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By Rowan Fisher-Shotton
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Alabama enters Saturday's homecoming game against Texas A&M desperate to turn things around. The Crimson Tide started the season off strong, rattling off five straight wins over East Carolina, Kentucky, Florida State, South Carolina, and Mississippi State. Two of those came on the road in tense SEC environments, and they were all double-digit blowouts.
But they've since lost back-to-back games against Georgia and Tennessee. Alabama fell 20-17 at home to Kirby Smart's Bulldogs on Oct. 10, and then 26-10 one week later against the Vols at Neyland Stadium. Those losses have dropped the Tide down to 5-2 overall and 3-2 in SEC play heading into a crucial stretch of the season.
Saturday's game against the Aggies will have massive implications on College Football Playoff seeding. Unfortunately, the Tide have just been dealt a concerning update on three key players. Cornerback Zabien Brown, running back EJ Crowell, and starting center Racin Delgatty have all been downgraded to doubtful for the game, according to Friday's SEC availability report.
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Brown is one of Alabama's best defensive players. The junior corner and team captain came into this season with high expectations after earning preseason All-American recognition. Through seven games, he's recorded 19 tackles, four pass breakups, and one fumble recovery. Without him, Alabama will need other cornerbacks, such as Carmelo O'Neal and Dijon Lee Jr., to take on more responsibility against the Aggies' passing attack.
Crowell, meanwhile, is a talented freshman running back who's arguably been the Tide's most explosive weapon on offense. He's already rushed for 216 yards and four touchdowns on just 32 carries, averaging 6.8 yards per carry, in his first season at Alabama. Trae'Shawn Brown and Daniel Hill would need to shoulder more of the workload should Crowell miss Saturday's game.
Lastly, Delgatty would be a massive blow for the offensive line. The senior transfer from Cal Poly started Alabama's first six games at center and earned a spot on the midseason watch list for the Rimington Trophy, given annually to the nation's best center. Casey Poe or Mal Waldrep Jr. are other options at center.
Brown and Crowell suffered lower-body injuries during last week's loss to Tennessee, while Delgatty has been dealing with a knee injury sustained late in the Georgia game.
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Alabama still has a path to making the CFP, but another loss would put them in a very difficult position. The Tide would fall to 5-3 and 3-3 in SEC play, with a daunting schedule ahead that features games at No. 18 LSU and at Vanderbilt, followed by an at-home game against Chattanooga on Nov. 21 and then their season closer against rival Auburn in Tuscaloosa.
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