It took a gutsy fourth-and-2 touchdown and a game-saving forced fumble on the final drive, but Alabama punched its ticket to Atlanta. The Crimson Tide are heading to the SEC Championship Game for a rematch with Georgia-one of the most anticipated showdowns of the college football season. But they’ll likely be doing it without two key offensive veterans, and that could have ripple effects far beyond the stat sheet.
Tight end Josh Cuevas missed the Iron Bowl and, according to head coach Kalen DeBoer, isn’t expected back for Saturday’s title clash. Running back Jam Miller’s status is still up in the air, but signs point to him potentially being sidelined after suffering an injury midway through the Iron Bowl. These aren’t just depth chart moves-these are foundational pieces of Alabama’s offensive identity, especially when it comes to protecting quarterback Ty Simpson.
The Real Impact: Pass Protection
Let’s be clear: losing Cuevas and Miller doesn’t just mean fewer options in the passing game or a lighter load in the run game. The real concern is pass protection-an area where both players have played pivotal roles.
Alabama’s offense under DeBoer leans heavily on the passing game, and that puts a premium on keeping Simpson upright. That responsibility doesn’t fall solely on the offensive line.
In this system, Simpson has the freedom to make checks at the line-adjusting protections, shifting blockers, and counting on tight ends and backs to hold their own against blitzes. And that’s where Cuevas and Miller have quietly been difference-makers.
Take the Iron Bowl as a case study. Miller ran the ball well, but in pass protection, he gave up two quarterback pressures on just eight blocking snaps.
That’s a high rate, especially when you consider Simpson was pressured on 40% of his dropbacks. Daniel Hill, one of the younger backs vying for snaps, held up slightly better-one pressure on seven pass-blocking reps-but Miller, as a senior, has been the go-to guy in those situations all season.
Now, with Miller potentially out and Cuevas already sidelined, Alabama is turning to youth at two of the most nuanced positions in the offense.
Who Steps Up?
At tight end, Kaleb Edwards-a 2025 four-star recruit-has shown flashes in limited action. He’s big, athletic, and clearly talented, but this is a massive stage to be thrown into.
At running back, the Tide will lean on a committee approach with Hill, Kevin Riley, and AK Dear. All three have battled for playing time throughout the year, but none has consistently shouldered the kind of pass-protection responsibilities Miller handled.
And that’s where things get tricky. Alabama’s run game has been inconsistent all season, which has allowed defenses to get aggressive.
Auburn dialed up the pressure in the Iron Bowl, and Georgia did the same in their Week 5 meeting. That’s not necessarily an Alabama-specific strategy-it’s more a reflection of Georgia’s need to manufacture pressure with a pass rush that hasn’t been dominant this year.
Still, the result is the same: Alabama has been facing high blitz rates all season long. And when defenses bring the heat, offenses are forced to keep extra bodies in to protect. That means tight ends and running backs staying in the backfield, picking up blitzes, and giving Simpson the time he needs to make plays downfield.
The Bottom Line
This rematch with Georgia isn’t just about talent-it’s about execution under pressure. And with two of their most experienced blockers potentially unavailable, Alabama is going to have to rely on young players to step into critical roles.
Can Edwards and Hill hold up against Georgia’s pressure packages? Will Simpson have the time to operate the way he needs to? Those are the questions that could decide the SEC title.
The Tide have the talent. Now it’s about trust, toughness, and timing-especially in the trenches.