Alabama football is halfway through its regular season.
The Crimson Tide have made it through much of the panic that surrounded a Week 2 loss to Texas and a rough performance on the road at South Florida and have moved to 3-0 in SEC play, 5-1 overall.
Heading into the back half of the year, UA will face Arkansas at Bryant-Denny Stadium Saturday, the first of three consecutive home games for the Tide.
As Nick Saban’s squad prepares for that game, here’s a look back at what the 2023 Alabama team has looked like so far, and what it could ultimately become.
The defense has been the anchor of the Crimson Tide.
Even when the team is at its messiest and most ineffective on the other side of the ball, it has usually been able to get the stops it needs to win games.
Up front, Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell get after the quarterback at an extremely high level.
The linebacking core is solid, with Deontae Lawson as its leader and top performer.
Occasionally the Tide have had a slip-up in the secondary, but Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold have been an excellent duo at corner.
At safety, Caleb Downs has come on over the past two games, grabbing an inception in each one.
On offense, Jalen Milroe has settled in at quarterback since the start of SEC play.
He had a career day against Texas A&M, and has seemed far more comfortable, often providing Alabama’s best rushing attack.
His receivers have also been solid. Isaiah Bond and Jermaine Burton especially have shown the ability to provide a deep threat.
The offensive line has had major struggles so far. If it’s not struggling to block or even get the snap back to Milroe correctly, its having problems with false start penalties.
