Looking ahead: For ‘10, UA faces depleted defense

TUSCALOOSA | Just moments after the Rose Bowl Stadium clock reached all zeroes for the University of Alabama's 13th national championship Thursday, Terry Saban may have said it best: “I think Nick will smile for a solid 24 hours, but not an hour more. Back to work.”

However long the Crimson Tide's head coach chooses to allow a 37-21 win over Texas, completing a 14-0 season, to sink in, the work his wife alluded to awaits in the form of a defense gutted by graduation and the potential loss of underclassmen to the NFL draft.

Most notably, middle linebacker Rolando McClain will weigh a decision between returning for his senior season and being a first-round pick, a decision that is an easy one — take the riches of a pro contract — for almost every underclassman in the same position.

“We had a team this year that really probably won because we ran the ball effectively and we played pretty well on defense for the most part, and we're going to lose a lot of players on defense,” Saban said. “We have some good young players and it'll be a great opportunity for them.

“But every team is different and every team has issues and problems that you have to resolve in terms of the development of the players that you have and your ability to recruit and replace the right people and develop the right chemistry.”

More specifically, the secondary, to which Saban pays especially close attention on a daily basis in practice, will have an entirely different look as Alabama begins defense of its title.

Alabama loses most of its key defensive backs and several reserves. Javier Arenas, Marquis Johnson and Justin Woodall have exhausted their eligibility, and like McClain, junior cornerback Kareem Jackson is expected to make a decision on whether he will turn pro in the coming days. Jackson has been projected as high as the second round, and sources have indicated he may have a decision by Monday.

If Jackson turns pro, safety Mark Barron will be the only returning starter in the secondary in 2010. Cornerbacks who figure to be at the center of competition include Dre Kirkpatrick, Phelon Jones (a transfer from LSU) and B.J. Scott. Competition for Woodall's position will be led by Robby Green, who gained some valuable experience in 2009, Robert Lester and Rod Woodson.

“It's hard to say what the secondary is going to look like next year,” Jackson said at the BCS Media Day event. “We'll just have to wait and see who's out there, but there are a lot of young guys who look ready to step in for the guys we lose.”

Alabama also loses its entire starting defensive line (Lorenzo Washington, Terrence Cody, Brandon Deaderick), and two starting linebackers (Cory Reamer, Eryk Anders). Because Alabama substitutes heavily on the defensive line, returning players Marcell Dareus, Josh Chapman and Luther Davis all have significant experience.

The recovery of linebacker Dont'a Hightower from surgery to repair a knee ligament will also have an impact on the 2010 defense. Hightower has said he expects to participate in spring drills but doesn't expect to be cleared for contact.

Considered among the top young linebackers in the Southeastern Conference at the time of his injury, Hightower was lost for the season on Sept. 26 in a home game against Arkansas. A healthy Hightower would give the 2010 linebacking corps the experienced, dominant presence that it may lose in McClain.

Offensively, the picture for 2010 is more clear.

UA returns all but three starters — tight end Colin Peek, left guard Mike Johnson and right tackle Drew Davis.

Quarterback Greg McElroy returns for his final season, and the backfield tandem of Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson will return behind a more experienced offensive line.

On special teams, Alabama must replace kicker Leigh Tiffin, punter P.J. Fitzgerald, return man Arenas, long snapper Brian Selman, and must locate a new holder as well.

“We do have a lot of good players returning on offense,” Saban said. “Hopefully we can build on that and improve, but we're going to have a new kicker, we're going to have a new punter, we're going to have a new specialist, we're going to have a lot of new things.”

Decisions from Jackson and McClain are fast-approaching, with the NFL's deadline for declaring early eligibility on Jan.15. Players who declare early can withdraw their names during a three-day window until Jan.18 without losing NCAA eligibility.

Reach Chase Goodbread at chase.goodbread@tuscaloosanews.com, or at 205-722-0196.