Alabama Football: Best- and Worst-Case Scenarios for 2015

Alabama football fans have been itching for the start of another college football season, and they won't have to wait much longer. Just over a month remains before the Crimson Tide kick off the 2015 season against the Wisconsin Badgers in Dallas.

Just like any other team, there are plenty of variables for Alabama heading into the new season. A quarterback has yet to be set, and several other position battles are far from settled heading into fall camp. 

For the Crimson Tide, the success or failure of one or two position groups could play a large role in the Tide playing for another national championship or watching the New Year's Day bowl games from home. 

Here's a look at some best- and worst-case scenarios at a few key spots for Alabama in the 2015 season. 

Quarterback

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Best Case 

After leading the quarterback battle through the entire offseason, Jacob Coker finally steps up and takes control of the position early into fall camp.

Locking down the job early allows Coker to get maximum reps with the first-team offense to establish timing with receivers such as Robert Foster and ArDarius Stewart and build continuity with the entire offense. 

Much like he did with Blake Sims last season, offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin creates plays to let Coker make simple reads and easy throws early on to build his confidence.

By the SEC opener, Coker is completely comfortable in the starting role and gives the Crimson Tide a dynamic passing threat to complement the strong running game in 2015. 

Worst Case

Coker and redshirt freshman David Cornwell both struggle to impress in fall camp, and neither is able to take control of the job. 

Rather than having a starter named for the opener, head coach Nick Saban is forced to play both quarterbacks through the first two games leading up to highly anticipated revenge game against Ole Miss to start SEC play. 

"I cannot give you a timetable of when that's going to happen," Saban said during SEC media days on when a starter will be chosen, per 247 Sports' Travis Reier. 

Both players struggle with turnovers and aren't able to manage the game or take control of the offense, diminishing their skills at passers. 

The inconsistency at quarterback means defenses aren't forced to respect the passing attack and are able to load seven and eight defenders in the box to key in on Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake in the running game. 

Offensive Line

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Best Case 

Much like the quarterback position, it's important for Alabama to establish continuity on the offensive line. 

Cameron Robinson, Ross Pierschbacher, Ryan Kelly, Bradley Bozeman and Dominick Jackson continue their development from spring practice and hold off some of the younger players and talented freshman offensive line class for starting positions. 

Despite replacing three starters, having the same group of five for nearly the entire offseason allows the first-team unit to jell, and it shows in the first few games of the season. Going up against Alabama's defensive front in the offseason proves valuable as the O-line takes shape for the start of the season. 

A strong offensive line provides ample protection for the new starting quarterback and brings back the dominant edge that Alabama has been missing in the run game for the past few years. 

Saban stressed the importance of the offensive line to the overall success of the offense, per 247 Sports' Charlie Potter: "How you do up front makes it a lot easier for the quarterback, skill guys, the runners, the receivers and everyone else."

Worst Case 

The Crimson Tide offensive line that finished spring practice on a high note can't carry that success into fall camp, and every spot except left tackle and center opens up for grabs.

The coaching staff has a tough time finding a strong unit of five and is forced to experiment throughout fall camp. 

Without stability on the offensive front, the line struggles to protect the new starting quarterback and can't drive back defensive linemen to open up holes in the running game.

The lack of experience hurts the offensive line through SEC play and causes struggles against an SEC West loaded with strong defensive fronts. 

Secondary

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Best Case 

After struggling in his freshman season, sophomore Tony Brown begins to live up to his 5-star potential and forms a formidable tandem at cornerback with incumbent starter Cyrus Jones. 

Brown's improvement from a full season of reps in the first team helps to make him an All-SEC performer in his second year in Tuscaloosa. 

Maurice Smith and Marlon Humphrey also emerge into starting roles in the star and money positions in the nickel and dime packages on defense. 

At safety, Eddie Jackson makes a smooth transition from cornerback and gives Alabama a reliable option at a position where it lost its top three players from last season in Landon Collins, Nick Perry and Jarrick Williams. 

The presence of two former cornerbacks at safety in Jackson and Geno Smith helps the secondary do a better job of defending the deep balls that killed them last season. 

Aided by a strong pass rush, the secondary greatly improves from last season, in which it gave up the most passing yards of Nick Saban's tenure at Alabama. 

Worst Case 

Brown struggles in fall camp, and for the third straight season Alabama can't seem to find a solid combination of two cornerbacks in the base defense. 

Jackson has a tough time adjusting to the challenges of moving to safety, and the defense is forced to rely on either Laurence Jones or true freshman Ronnie Harrison.

Collins' physical and vocal presence is sorely missed. No leader on the back end emerges to help fill the void left by the second-round NFL draft pick. 

The lack of two reliable cornerbacks and the inexperience at safety cause the secondary to once again be the weak point in Alabama's defense.  

2015 Season Overall

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Best Case 

As if you'd expected anything else, the best-case scenario for the Crimson Tide is to be holding the College Football Playoff trophy at year's end. 

The right guy will have to step up at quarterback, but the best case for the offense would be to see Alabama return to a physically dominant offense that consistently controls the point of attack. A recommitment to the running game could result in Henry emerging as a Heisman candidate by the end of the season. 

In 2009 and 2011, Alabama proved capable of overcoming the challenges of having a first-year starter to win a championship if the defense and running game are strong enough. 

On defense, the front seven should be downright nasty and will give opposing offenses headaches with constant pressure, making things easier on the secondary. 

If all the right pieces fall in place, Alabama will once again reach the pinnacle of college football in 2015. 

Worst Case 

Despite all of the talent Alabama has at each position, its schedule in 2015 could simply prove too difficult for any team to navigate unscathed. 

Obviously each game is winnable, but week after week of quality SEC opponents could result in a trip-up at some point. 

If the quarterback situation is not resolved early on and the offense struggles, the first two games of the SEC schedule against Ole Miss and at Georgia could be where one of those trip-ups comes.

A game at home against an improved Tennessee team should also serve as a big test, and, of course, there's the Iron Bowl to end the year. 

It seems that every season talking heads are predicting the end of Alabama's current run of dominance. But if no quarterback proves to be reliable, the secondary doesn't show any improvement and replacing three starters proves to be too much for the offensive line, the Crimson Tide could realistically be looking at three or four losses this season.