When Alabama steps on the field Saturday against The Citadel, there’ll be little surprise in the course of things to come.
The Tide will march down the field on the Bulldogs for the first few series, sit the starters in preparation for next week’s Iron Bowl, and let the reserves get those much-needed reps in against a thoroughly overmatched opponent.
Schematically, the Bulldogs run a tricky defense, but it’s nothing like the units the Tide sees week in and week out in the SEC. Defensive coordinator Blake Harrell does a good job with what he has, and against the Citadel’s usual foes, they fare well enough.