Alabama should beat Tennessee, and a double-digit Crimson Tide win would hardly come as a shock. Even with computer models pointing to a closer finish, the bigger picture still favors Alabama. The roster looks stronger overall, and Tennessee’s offense, as the source frames it, is not close to special.
But if this game stays tight, the reason is sitting in Alabama’s injury report.
Ryan Coleman-Williams is expected to miss the game because of multiple injury issues. Center Racin Delgatty is expected to be limited throughout the week and is shaping up as a game-time decision.
Terrance Green is expected to play, but Kalen DeBoer said Monday that Green is trying to play through injury. If Green is on the field, he is not expected to be at 100%, and his snaps may be limited.
That creates a real test for Alabama’s depth. On offense, Ryan Grubb believes the receiver room can cover for Coleman-Williams. Derek Meadows, Noah Rogers, Cederian Morgan and possibly Tyler Henderson are all options Grubb can lean on.
At center, if Delgatty can’t go, Mal Waldrep Jr. is expected to step in. Waldrep would bring a physical upgrade, but the job won’t be simple.
The biggest challenge would be the mental side of playing center in a stadium known for crowd noise. He may handle it just fine, but it would still be a major ask.
The more dangerous situation for Alabama comes on the other side of the ball, and it starts with Green. He was hurt against Mississippi State and later left the Georgia game late in the first half.
Before he went out, Georgia managed 49 rushing yards in the first half. After halftime, with Green no longer there to clog the middle of Alabama’s defensive line, Georgia piled up 157 rushing yards.
The Bulldogs were able to run because they wanted to, and they averaged 6.5 yards per carry in the second half compared with 3.3 in the first half. The source says that swing, even more than the pass interference no-call, was the main reason Georgia won.
Alabama already lost Jeremiah Beaman to injury during fall camp, which leaves the Crimson Tide without an interior defensive lineman comparable to Green. And with Tennessee’s quarterback situation still unsettled, the Vols will need big production from DeSean Bishop. He is more than capable of delivering it, and he has already done it against Alabama before.
In Other News...
Georgia's Alabama Win Just Got More Complicated For Kirby Smart
Georgias win over Alabama in Week 6 pushed Kirby Smarts team to 6-0 and kept the Bulldogs at No. 1, but it also added another layer of concern to what had already become a physical stretch. Smart pointed to the injury situation after the game, and one of the bigger hits in the backfield involves junior running back Chauncey Bowens, who is dealing with a lower-body injury.
Bowens is set to miss the Week 7 trip to Auburn, and there is no timetable yet for his return. With Bowens and Nate Frazier both dealing with injuries, Georgia has been forced into a committee approach at running back, a setup that works in the short term but leaves Smart managing one more variable as the schedule keeps moving. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama May Have To Reshuffle Key Spots Before Tennessee
Alabamas first SEC availability report for Saturdays trip to Tennessee offered an early look at the kind of lineup juggling Kalen DeBoer may have to manage in a rivalry game that rarely leaves much margin for error. The list included several players in various categories, but the most immediate concerns came with Ryan Coleman-Williams and Terrance Green ruled out, both dealing with injuries that could force the Tide to adjust on the fly before they even get to Knoxville.
Coleman-Williams is working through knee and head injuries, while Green is sidelined with a lower-leg issue, leaving Alabama to sort out key spots if those absences hold through game day. DeBoer said this week that he had updates on player conditions and potential replacements for injured starters, which means the Tide are already weighing how to reshuffle important roles before facing a Tennessee team that will be eager to test any thin spots in the rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Defense May Finally Get The Help It Needs Vs Tennessee
Alabamas defense has been carrying a heavy load lately, and the weekly availability report offered at least one encouraging sign before the Tennessee game. Star receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams and defensive tackle Terrance Green were listed as out, but sophomore linebacker Justin Hill was tagged as probable, setting up a potential boost for a unit that has needed more speed, flexibility and depth in the middle of the field.
Hills return would matter because Alabama has been looking for ways to lighten the burden on its linebackers while sharpening its pressure up front. A player who can give the defense more versatility can also help the Tide rotate more cleanly and keep fresh legs on the field, which is exactly the kind of support this matchup could demand. [Read more 🡒]