By Shane from Centerpoint
I saw the best team in the country play football Saturday, and it wasn’t playing in Austin, TX or Gainesville, FL. Urban Meyer and his Florida Gators struggled at home to beat a very average Tennessee Vol team and Texas still hasn’t played anybody yet. Before you throw it out there, no, I don’t think beating a rebuilding and unranked Texas Tech team at home is very impressive. However, the Alabama Crimson Tide started the season by hammering the 7th ranked team in the country. In the two ensuing tune-up games Alabama’s looked the part of a champion, scoring 93 points to the opposition’s 21. Through the first three games Alabama’s execution (on both sides of the ball) is sharper than the Longhorn’s or the Gator’s. Bama also appears to have the most talent on defense.
Prior to Saturday’s kickoff, most people believed that Urban Meyer’s offense was an unstoppable juggernaut. After watching their game against Tennessee closely, I see that Florida has an Achilles heel on offense – they are very deficient in their outside game. Florida also doesn’t seem to have its normal level of talent at the wide–receiver position.
Actually, Tennessee’s Monte Kiffin developed a blueprint before and during the game that other defensive coaches will use to slow the Gators down.
With a solid quarterback the Vols might’ve even won. I could end up being wrong, but I don’t think this year’s version of the “Fighting Tebows†is going to be as dominant as the Florida team of last year.
One other thing I noticed about the Gators’ defense while watching their game against Tennessee – they had a hard time stopping the run. If they don’t get that corrected it could hurt them later during the SEC wars.
Mack Brown’s Texas team is loaded with talent and will probably win the Big 12 this year. However, it won’t mean much since the opposition they‘ll have to beat to win the championship is mediocre at best.
As I watched them play last Saturday night I tried to gage the Longhorn’s talent. I was amazed how much faster SEC linemen are than the type of interior players that Texas had on the field. Nothing would convince me that Texas could beat Alabama or Florida along either side of the line of scrimmage.
Besides, Texas has an easy schedule. The only supposed challenge down the road that Texas has to face is Oklahoma. After the Sooners got slammed by BYU, who recently gave up 50-plus to Florida State, I don’t believe Oklahoma is that good anyway.
Texas is nothing more than a beneficiary of media hype.
They are over-rated. If the Longhorns face an SEC opponent in the BCS championship they will probably get shellacked, just because of the difference in overall speed.
On the other hand, the Alabama Crimson Tide’s performance level in the first three games has been impressive and efficient. This team has talent and depth at every position. It is also very aggressive.
Quarterback Greg McElroy has exceeded expectations. He displays the poise and accuracy of an experienced playmaker. If he continues to progress at the rate he’s going and stays healthy, Alabama has a solid shot at the national crown – “G-Mac†is that good.
Realistically, this Tide defense stands a chance to be as good as any defense that has ever worn the Crimson jersey. I don’t think anyone will dispute that. And, yes, defense definitely wins championships!
By the way, Alabama also has two of the best running–backs in the nation. Mark Ingram is Heisman material. He may not get a vote, but I think Ingram can do it all. He is an NFL–caliber back right now. And, what about freshman Trent Richardson! There isn’t a more talented young player in the country. I’m looking forward to seeing that “stallion†running wild in the future – he is f-a-s-t!
Maybe it truly doesn’t matter at this point in the season what team is ranked number-one, but I know that among the top three, only Alabama has taken down an equal foe with comparable talent. For that reason alone, I believe that Alabama should be considered the best and ranked at the top.
—Shane writes a weekly column for the Call News and the Capstone Report.
YO! ZIONHIPPY2, I’ve asked once & I’ll ask again: WHAT ARE YOU SMOKING, DUDE?” Let’s review the opponents you mentioned. FLORIDA; the Tide CAN beat them. TEXAS; if ‘Bama & Texas lined up against each other IT WOULD BE AN INTERESTING GAME. MIAMI; the Tide would win. CALIFORNIA; the Tide would win. SOUTHERN CAL; NOT in recent years but in ’09 DEFINATELY a ‘Bama Victory. CINCINNATI; ANOTHER Bama Victory. AUBURN; WE WILL BEAT THEM, but it will be close going into the 4th Qtr. I’M SURPRISED YOU DIDN’T INCLUDE LSU ON THAT LIST! “BAMA HATE,” you’re PATHETIC. I didn’t have to put an exclamation point after that statement. YOU’RE PATHETIC, period. We have the talent and in the weeks ahead those blue & orange sunglasses you’re wearing won’t block out that CRIMSON FREIGHT TRAIN thats ROLLING ON THE TRACKS! Later!
Shane,
Let’s just cancel the season why don’t we and just send the title to Bama huh? Your column is garbage. It is a joke and so are you. It is so funny to hear you call in on Finebaum! You act like a guest! Does Craneworks sponsor you? HAHA! As for Bama, they, not Texas, are one of the most overrated teams in the country. You have beat the hell out of Florida International and North Texas. Those are two of the worst teams in football. Yes, you beat Virginia Tech, who was without their starting RB who rushed for 1300 yards and 10 touchdowns last year. So… you need to hold your tongue and let the season play out. As for McElroy’s “poise”, let’s see his poise when he faces a real defense. Let’s see his poise when Greg Hardy and Antonio Coleman are putting him on his ass.
WAR EAGLE
YO, ONE MORE THING! The only thing I will say about whether or not Trooper said what he’s been accused of is a whopping “WHO CARES?” Its yesterday’s media storm AND from where I sat, watched & HEARD there was NOTHING to get uptight about. Some media crap-stirrer trying to INVENT CONTROVERSY where there ain’t none! That’s the problem with the media! Their job is to COVER EVENTS & REPORT THE OUTCOME. Don’t “invent” a story. We have enough problems already!
YO! To that SCREWBALL that calls himself “SCREWBAMA,” I would bet that Coach Chizik WOULD LOVE to have the depth that ‘Bama has. OVERRATED? Well, I would expect a response like that from a BARNIE like YOU.
Just calling it like it see it. BAMMER.
Well said StClair bammer…..on the “controversy” and the depth issue. You gotta admit, though, Mr. 5-19 is doing a lot with less. My guess, by the end of the season, few will be mispelling or mispronouncing his name!
Aurox, I am sick of doing more with less. That was Tubbs mantra. I want to do more with more. But I agree, if he gets more in terms of talent and depth, wee will be great. If we are going to ever get competitive again we have got to get players and lots of em. I swear man, about one in four of Tubss recruits actually make it to the roster. It was time for him to go.
Oh, I agree. Don’t get me wrong! We ain’t southern miss or miss state. We should get top tier talent every year. Tubbs and his staff got lazy. Everyone want’s to blame this “laziness” on the arrival of saban, but it started way before saban even arrived. Although he didn’t help the situation!
If this years class ends up the way it very well could, we’ll be back on the right track. I just think this coaching staff has done well with what they had, in play calling, and keeping the team grounded.
It’s even crossed my mind that Auburn could let Chizik go, and promote Malzahn after this year. They have been known to f**k people worse! Their may be 3 top ten RBs in the balance!
Tommy Tuberville is and was a great coach. I believe that his loyalty to his assistants, some of which had gotten lazy, did him in. I am so glad that Nall, Ensminger, and Knox are gone. Knox was terrible. Ensminger was an idiot, and Nall was a two faced cutthroat. Plus, you throw in the two faced terds like Yella Fella and Bobby Lowder, I can see why Tubs got where he didn’t care. I will never forget the good things he did for our program. I was not happy when he was forced out. However, I think Chizik’s staff is a much better upgrade than what we had. This staff really scares the Bammers to death. They are not lazy and complacent, and they flat out do not give a damn about Nick Saban. That’s what I like most of all.
WAR EAGLE
It’s really interesting to read what the UA@T fans think. You would think the the Bammaers could beat the Steelers and that Uncle Nick invented football. Look Auburn has a ways to go but they are better than what people thought and YES the staff that Chizik has put together does worry UA@T cuz we all know that Uncle Nick always has turnover on his staff because he’s an asshole and he wears thin on this staff. Look at his staff at MSU, where none wanted to work with him at LSU. Sooner or later his staff will walk away, oh wait they are already starting to, going to Texas, UT…By the way, we’ll all find out what both UA@T and UA have in the next 3 weeks so quit beating your chest in T-Town and wait, you just might be surprised
Exactly. They have a good football team but it is much too early to start saying that they are better than Florida and Texas like the idiot that wrote this column is blabbing.
Shane’s a joke, he never played college ball but he watches games so he thinks he can break down a game or a team. He’s a typical Finebaum caller: sucks up to the host while sucking up to UA@T at the same time. I almost ran off the road listening to Straight jacket Jim state that he was an expert and an analyst and that he knew more about football that everyone else. These guys like Shane watch several games and follow these recruiting websites and think they know the inner workings of a college team or sport. They are really pathetic
Shane fact is that Alabama is ranked number 3 right now, not number 1. So it doesn’t matter what you think they should be or what you think might happen.
Since you like writing about things that possibilities and not facts why don’t you write an article on what Alabama fans will do and think if Alabama wins the west but loses to Auburn in the last regular season game. Then goes to the SEC championship game and loses to Florida again and then goes to a bowl game and loses(we all know Saban bowl record sucks no matter where he’s been or who he’s blaming it on). Even though YOU would never think this could happen, it is a real possibility. Bama and Saban could top last year by closing out this season on a three game skid.
Hey guys remember 03 and 04 ??? DAMN DUDE 4 first round draft picks out of the back feild!!!! REMEMBER>. WE are rebuilding and we will always be RUNNIN BACK U!!! IF we have a GOOD year this year you watch …. Here they come and even if uat gets some first we have ENOUGH talent in the south to score big.
And lets talk a little about depth. If “GMAC” goes down they have star… IF “CTODD” goes down we got KBURNS! Now the ? is who wins??? ALL my money on AUburn!!!!!!
RUNNING BACK U.
http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=136312511145&h=DExdY&u=lLQdd&ref=nf
1:57 = OWNAGE
YO! AUROX, don’t you mean “Mr. 8-19?” Yeah, he IS doing a lot more with less but AU’s advantage is VERY FEW people thought y’all would even be COMPETITIVE this season. I’m happy to say that I was one of the few people that knew that AU had SOME talent and felt that the change would be FOR THE BETTER on the Plains. “Mr. 8-19″ will be “Mr. 9-19″ after this weekend but the oven is gonna “heat up.” As for ‘Bama Vs. The Hogs in T-Town Saturday, WE SHOULD BE OKAY, but as in ALL GAMES, the turnover margin is ALWAYS CRUCIAL. ROLL TIDE & I’ll chat with y’all later!
Yeah, just remember how that the Barn had all of that talent and walked away with a grand total of one, YES I SAID ONE, SEC championship, pitiful.
And I have been wondering abut one thing you D.A. Clowns have been stuck on, must be from snorting too much ‘Cheeze Whiz, Alabama fans are laughing at your minor league team. We are not afraid of your Dumb A$$es, we just love the entertainment factor. You Ignoramuses don’t realize how far behind the curve you are. And I see that you have already decided to dump Cheeser for the Malzo express. Seems like you tried that around 2004 and look what it got you.
Get back to the Hoover Met minor leaguers!!!!!!!
Or just go join the Sun Belt, you might come in second in that conference.
Oh and to quote P. Ditty Dye: ‘Just keep it down home, Cuz!!!!!!’
MoHoRimJob….I’m not trying to dumb anybody. But keeping Chiz and Malzahn both in Auburn come next year will be a challenge. Jacobs will earn his money! I don’t think Malzahn would be in the running for more than a Tulsa like-Southern miss type team to begin with, with a 1.1 million start. Auburn could feasibly pay that for him to stay, and with certain recruits on the line, it would be worth it. You see, that option is still on the table when you don’t put ALL your eggs in one little short basket.
Watching Ole Miss tonight made me realize why you goofs are so excited. You are judging the current Aubretard team against 1980 SEC talent.
Guess what fellows, this isn’t Rumplestiltskin you boys have been asleep for way too long. Welcome to the bottom of the SEC barrel, punks!!!!
I have to say that I am unimpressed with Mississippi and more disappointed with South Carolina, bad mental mistakes.
Auburn I believe can beat both of these teams.
Ding…Ding…Ding….The Nutter goes Down!!!!! The Nutter goes Down!!!!! The Nutter goes Down!!!!!!
Ball State is gonna bea Auburns ass!!!!!
SEC WEST STANDINGS AS OF WEEK 4:
1)Alabama….without question
2)Auburn…..by a hair
3)OleMiss…..I just don’t believe they’re done
4)LSU…..by 6 inches
5)Miss State…..they will beat somebody they shouldn’t beat eventually
6)Arkansas…..No defense. Offense overrated.