No offense to the Golden Flashes, but Alabama desperately needs a game with an opponent like Kent State.

This should be a great game to give younger players experience, help starters work on timing and recuperate from a taxing, physical SEC game on the road against a worthy adversary.

Alabama’s schedule for the rest of the season remains daunting, but the timing of things plays out well. USC and Western Kentucky marked the two most challenging non-conference games, while Kent State and Chattanooga should be a breeze by comparison.

The team progresses to an easier SEC opponent in Kentucky following the Kent State game. After that, it faces three straight grueling SEC contests. First, a road game in Fayetteville against the Razorbacks, then up to Neyland against the Volunteers and back home against Texas A&M.

The Aggies might prove the most challenging because the team visits on the heels of two tough road games, plus the team has an outstanding receiving corps and defense that matches up well against the Crimson Tide.

Following the Aggies, Alabama gets a bye week to prepare for Death Valley and LSU. Then, the team finishes out at home against Mississippi State before playing possibly the easiest opponent of the season, Chattanooga, which gives rest to prepare for a home Iron Bowl matchup.

In the short term, one can be sure Alabama is counting its blessings for Kent State because quite a few members of the team are banged up or need rest.

After starting quarterback Jalen Hurts took an absolutely vicious blow on Saturday, it’s a sure bet he will be happy to play two quarters and step aside to let Blake Barnett show his talents in order to give his battered body a break. The Crimson Tide need Hurts for the three SEC games following Kentucky and beyond.

There were questions following the play because replays appeared to show Ole Miss defensive end Marquis Haynes lower the crown of his head and make helmet-to-helmet contact with Hurts, but SEC replay officials in Birmingham said Haynes hit Hurts in his chest. Targeting call put aside, the officials still missed a blatant block in the back call on that same play that should have negated the touchdown that gave Ole Miss a 24-3 lead.

Hurts showed maturity and toughness, fully winning over all of his teammates for the first time this season. Ultimately, what really mattered is Hurts apparently suffered a minor sprain to his wrist but played through it and started looking much better later in the second half. The fact that Hurts wasn’t seriously hurt is critical as he showed his value to the team and others. The SEC named him the conference’s offensive player of the week.

Other players shaken up included: Eddie Jackson, Minkah Fitzpatrick, ArDarius Stewart and Reuben Foster.

Jackson was in a boot after suffering a shin injury. Fitzpatrick was out of sorts after being struck in the head inadvertently by an opposing player’s knee during a play. Foster appeared to suffer from cramps. ArDarius Stewart is the only one in the lot expected to miss Saturday’s game. Stewart suffered a knee sprain during the Ole Miss game while running into teammate Hale Hentges.

The team will miss Stewart, especially his leadership. However, of the five injured players he is the most replaceable. Foster is a tackling machine and calls the plays for the defense as the team’s Mike linebacker. Hurts is starting at the most important position on the field, while Fitzpatrick and Jackson are key pieces to the secondary who were sorely missed when they left Saturday’s game against Ole Miss.

Jackson is the most talented player in the secondary and the most vocal leader in the unit. Fitzpatrick has had his share of miscues this season but is extremely valuable for his versatility. He is able to play outside corner and in the slot. Both players led the secondary last season statistically: Jackson in interceptions (6) and Fitzpatrick in passes broken up (11).

Stewart may miss the Kent State game, but the team is loaded at receiver. Getting the other four players back in time for the road trip to Arkansas is crucial.

In the meantime, having a chance for the starters to work out the kinks in the first half — that’s the ideal scenario anyways — before ceding to backups in the second half is just what the schedule ordered for Alabama.