Alabama’s defense is going to be good again in 2017 — there’s no doubting that.

However, it is fair to question whether the unit will be as dominant as it was in 2016, when guys like DL Jonathan Allen and LBs Tim Williams, Reuben Foster and Ryan Anderson were headlining the front seven.

On “The Paul Finebaum Show” on Friday, SEC Network analyst Marcus Spears said he has some questions about the Crimson Tide’s front seven heading into the 2017 season:

“I have questions about Alabama this year. I have questions about them up front,” he says in the video. “I’m not talking about players being good, I’m talking about the amount of production that they lost. There’s a difference between having players up front who can play and do good. It’s a difference when you have game-changers, though, and they lost three.”

Granted, Spears isn’t questioning the Crimson Tide’s talent at the linebacker and defensive line positions, he’s simply saying it would be unwise for fans to expect the same level of production last year’s group provided — especially in the early part of the season.

Of course, it’s never wise to doubt Alabama, so we’ll have to wait and see how the defense performs. Thankfully, Crimson Tide fans won’t have to wait long to see their squad’s first real test, as Alabama takes on Florida State in a huge Week 1 matchup.