It's a new era for Alabama football, and not in a small way. New coach Kalen DeBoer embarks on his first season as the program moves on from the most successful coach in the history of the game. The unveiling of the new-generation Crimson Tide begins Saturday, Aug. 31 against Western Kentucky, on turf newly renamed Saban Field. Readers have questions, and the mailbag column has answers:

Derek from Indianapolis asks: What is the position group that is going to surprise, either good/bad, the most this year?

Hey Derek: Watch out for the tight end position. Beyond CJ Dippre and Robbie Ouzts, it's a largely anonymous group, and Amari Niblack, who transferred to Texas, will be missed as a downfield threat. That said, the DeBoer offense uses tight ends many ways in the passing attack, and tends to showcase them more than most systems.

GOODBREAD: Why a CFP berth is the fair expectation for Alabama football in 2024

BIG DEAL: Alabama football GM Courtney Morgan gets eye-opening raise in newly approved contract

Alfred from Huntsville asks: I believe what can deliver us a Natty this season is a healthy O-Line. With two preseason All Americans on it we should have a good one. Who in the SEC has the best D-Line (not named Georgia) that we will face this season? Also, how deep is our O-Line?

Hey Alfred: Tennessee's defensive line is no joke, and the Third Saturday in October won't be a day Alabama will want its OL depth to have to be tested.

Alex from Florence asks: Which position group do you think is the X factor for the season, and why?

Hey Alex: Pretty sure my answer to this question has been on repeat for a third season now: the aforementioned offensive line. Remember the '22 UA team turning to Vanderbilt transfer Tyler Steen to play left tackle? Last year, it had to turn to a true freshman in Kadyn Proctor, who struggled much more than Steen did, at the same position. Now, it's the right tackle spot that's still an open battle, and Proctor must show continued improvement on the left side.

Shane from Lakeway, Texas asks: I’m very excited about the offense. Bama has had three years of mediocre/bad OC’s and I can’t wait to see what DeBoer does with all that talent. My worry is the defense. I know it’s not that different from the D we’ve always run, but all the terminology is new, Wommack hasn’t had experience coaching at this level and the secondary still scares me. Talk me off the cliff!

Hey Shane: Sorry, the cliff is real until a brand new group of cornerbacks proves itself. DeBoer sounds encouraged by what he's seen in practice, but only Saturdays will tell the tale. It's a critical question; cornerback is the worst of all defensive positions to have a weak link.

Ben from Huntsville from asks: Give us a thought or two on the GM position in college football − is Alabama once again on the leading edge of this new trend much like giving Saban the mega contract 18 years ago?

Hey Ben: NIL has made the GM role a lot more important, and Alabama's lucrative re-upping of GM Courtney Morgan sets a new market for GMs everywhere.

Ross from Paris, Tenn., asks: Any chance you can get Coach DeBoer to go off on a rant because of a dumb question you ask in a press conference or are those days gone too?

Hey Ross: I leave the dumb questions to others, of course, but the next Kalen DeBoer rant will be the first. Don't hold your breath.

Cody from Newman, Ga., asks: In your opinion, what will constitute a “successful” season for Kalen DeBoer? I think anything less than 10 wins in the regular season would be a major letdown considering he inherited one of the best top to bottom rosters in college football, even with the portal losses.

Hey Cody: I penned a 500-word answer to your question earlier this week. Check it out!

Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread is also the weekly co-host of Crimson Cover TV on WVUA-23. Reach him at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on X.com @chasegoodbread.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Goodbread mailbag: Alabama football fans demand preseason answers