How COVID-19 Might Affect Football Depth
What is the significance of the number 53? No, it’s not the card deck used in the poker game by that stranger named ‘Doc’ whose full house included two aces…both diamonds.
Think football.
Good guess, but, no, it is NOT the number of analysts Nick Saban has in the Alabama football program. At least we don’t think it’s that many.
It is the number of players an NFL team gets down to, but that’s not the answer, either.
Fifty-three is the number of players the Big X11 has used as part of a parameter for playing college football games in 2020 in anticipation of positive diagnoses of COVID-19. Some seem to have misread the rule. It is not that a Big XII team has to have at least 53 healthy players, but rather that if at least 53 are healthy, and they include at least one quarterback, seven offensive linemen, and four interior defensive linemen, the game must be played or forfeited.
If a Big XII team doesn’t have 53 healthy players, but does have the requisite number required at QB, OL, and DL, it has the option to play.
Reportedly, the ACC and the Southeastern Conference will implement squad qualifications at least similar to the Big XII. Those are the three of the Power Five conferences that have elected to play football this year.
In most games in normal times, Alabama likely plays more than 53 players.
Suppose the SEC put in the same restrictions as the Big XII and Alabama had 53 healthy players, including at least one quarterback, seven offensive linemen, and four defensive linemen. How would that break down?
One of the first things to be considered would be players who would be capable of playing a primary position and of being a backup at a secondary position. Just as a for-instance, make Slade Bolden one of the wide receivers and, perhaps, the third quarterback.
Speaking of which, those minimum numbers at quarterback, offensive line, and defensive line wouldn’t be enough to suit most coaches.
Although we think primarily in terms of offense and defense, those 53 players must also include the specialists, and it would be helpful to have some dual use players. We’re thinking Will Reichard, who could be placekicker and backup punter so that three men make up a two-deep in the kickers. Holders would be position players, frequently quarterbacks, and a back-up snapper might be possible to cobble from a center. Return men are position players -- defensive backs, wide receivers, running backs.
There are swing players. Alabama’s offensive line under Saban has always had men working at different positions, providing depth, which in turns is injury insurance. Ideally, a team might want perhaps 13 – not seven – interior offensive linemen. That would be five tackles, five guards, and three centers. But having a Deonte Brown who have demonstrated he can play both left and right guards cuts that number by one. Landon Dickerson started last year at center, but this year may start at guard – and could be the backup center. An Evan Neal-type, capable of playing guard or tackle is a bonus.
We’d figure on dividing that offensive line number between the minimum of 7 required and 13 ideally and getting by with 10, seven guard-tackle types, three centers.
A big positive factor in the defensive line would be having at least one man who could get the job done at both end and nose tackle.
Bama might need more tight ends than some teams because the Tide often uses at least two, one at an H-back type along with the traditional Y on line.
Maybe more than any other position, running back might be vulnerable to in-game injury. Would you be satisfied with just three?
In the secondary, Alabama almost never plays just the old standard of two cornerbacks and two safeties. Almost always there is a Star (nickle back) and/or Money (dime back).
Some might sacrifice one of those defensive backs for an extra running back.
Without filling in names, a reasonable division of the 53 might be:
Offense (25) – 5 wide receivers, 4 tight ends, 7 tackles-guards, 3 centers, 3 quarterbacks, 3 running backs
Defense (25) – 7 defensive linemen (ends and nose tackles), 4 outside linebackers, 4 inside linebackers, 5 cornerbacks, 5 safeties
Special Teams (3) -- 1 snapper, 1 placekicker (who could also punt), 1 punter
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