Alabama Football: Still Much to Worry About in Tuscaloosa with the Tide

Larry Burton (Syndicated Writer) The pollsters all feel this could be another national contending team in Tuscaloosa. The Alabama Crimson Tide are stacked at all the key positions with recruits from nationally leading recruiting classes and they have a favorable schedule this year to boot. No more facing six teams coming off bye weeks.

Yet for the fans willing to take off their crimson-colored glasses, there is still much to worry about with the Crimson Tide.

While the secondary has the potential to be a great strength of the team by returning all the starters, many of whom were playing with injuries last year and now healthy, they are adding some new supporting cast.members who can only strengthen the depth.

But this is the same group that cost the team some important games last year with blown coverages in different zone cover packages. They were often in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Many fans, still suffering from the euphoria over the Capital One Bowl game where the whole team, including the secondary, looked like they had finally learned their lessons, got over the hump, got their act together or any other euphemism you choose to use.

But one game does not turn a complete unit around, at least usually not.

Until the secondary shows that they have truly turned the corner, there is reason for Tide fans to worry.

A second area of concern is the 68th best place kicking unit in the upper division of college football. An Alabama team coached by Nick Saban shouldn't have a 68th best anything in college football.

But it's the same two kickers that will be booting the ball toward the uprights again this year. Since they lost to Auburn by just one scant point, could they lose a close game this year with yet another errant kick?

It's certainly something for Tide fans to at least consider.

And while Alabama has one of the strongest set of running backs collectively that they may have ever had, history tells us all that you can't have a good running game if people don't respect the passing game and simply commit to stop the run.

With that in mind, how will two virtual rookies, who are fighting it out for the starting quarterback job and the departure of Alabama's best clutch receiver, Julio Jones, make people respect the passing game right away?

Just these three problems certainly give fans of opposing teams hope against the Tide and should be a source of angst for Alabama fans for at least the summer months and into fall practice.

Admittedly, anything can and usually does happen in college football. Bama's secondary may in fact gel during the fall and lead the SEC statistically. Maybe Alabama's kickers shake their freshman shanks and end up being game-winners instead of game-worriers.

And lastly, Alabama may have a quarterback go from zero to hero and be the next "Mr. Perfect Season" in Crimson, throwing to someone that makes the Alabama fans seem like owls chanting Julio Who?

That is college football, and that's why we all love it.