Even in the off-season, the Alabama Crimson Tide never really sleeps. The Roll Bama Roll staff recently sat down for a roundtable discussion, tackling the biggest questions that keep Tide fans up at night. Here's what they had to say.
1. What's the biggest storyline heading into next season?
Brent Taylor: For me, it's all about identity. This feels like the first season where Kalen DeBoer truly has his program—not a frankenzombie of what Nick Saban left behind. The defense has a clear identity under Kane Wommack. They have room to improve, but we know what they want to be. The offense, though? That's the mystery. Fans and media have been hammering the coaches about the run game all off-season. But is that forcing a square peg into a round hole? I don't know. What I do know: if they call another trick play on 4th-and-1 in their own territory during the first quarter, we riot.
Joshua Chatham: I'm with Brent—it's the offense. They're loaded with weapons, but can Keelon be consistent? Can the offensive line be competent? I actually feel pretty good about the defense right now.
2. Is this the year Alabama is ready to compete for a championship?
CB: It's Year 3 for DeBoer. For most programs, the rebuild should be over. Is this team ready to really compete for the big trophy?
Brent: That's a great question. I think Devan Thompkins will be better than any individual player on Alabama's front seven from last year. The depth has improved, especially across the interior. I have high hopes that some combination of returners and incoming veterans—like Kedrick Bigley-Jones and Terrance Green—will do a better job staying in their gaps against the run than we saw from James Smith last season.
On the other hand, unless Yhonzae Pierre makes a major leap, I'm still not sure where the pass rush comes from. I'm not buying that Dez Zulu is suddenly going to be a demon off the edge. But here's the silver lining: this front will get some extra leeway because the secondary is so good. Even if the pass rush isn't elite, the Tide's defensive backs can make quarterbacks hold the ball—or just cover up mistakes from the front. That alone could make all the difference.