Identifying Alabama football weaknesses in 2018 focuses on the defense. In terms of players who started at least half the 2017 games, there are only two: Isaiah Buggs with 13 starts and Anfernee Jennings with 11 starts. Add Raekwon Davis, who started six games, to the count and the Crimson Tide will have eight new starters on defense in 2018. Considering the extra defensive backs used in nickel and dime and the new defensive starters for 2018 is nine or ten.
On paper, the starter depletion indicates Alabama football will have a very inexperienced defense in 2018. By this measurement, Alabama football returns fewer defensive starters than any other SEC team.