Alabama Football: How Defensive Injuries Will Impact Crimson Tide's Spring

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama will be a little short-handed on the defensive side of the ball this spring.

Cornerback Cyrus Jones and linebacker Denzel Devall—two regular defensive starters and rising seniors—will miss the spring with injuries suffered during the season, according to an announcement from Alabama coach Nick Saban after Friday’s first session of the spring. Devall had foot surgery while Jones had cartilage in his hip repaired.

These two injuries aren’t the end of the world by any means. In fact, long-term, they may end up being blessings in disguise.

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Jones and Devall are two veterans who know the ins and outs of the defense and Saban’s system. They won’t fall behind or miss much by having to sit out the spring.

But this is a massive opportunity for young players at both positions. The Crimson Tide have stars in the making at both spots, a process that could get a little bit of a boost with these extra reps.

At cornerback, Alabama has an embarrassment of riches.

Bradley Sylve, Eddie Jackson and Tony Brown all started games opposite Jones this season. That No. 2 starter was never really solidified, and those three were going to be the ones duking it out for the honor anyway. Now, that process will be accelerated with two spots for starting reps this spring instead of just one.

Behind them, former 5-star Marlon Humphrey should be in line for some sort of playing time after redshirting last season. He should be at least the No. 4 cornerback, getting second-team reps for much of the spring.

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Fans are no doubt excited to watch Humphrey’s growth, and they’ll get a chance to do so, but the really intriguing matchup here is between Brown and Jackson, as it's where the No. 2 starter will probably come from.

Both played a lot last year, and both took their fair share of lumps and should be more seasoned and improved in 2015.

Where you’re likely to see a more tangible impact, though, is at outside linebacker.

Devall saw limited playing time last year between his injuries and the wealth of depth behind him. That wealth of talent should be set to shine next year. Senior inside linebacker Reggie Ragland pointed out two in particular.

"Like I tell Tim (Williams), Rashaan (Evans) all the time, 'Denzel's out, it's time for you to step up,’” Ragland said.

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At 6’3”, 242 pounds, Williams is everything you look for in a 3-4 pass-rusher. He has shown flashes of that at times during his career, but hasn’t been able to put things together over a consistent stretch.

“I told Tim, ‘You're going on your third year and it's time for him to step up and be the man that you can be,’” Ragland said.

“Because if he puts his mind to it, he can be the best pass-rusher in the country. He can lead the country in sacks, that's how fast and physical he is. He's just got to keep getting in that playbook and keep learning it, because I know he's physical. He's got to come in, and if he does what he's got to do, he's going to be hard to stop."

That’s high praise coming from one of Alabama’s defensive veterans and leaders.

The other, Evans, had an impressive freshman season in a backup role. He could be in line for more playing time as well.

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"The thing is he's got to keep learning that playbook and just keep growing and maturing as the weeks and days and years go by,” Ragland said. “If he keeps maturing, like Shawne Merriman says, he's a freak. He's a freak of nature for real. The things I've seen him do, some people don't get a chance to see that and play with a guy like that. If he does what he needs to do he can be very freakish."

Indeed, Merriman, an NFL veteran, had praise for Evans himself.

"I didn't even need to look at it. I just saw somebody out there playing at a different speed than everyone else," Merriman told AL.com’s Matt Zenitz on Monday.

Both Evans and Williams will get more chances to impress coaches and teammates (and maybe more NFL stars) with Devall out. Devall and Jones will likely spend their spring practices on the exercise bike with strength coach Scott Cochran.

Meanwhile, on the field, Alabama’s future stars will get a head start in their development.

Marc Torrence is the Alabama lead writer for Bleacher Report. All quotes and reporting were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Follow on Twitter @marctorrence.