Identifying which position Alabama should be worried about the most after spring

Even the best teams in the nation have a weakness, which, at this time of year, they can still address through development as well as in the portal. That includes down at Alabama as Tim Watts has now highlighted what position that he feels is the current weak point for the Crimson Tide

Watts of BamaOnline joined ‘Andy Staples On3’ on Tuesday. In that conversation, he answered a question from Staples about the position group that worries him the most. His answer was in the secondary, specifically at cornerback, because of the lack of experience at that spot.

“I think they want to have more experience in the secondary,” said Watts. “They’ve got talent but, again, Domani Jackson has been on campus three or four months and he’s the oldest guy in that group basically.”

“Malachi Moore is obviously there. I was talking corner,” Watts noted. “You’ve got to get some more experience.”

Alabama already lost a pair of pro-caliber corners in Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold to the 2024 NFL Draft. That’s not to mention Jaylen Key, a graduate safety who spent last year with the Crimson Tide.

Then, once Nick Saban retired, ‘Bama lost even more from their secondary in the transfer portal. Caleb Downs (Ohio State), Dezz Ricks (Texas A&M), Trey Amos (Ole Miss), Jameer Grimsley (Florida), Earl Little II (Florida State), Antonio Kite (Auburn), Kristian Story (Kentucky), and Jake Pope (Georgia) all transferred elsewhere with many staying in the Southeastern Conference. That makes eight of the 28 transfers from the Tide being from the secondary, including five cornerbacks.

In turn, Alabama added a pair of transfers in Jackson, a corner from USC, as well as S Keon Sabb from Michigan. They’re also bringing in six from their No. 2 recruiting class, including three five-star, Top-30 CBs in Jaylen Mbakwe, Zay Mincey, and Zabien Brown who are the No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 corners in the class per On3’s 2024 Industry Top Football Recruits.

Still, for all that young skill, there’s still plenty of development left for that position in Watt’s opinion.

“A lot of talent, they signed a huge class of freshmen. But, again, they’re freshmen, they’re coming in,” said Watts. “You’re going to have to work through all the growing pains.”

It’ll take some work to create the necessary depth in the secondary in order to take away those concerns. Until then, though, it’s an area on the two-deep that Watts will have his concerns about.

“I think defensive back is the one thing you look at,” said Watts. “Wide receiver? I think you can get by with six guys. Offensive line and secondary? I don’t think you can.”