Tide’s future looks bright after a season on the brink
By Shane from Centerpoint
I remember standing above the north end zone at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama during the Crimson Tide’s 1992 SEC Championship game against the Florida Gators thinking that Alabama could beat anybody. I say this because that particular Crimson Tide defense was one of the best I had ever seen. They didn’t let me down. After All-American cornerback Antonio Langham stole a Florida pass and returned it for a touchdown to seal the Gator’s fate and win the SEC, the big red elephants rolled on down to New Orleans and destroyed Heisman Trophy winner Gino Torretta and his Miami Hurricanes to become the undefeated national champion.
The second year of the Nick Saban era at Alabama was close to perfection as well. The only thing missing against the two “spread†teams that beat Alabama – losses that tainted an otherwise perfect 12-0 regular season – were two or three of the type defensive backs that coach Saban requires to run his style of defense efficiently enough to shut down today’s great modern offensive schemes. However, with a 12-win, 2-loss run, a stay of five-plus weeks as the number one football program in the country, and with a large group of even better players on the way, the Tide stands poised to make a reality the prediction that I made when Nick Saban arrived at the Capstone. I said that Alabama would win the national crown in 2009 (Saban’s 3rd year). I think it’s extremely possible, mainly due to a favorable schedule.
Before you jump down my throat, listen to the experts who command far more respect than I could ever hope to. The Atlanta Constitution’s, Tony Barnhart has Alabama ranked 4th in his pre-season poll. ESPN’s, Mark May has Bama at #4 as well. In fact, most of the pundits have Alabama in their top five.
Along with a favorable schedule that brings most of Alabama’s toughest opponents to Bryant-Denny stadium in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide should sign a top three recruiting class in February and be deeper overall, as well as more talented at every position heading into the Virginia Tech game in Atlanta next fall.
Apparently the national experts are in agreement with my opinion that Nick Saban’s teams tend to get perpetually better as his “process†progresses. He will be loading up the stable again on signing day. Alabama fans should look forward to this year’s incoming class and next year will be no different. In my opinion, every place Saban coaches ends up with a team chocked-full of great football players. He has a knack for assembling football talent.
For the first time in years, Alabama fans can relax and look forward to next season’s opening kick-off. With the Tide program in Coach Saban’s hands, the future looks bright and Bama fans can hold their heads high. In two short years under the “Nicktatorâ€, Alabama has regained most of the legendary reputation that makes them one of the most respected college football programs in the history of the game.
It’s an old cliché, but I’m convinced that “defense really does win championshipsâ€. Coach Saban, like “Bear†Bryant and Gene Stallings before him, is a master in the art of defense. Alabama’s defensive improvement from year one to year two was astounding. I believe year three will be even better, mainly because coach Saban has one of the best defensive minds around. Besides, his NFL type system will lure many great players who have an interest in playing defense at the next level.
After stacking a top-ten and a number-one recruiting class together, as well as a probable top-three group this year, Alabama is no longer rebuilding. When this year’s signing class is finished, the Tide will be reloaded. Talent will soon begin to overlap and quality competition during practice will build solid depth at every position, something Alabama hasn’t had in a decade.
Once, during the Shula era, after another embarrassing loss to an inferior opponent, I was livid. I told my dad – who was present – that I thought the program was going to remain stuck in mediocrity forever. My father spoke up and told me that as bad as it looks, Alabama would always come back to greatness. At the time I don’t think I believed that it would ever be possible again. As usual, Dad was right! In two short years Nick Saban has Bama on the brink. The timing of his arrival was perfect. Saban and Alabama are a perfect union of a championship coach and a school looking for championships.
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I wouldnt go that far bamasux……….They arent gonna suck per say. Saban will go with what they are strong at. They will still run the ball, and probably do it fairly well. But not to the effect of last year. McElroy or Jackson may indeed step up. Who knows………If The Tide lands Randle………Him and Jones would make me look like an all SEC caliber QB. They will have a GREAT linebacking group. A solids defense all around. Bama wont suck. Heck man look what they did last year. You will see some disgruntled Bammers when they start the SEC schedule. The first couple of SEC games that are played will be a wake up call for whoever starts at QB. If the could get Jacksons head right, and get him to learn the offense, with his running ablility, I think that would help a lot.
But according to Kreskin McElroy is the second coming of Brody Croyle !!!!
Nah, McElroy isn’t made of tissue paper.
No denial about what bama did last year….unfortunately (for them) not the same team coming back this year.
The “Utes” exposed the bama offense that will take the field next year, minus Wilson and Coffee. 17 points isn’t going to win you too many games against the good teams.
As an avid Auburn fan, I can tell you that I would have loved to average 17 pts per game in SEC play last year.
Yea, you’re right…..a 17 point AVERAGE would have won us more games, but would have made very little difference, if any, against the better teams. That lofty ambition may work in the Big 10 where the goal is to win a bunch of games against teams of little relevance.
Ahhh, y’all will be fine. That coaching staff is looking pretty damned solid on the surface, and I’m going so far as to say that y’all will surprise a few people next year.
I’m wondering if anyone will be able to help Kodi Burns be all he CAN be. Frmo what I saw (granted, it was limited) I don’t think that Todd kid has what it takes.
YO! As a BAMMER, I must say that its a GOOD THING to have great expectations from the fans, but when its all said & done REALITY CAN BITE! If Alabama does win the West in 2009, it will be on the back of THE DEFENSE. Our offense will most likely get better as the season rolls along, but don’t expect an offensive line with possibly 2 freshmen starters to be able to provide the type of pass protection that we’re going to need. We will have to face BOTH Kentucky and Ole Miss ON THEIR TURF in ’09. We beat Kentucky by 3 and Ole Miss by 4 at home in ’08. South Carolina, Tennessee and LSU will played in Tuscaloosa, and trust me…ALL THESE TEAMS WILL BE AWARE OF OUR STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES! Seriously, I love the optimism of my fellow Bammers but we MUST BE REALISTS! I can see a rematch with Florida in the SEC Championship Game next year but IF WE GET THERE OUR DEFENSE WILL BE THE REASON!
Kreskin………We havent had a good QB coach at Auburn in YEARS. Al Borges ( believe it or not ) was probably the best wve had at Auburn in 20 years. We have always had a problem of bad quarterback play. Its seems we never have a great quarterback , with the excpetion of Jason Campbell for 1 year. And Brandon Cox was really solid in 05. And 06 until he got hurt and was forced to play. In 07 he just wasnt surrounded by anyone that could help him. Look at the Big 12………..They dont have physical specimans at QB, (except maybe Bradford), they are just really well coached. Thay know how to read the defense and adjust. They know where to throw the FREEKIN BALL !!!!!!!!!! They know how to get rid of the ball in a blitz situation. ETC………. Just well coached. In the SEC it is a little different, on the count of you must run some to win. I realise that. But they just produce great quarterbacks.While we produce all the other players.
I agree 100%.
Call me crazy, but I still haven’t given up on Kodi Burns yet. I certainly don’t judge him by his performance as a true freshman, because Borges put together a package of about 5 or 6 different plays and that was the extent of his knowledge. As to last year’s cluster*%@#, who the hell would have thrived under those circumstances? Franklin came in and everyone knew that he was gonna go with Chris Todd. Hell, Franklin was the only reason that Todd even came to Auburn. Then Kodi got thrown in after everyone realized that Todd has the arm strength of my 92 yr old grandmother, and Franklin gets fired one week later. The entire offense he spent the last 9 months learning was then entirely dismantled, back yard football ensues, and his new position coach was so good that he currently holds the same position at Smiths Station High School. Amazing he didn’t put up Heisman type stats under those circumstances.
Burns has the physical tools. He showed he can be a really good passer in the Ole Miss game, but he made some horrible decisions and threw 3 picks in the red zone. Perhaps those decisions could improve with better coaching. He’s probably the 2nd best running qb in the SEC behind Tebow. Obviously, he’s gotta be able to do a lot more than take off and run, though. I just think he’s capable of being another DJ Shockley if he can get his head straight. That’s a hell of a big “if”, though.
Julio—Great informative post! It really summed up our offense last year. I haven’t given up on Kodi either, yet.
Who is the new quarterbacks coach. Will Malzahn pick that up ?
yeah, it’s gonna be Malzahn. My guess would be that Malzahn would be a good qb coach, but I’m not really sure. He was qb’s coach at Tulsa, and that certainly seemed to work out well. The short answer is I guess we’ll have to wait and see. (kinda like Chizik, huh?)
Do you think Kodi has the head to run that offense ? I think he got a little bit of a bad rap last year. Our Offensive line was TERRIBLE………….
Talented , but it seems they just couldnt learn how to read block.
Did you really say that some national pundits agree with you. Don’t give yourself too much credit.
YO! “Ozarkadian,” welcome to this discussion of AU-BARN football on a ‘Bama site. Which one of the barnies were you calling out? “Julio,” “Bamasux,” and “Auburnisajoke formerly the fan known as Ballplay Indian” are some of the funniest barnies I’ve ever chatted with. Which one said that some pundits agreed with him? What’s your problem?
A tale of two universities…..one amassing great coordinators and assistants…..one losing them at a one a week clip, trying to get away from satan. hahahahahaha
YO! Hey, “BAMADONTSUCK;” the “satan vs. cheez-it” matchup later on this year…we want a prediction!
Ask julio for the score prediction…..if Chizik doesn’t work out by mid season, I propose replacing him with Lebo. At least we would then beat Bammer.
*waits