If Alabama is to have the season fans expect, then key pieces of the secondary must turn into stars.
It's the dawn of a new era for Alabama's secondary, as former Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Mel Tucker returns to college football. Tucker, 43, has ties to Alabama's head coach Nick Saban at Michigan State (1997-98) and LSU (2000). He intends to make the Crimson Tide's back five just as potent as its front seven, but production must start with its leaders.
Cyrus Jones and Geno Smith both return this fall as seniors. One can't replace the value of Landon Collins, Nick Perry and Jarrick Williams, but Alabama can expect for Jones and Smith to step up.