Many doubted Alabama's ability to re-tool both sides of the ball heading into the 2015 season and the same process will carry over into 2016. Before predictions for next season begin, Alabama needs to address these five question marks as they head into the off-season.
1. The schedule
In 2015, Alabama had the toughest schedule in the nation. Next year will not be any different with a soft home schedule and pivotal games on the road. Ole Miss, LSU, Tennessee and Arkansas are all road games. Can Alabama snap the three-year skid against Ole Miss? With Chad Kelly returning for the Rebels and having the game at The Grove will make it a lot harder than it may seem. Sure Alabama will be favored in this game, but do not be surprised if they lose.
LSU will have Leonard Fournette back for another season and will be looking to snap their own losing streak again with the Tide. Fournette is already the leading candidate for the Heisman and if there is any game that he will prepare for more than the others, it will be against Alabama. The defensive line started the downfall for his Heisman campaign and it is hard to believe Fournette will have another lackluster performance against the Tigers' biggest rival.
When will Tennessee and Arkansas play up to their potential? Both teams are always trendy picks to win their respective divisions before the season starts and next year will not be any different. Oh, and do not forget, Alabama has to travel back to Dallas to play the USC Trojans. Cody Kessler is gone, but it does not matter who is on their roster because they consistently retool with premier athletes.
2. The quarterback
Another season with another quarterback. Derrick Henry will be tough to replace, but running back is not the most important position in football, the quarterback is. First Blake Sims then Jake Coker. Who is next? It took Nick Saban and Lane Kiffin two and a half games before they realized who the leader was last season, it may even take more time this year. Look for Cooper Bateman and Blake Barnett to get the most attention with David Cornell bringing up the rear in the position battle. If it is Bateman or Barnett, look for the Tide to have a similar offense when compared to 2014. Both quarterbacks are not afraid to run the ball if need be, and may even have designed plays to feature their athleticism.
3. The running back
Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson, Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy, Eddie Lacy and Tj Yeldon, Tj Yeldon and Derrick Henry, Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake, Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris? If the two-tandem system continues for Alabama, look for Scarbrough and Harris to lead the way. Both were highly chased after recruits coming out of high school and showed flashes of speed and toughness in their limited playing time during the season. It is doubtful that either player will perform the way Henry did last season, but if Scarbrough and Harris can at least combine their statistics to match those of the Heisman winner than the offense will be in good hands.
4. The defense
A‘Shawn Robinson and Reggie Ragland are both gone, but they were not the biggest departures that the team dealt with after last season as both defensive coordinator Kirby Smart and cornerbacks coach Mel Tucker made the move to Georgia. Can the Tide continue their dominance on the defensive side of the ball for another season? All signs say yes, but it will be an interesting process to watch this offseason as positions open across the defensive line and the secondary. Look for either Rueben Foster or Tim Williams to replace Ragland as the leader of the linebackers and watch out for Da'Shawn Hand to have a breakout year on the defensive line.
5. Recruiting
Alabama's 2016 recruiting class is good, but it is not great. It may be the eight best class in the nation according to Scout.com, but they have placed the Tide in the top five of their recruiting rankings seven out of the last eight years. If the dynasty continues for the foreseeable future, Saban and the coaching staff will have a little less to work with when it comes to developing their athletes into premier players. However, if any coach can develop less talent into more wins it would be done by the hands of Nick Saban and his staff.
