These three players could be X-Factors for Alabama football in its SEC road tilt against Oklahoma in Norman on Saturday night.
Alabama football has two games left in the regular season. Before facing off with rival Auburn in the Iron Bowl next Saturday, the Crimson Tide must travel to Norman to take on SEC newcomer Oklahoma this Saturday night.
The Sooners have had a rough first season in the SEC, sitting at just 5-5 overall and 1-5 in the SEC. A miraculous come-from-behind win over Auburn at the end of September is the only thing keeping the Sooners from being winless in the conference.
To even get to a bowl game, Oklahoma either has to upset Alabama at home or go on the road the following week and beat LSU in Baton Rouge. So you can expect the Sooners to come out desperate to try and get a victory, particularly with Brent Venables potentially coaching for his job.
Alabama seemingly controls its destiny in not only the SEC Championship race but for inclusion in the College Football Playoff as well. We’ll see how far the Crimson Tide moved up later this evening, but the Tide has comfortably been in the playoff field each week the rankings have been released and has only strengthened its case since.
Saturday night in Norman is liable to be a dogfight, and if Alabama falls to Oklahoma then it can kiss its playoff hopes goodbye. There’s no margin for error left for the Crimson Tide.
If Alabama is going to win on the road against the Sooners, these three players might be the X-Factors who help the Crimson Tide get it done.
3. Kendrick Law
Oklahoma ranks just 60th in the country in pass defense. A lot of that is because the Sooners are one of the best in the country at stopping the run and to move the football against them you pretty much have to do it through the air.
Kendrick Law has yet to have his breakout performance as a receiver, but he remains one of the best blocking WRs in the country. He’ll be a WRsfactor on the perimeter run game and is likely to get the football on a pop pass or two.
Law is not the most gifted receiver, but he is dangerous with the ball in his hands in space. I think he’ll make a big impact as a blocker, and something tells me he hits a home run with the ball in his hands that allows Alabama to gain some distance against Oklahoma.
2. Qua Russaw
Oklahoma QB Jackson Arnold has been sacked 29 times this season. The Sooners offensive line has struggled to keep him upright and he hasn’t been good at working the pocket and avoiding pressure. It’s a big reason why he was benched earlier in the season for true freshman Michael Hawkins Jr.
Oklahoma has since gone back to Arnold and he figures to start for the Sooners against the Crimson Tide.
Qua Russaw has taken over three-down responsibility for Alabama at the Wolf position following the season-ending injury to senior Que Robinson. He intercepted a pass, his second of the season, last week against Mercer.
Russaw can drop into coverage, rush the passer, and set the edge in the run game. The talented redshirt freshman is a future star. He’s not the most polished pass rusher to this point of his young career, but I think he’ll make an impact as a pass rusher against the Sooners.
1. CJ Dippre
In four consecutive SEC losses, Oklahoma has surrendered a touchdown to an opposing tight end. In three of those four games, a tight end has been the leading receiver for the opposing team.
That should bode well for CJ Dippre on Saturday night. The senior tight end has not scored a touchdown in his two seasons in Tuscaloosa. If the trend continues for opposing tight ends against the Sooners, then Dippre will find the endzone for the first time as an Alabama player this weekend.
Jalen Milroe has been more comfortable working the middle of the field this season. Look for him to do that against Oklahoma’s aggressive defense as he takes what is available to him as Dippre is the beneficiary.
