Alabama enters the first game week of the 2019 season with several questions that need answering for its opener with Duke on Saturday. Here are four big ones.
1. How will the freshmen starters perform?
Alabama released its depth chart Monday with lots of true freshmen listed as starters. It’s the first game of the season and there will probably be some nervousness at the onset. We will see how some of the hotshots from the 2019 signing class respond to the fast pace of college football.
2. Can Alabama be injury free?
The biggest obstacle during fall camp was keeping players healthy. We won’t get to see freshman running back Trey Sanders, who is out for the season with an injury and there are others not 100 percent. Getting the win against Duke is top priority but coming away with no injuries is a big concern.
3. What new wrinkles will we see from Sark?
Nick Saban and offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian have talked about using ‘Ten personnel’ (four wideouts and no tight end) this season so that is something to watch for. With all that firepower on offense it’s hard to think the Crimson Tide will have something new to show off on Saturday.
4. Can Will Reichard be ‘the man’ for UA special teams?
The favorite pastime for Alabama fans is to gripe about the kicking game, or the lack of it — extra point attempts was high drama for Alabama last year (eight misses). So with freshman Will Reichard, the top-ranked kicker in the nation, named the starter, expectations are off the charts.
— Compiled by Edwin Stanton
