The Alabama Crimson Tide will kick off the 2024 season against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. It will be the first game of the Kalen DeBoer era. There are an array of opinions being made in regards to how the Crimson Tide will perform under the direction of DeBoer and the new coaching staff.
It should not be too difficult for Alabama to pick up a win in Week 1. However, we have seen crazier things. Last season, the Hilltoppers won eight games and finished the season off with three straight wins. Head coach Tyson Helton is a quarterback guru and usually assembles a strong offensive unit. The defense is typically competitive as well. With that being said, Alabama will need to bring their A-game.
Roll Tide Wire lists five things to watch for Alabama’s Week 1 matchup against Western Kentucky.
1
Alabama assistant coaches coaching against familiar opponent
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Several of Alabama’s assistant coaches were once on the Western Kentucky coaching staff. Two of which include wide receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard and tight ends coach Bryan Ellis. Shephard was a member of the Hilltoppers coaching staff from 2013 to 2015. Ellis served on the Hilltoppers coaching staff from 2014 to 2016 and again from 2019 to 2021.
Ellis likely has valuable insight to the gameplan that Western Kentucky head coach Tyson Helton will orechestrate for a matchup against the Crimson Tide. That could certainly help Alabama’s defense prepare for the Hilltoppers this week. It will be interesting to see how Alabama aligns and performs against the Hilltoppers this weekend.
2
The right tackle competition
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The depth chart has not been released. One position that Alabama fans are closely monitoring is the right tackle position. After losing former right tackle JC Latham to the NFL draft, the Crimson Tide will have to replace the first-round pick. The two options to fill in for Latham this season appear to be redshirt sophomore Elijah Pritchett and redshirt freshman Wilkin Formby.
The most likely scenario for Week 1 is that Formby and Pritchett split time at left tackle. However, that may not be the case as one plays more than the other. It will certainly be something to watch for in Week 1.
3
Alabama’s pass rush
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With Alabama losing its top two pass rushers – Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell – to the NFL, someone will have to replace them. The top options to do so are Que Robinson, Keanu Koht, and Qua Russaw. Each of which have shown strides of improvement during the offseason. All three will likely rotate at the WOLF position. In addition, Alabama will have to also replace defensive end Justin Eboigbe. The trio of Turner, Braswell, and Eboigbe recorded 25 of Alabama’s 39 sacks last season.
Several other players that will be counted on to generate a pass rush are Tim Smith Jr., LT Overton, and James Smith. Altogether, Alabama has a lot of depth along the defensive line. Will that prove to be enough to generate an effective pass rush?
4
Blocking at the second level
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Western Kentucky has two of the top linebackers in the country in redshirt senior Kylan Guidry and incoming transfer Terreance Ellis. Last season, the two combined to have 97 tackles, six sacks, and three fumble recoveries. Alabama’s offensive line will need to identify the two and make sure that both are blocked in the run game to ensure success on the ground. Otherwise, it could be difficult for the Crimson Tide offense to generate a run game.
Alabama’s offensive line will outweigh Western Kentucky’s defensive line. However, these two linebackers play with great instincts and will be able to make up for mistakes along the defensive front. Alabama will need to block well at the second level on Saturday. If not, Ellis and Guidry could tally a lot of tackles.
5
Can Alabama replace Will Reichard?
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During the offseason, Alabama was tasked with finding a replacement for the leading scorer in college football history — kicker Will Reichard. The coaching staff went to the transfer portal and landed the best kicker in the country in Miami (OH) transfer Graham Nicholson.
Last season, Nicholson won the Lou Groza Award which recognizes the top kicker in college football. His numbers indicate that he has a reliable foot and can come in handy in crucial moments. However, the SEC is a different animal. It will be interesting to see how Nicholson performs in his first game in an Alabama uniform.
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Publish date : 2024-08-28 06:09:00
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