming freshman Trey Sanders handling the ball. The defense needs to tighten things up. They gave up close to five yards per play last season and they allowed 44 to Clemson in the title game. I have a feeling they’re about to destroy everything in their path.
