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CBS Sports’ Gary Danielson weighs in on Alabama’s strengths and weaknesses
By Jason Hall
Published:
CBS Sports‘ Gary Danielson, who will call Saturday’s game between Alabama and Tennessee, pointed out the Tide’s weaknesses on the Paul Finebaum Show Wednesday, but said the team has done an excellent job masking them with its strengths.
In particular, Danielson believes Alabama has made freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts’ transition easier by having a top-ranked defense and excellent protection on the offensive line.
“Alabama has weaknesses too,” Danielson said. “The problem is they’re very difficult to exploit because their strengths are so good that they cover them up. Lane [Kiffin] and I think Nick [Saban] has done a wonderful job of not allowing Jalen Hurts to throw certain types of passes in situations in a game where he can make big mistakes. He doesn’t throw it between the hashes that much. On third down they protect him when he throws. But he hasn’t had to do that. His defense and their football team has kept him from having to do that.”
Danielson also pointed out the flaws within Alabama’s secondary. He said the Tide’s defensive backs don’t compare favorably to recent teams, but still have elite talent and benefit from playing behind an excellent pass rush group.
“I do not think this is as vintage of a group of elite athletes that Alabama has had in the past,” Danielson said. “Nobody in the league is going to feel sorry for Alabama because everybody would trade for these guys. They’re good, but I don’t think that they’re up to the level that we’ve seen in some championship teams, but that’s covered up by the best pass rush and group of pass rushers. Maybe three out of the top seven to 10 pass rushers all line up for Alabama this year.”
Jason covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.