Tag: chick-fil-a kickoff

Areas of concern for Alabama heading into the matchup with Miami

Areas of concern for Alabama heading into the Miami matchup

Alabama is the overwhelming favorite against the Miami Hurricanes as they face off in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game this Saturday in Atlanta. Alabama returns plenty of star power on the defensive side of the ball and also has plethra of young and explosive playmakers offensively.

With that being said, there are a couple of areas that should cause some concern for the fans of the Tide.

QB D’Eriq King

King returns as one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the entire country. The Manvel, TX native is entering his sixth season at the collegiate level. Over the course of his career, King has amassed over 7,600 passing yards and nearly 2,000 rushing yards.

King’s ability to create both inside and outside of the pocket with his feet could cause problems for this Alabama defense. King is the true definition of a dual-threat quarterback and he wouldn’t be the first player with that type of skill set to provide trouble for Tide defense.

Alabama’s “work in progress” offensive line

Alabama is replacing a great deal of talent and experience along the offensive line this season. Alex Leatherwood, Deonte Brown, and Landon Dickerson have all moved on to the NFL. With that being said, there is also a handful of players returning that have some experience. Evan Neal is entering his third season as a starter as he moves from right tackle to left tackle. Right guard Emil Ekiyor is also returning, and Chris Owens who is expected to get the start at center has also played a ton of football.

Alabama will also be starting a couple of players that are not that experienced in left guard Javion Cohen and right tackle Kendall Randolph. Randolph has played a lot of football at Alabama in a backup role, but now he is in the starting lineup and that is an entirely different challenge.

This is not to say that Alabama doesn’t have plenty of talent to get the job done, but this is the first game of the season and Miami returns a lot of experience in their front seven.

Maybe the most important ingredient for a good offensive line is continuity. If Alabama does not have that in this game, with Miami’s experience on defense, it could cause some problems for Bryce Young and the Alabama offense.

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Previewing the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Miami Hurricanes

Alabama vs. Miami Preview and Prediction

The Alabama Crimson Tide and the Miami Hurricanes are two of the most storied programs in all of college football. Since 1980 Alabama has won seven national championships and Miami has won five.

Now, they are set to face off in Atlanta this Saturday in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. Alabama is currently an overwhelming favorite to beat the Hurricanes.

Miami Preview:

Miami returns 19 of 22 starters from a team that went 8-3 last season. Most notably they return star quarterback D’Eriq King. King is entering his sixth season at the collegiate level and has been one of the most dynamic playmakers at the position over the last few seasons. However, King is coming off an ACL injury that he sustained on December 29, 2020, in the bowl game against Oklahoma State. All indications are that King is healthy and ready to go, but until the lights come on and the bullets fly, it is hard to tell if someone is ready after coming back from such a serious injury.

Defensively, the Hurricanes return a good amount of production as well. Safety Bubba Bolden and defensive tackle Nesta Jade Silvera return to lead the defensive group for Manny Diaz.

King and the Miami defense will have to be at the top of their game to challenge Alabama.

Alabama Preview

It is no secret that Alabama is replacing a lot of star power on the offensive side of the ball. Mac Jones, Najee Harris, DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle, and Alex Leatherwood were all selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft.

Sophomore Bryce Young is set to take the reigns of the Crimson Tide offense from Mac Jones at QB.

Alabama will most likely feature a stable of running backs to replace Najee Harris. Brian Robinson, Jase McClellan, and Trey Sanders seem to be players most primed to do so.

The receiver group added a talented transfer in Jameson Williams from Ohio State to pair with returning star John Metchie out wide. Alabama also brought in the best wide receiver class in the country this past spring lead by JoJo Earle and Agiye Hall.

The offensive line is also being re-worked with a couple of returning starters and other players who have some experience. Junior Evan Neal is back and will anchor the left side of the offensive line and is one of the top linemen in the entire country.

Defensively, Alabama is absolutely loaded with talent and experience at all three levels.

Along the defensive line, Alabama has anywhere between seven to nine players that could rotate in.

At linebacker, Alabama returns possibly the best outside linebacker duo in the entire country in Christopher Allen and Will Anderson. Then you look towards the middle of the defense and see Christian Harris paired with Tennessee transfer Henry To’o To’o, to make up a formidable pairing at inside linebacker.

In the back end of the Alabama defense, everyone is back with the exception of Patrick Surtain. Josh Jobe, Malachi Moore, Jordan Battle, and Brian Branch all return to make up a dynamic secondary for the Tide.

Overall Thoughts & Score Prediction

Alabama is the much more talented team on both sides of the ball. I expect Alabama to be able to run the ball with great consistency and in turn be able to connect on some deep play-action passes.

Score Prediction: Alabama 38 Miami 17

 

Auburn-UNC game to be played with stipulation

The Tigers and Tar Heels are set to meet on Sept. 12 in Atlanta.

One of the biggest non-conference games of the early 2020 college football season will be played but with a stipulation.

Auburn and North Carolina will meet on Sept. 12 in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta but with fewer fans.

“Gary Stokan just told us they have 25 percent, 30 percent and 50 percent capacity scenarios in play,” Sandra Golden of Atlanta’s 680 The Fan tweeted.

The Chick-Fil-A Kickoff consists of three different games including FSU vs. West Virginia on Sept. 5, Georgia vs. Virginia on Sept. 7 and then the Tigers against the Tar Heels on Sept. 12.

“We’re planning on playing all three Chick Fil-A Kickoff Games Sept. 5, 7 and 12,” Stokan told the Democrat on Monday. “We’ve heard from the commissioners in the Big 12, the SEC and the ACC that they’ll make some statements at the end of July. Not sure whether that’ll be if they’re going to play a kind of schedule or if they’re going to start in September so we just have to wait and see.

“In the meantime, we’re talking to all six schools in the three games, talking to the (conference commissioners’ offices), talking to Mercedes-Benz Stadium and just planning how three games are going to happen. That’s the plan right now.”