Alabama heads to Knoxville with a few personnel questions hanging over the weekend, and that creates a clear opening for some lesser-known players to matter in a big way.
After a disappointing loss to Georgia, Kalen DeBoer’s team is dealing with several injuries and trying to steady itself at Tennessee, where Alabama has dropped its last two games at Neyland Stadium. If the Crimson Tide are going to snap that skid and give themselves a little breathing room entering the regular season’s final five games, they may need help from a handful of under-the-radar contributors.
One name that stands out is wide receiver Noah Rogers. With Ryan Coleman-Williams out after suffering a head injury last week against Georgia, the NC State transfer finally looks like he has a real chance to get involved.
Rogers hasn’t played much since coming back from injury, especially with Coleman-Williams, Lotzeir Brooks, and Rico Scott soaking up most of the snaps. But with Coleman-Williams sidelined, there are more reps available, and Rogers - along with Meadows - appears positioned to benefit.
His veteran background could be especially valuable in a noisy road setting, and Alabama would love for him to help Keelon Russell and the passing game find some rhythm.
Up front, Mal Waldrep could be thrust into a huge spot if Racin Delgatty can’t go. Delgatty, the Cal Poly transfer, left late in the Georgia game with an injury, and if he’s unavailable, Waldrep would slide inside to center for what would be his first career start there.
That’s a rough assignment anywhere, but it’s even tougher in Knoxville, where Tennessee brings one of the country’s best defensive tackles in Xavier Gilliam. Waldrep would be juggling crowd noise, snapping duties, and the challenge of helping a young quarterback with checks, all while dealing with one of the SEC’s most punishing interior defenders.
The defensive line has its own availability concerns. Terrance Green, the Oregon transfer, exited the Georgia loss near halftime and did not return, and he’s been dealing with a nagging injury for a couple of weeks.
If he’s not ready, sophomore London Simmons should see a bigger role. Alabama will need him to help hold up against Tennessee’s rushing attack and to bring more disruption than the Tide managed after halftime against Georgia.
In the secondary, Carmelo O’Neal looks like a player trending toward a bigger opportunity. The Mercer transfer could make his first Alabama start against Tennessee, with Kane Wommack’s comments about Dijon Lee’s issues and O’Neal’s progress pointing in that direction.
Even if he doesn’t officially get the start, he should still be on the field plenty. And that matters, because Tennessee’s quarterback situation figures to give Alabama chances.
Whether it’s Faizon Brandon or George MacIntyre under center, both have been loose with the ball, and Wommack’s defense has a habit of capitalizing when mistakes are there to be made. With Zabien Brown locked in on the other side, Tennessee may try to attack the opposite corner.
If that’s O’Neal, he could get the kind of chances that change the game.
In Other News...
SEC Response To Alabamas Georgia Frustration Wont Ease Many Fans
The aftermath of Alabamas loss to Georgia has kept the focus on more than just the scoreboard, with plenty of frustration aimed at several officiating decisions that drew heavy attention in the moment and even more after the game. Among the disputed calls was a no-call on a potential pass interference, one of several sequences that left Alabama fans searching for answers after a game already loaded with stakes and tension.
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey addressed the broader issue by saying the conference does not comment on judgment calls made by officials, while also noting how difficult the job is and how the league reviews mistakes tied to rule application. For Alabama supporters, though, that explanation is unlikely to calm much of the anger, especially when the biggest flashpoints from the game are still the ones everyone keeps replaying. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia's Alabama Win Just Got More Complicated For Kirby Smart
Georgias win over Alabama in Week 6 gave Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs a huge early-season boost, but it also came with a reminder that staying unbeaten can be just as much about surviving the injury report as it is about beating ranked opponents. Georgia is now No. 1 after the 20-17 win, and Smart has already had to address a running back room that has been thinned out enough to force a committee approach.
Chauncey Bowens is the latest concern, with the junior sidelined by a lower-body injury and set to miss the upcoming Auburn game. There is no timetable for his return, and with Nate Frazier also part of the injury mix, Georgias depth at a key spot is becoming something to watch even as the Bulldogs try to keep their momentum rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama May Have To Reshuffle Key Spots Before Tennessee
Alabamas first SEC availability report for Saturdays trip to Tennessee brought the sort of injury news that can complicate a game plan fast, with several players already tagged as out, questionable or probable. Among the notable absences are Ryan Coleman-Williams, who is dealing with knee and head injuries, and Terrance Green, who is out with a lower-leg injury, leaving Kalen DeBoer and his staff to sort through the ripple effects before one of the seasons biggest road tests.
DeBoer has already addressed player conditions and the possibility of moving others into bigger roles if the Tide need to patch together key spots. With availability still in flux ahead of kickoff, Alabamas challenge is not just preparing for Tennessee, but making sure the lineup can absorb the losses without losing too much rhythm on either side of the ball. [Read more 🡒]