If you like reading blogs, the C&W Roundtable is a great way to sample opinions from around the Bamasphere. Tide Druid is the host and provided six thought provoking questions.

1) Will the new offense and Offensive Coordinator be a positive change for John Parker Wilson? If so, how much? If not, what concerns you?

Wilson has a confidence problem. I don’t think Major Applewhite knew how to handle Wilson the way Mike Shula did. For all his faults, Shula was a great quarterback coach. Each year, Wilson improved under Shula. He regressed under Applewhite. I’m not picking on Applewhite, but praising Shula.

Wilson needs confidence. When he has confidence he throws the ball well, and makes good decisions. When his confidence falters, he makes bad decisions.

This will be McElwain’s job. Build Wilson’s confidence, and get the rest of the offense to execute. If people do what they should, Wilson will look great at quarterback.

2) We’ve all felt the excitement of landing this studly freshmen class on signing day, but what expectations should we have once they all land in Tuscaloosa?

Expectations? Relative to what? Why would you ask a question like that? I’m not into setting expectations. Aight. That’s your job. What i want to see is the freshmen come in, go to class and do the right things to better themselves as students and football players.

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3) What were your initial thoughts of the somewhat split job of Defensive Coordinator? Have they changed since then, or are they still the same?

Kirby Smart is a very good coach, who I am told understands Saban’s defensive approach better than anyone else on the staff. With the almost certain departure of Kevin Steele (doesn’t he want a head coaching job?), it is a good idea to hang onto Smart. Also, Saban loves rewarding people with titles.

4) In your eyes, who needs to step up the most in a position of depth concern?

I can’t think of a position that doesn’t need help.

5) We’ve all heard the talk of this possibly being Mal Moore’s last season as Athletic Director. What will his legacy be when it is all said and done?

Mal’s legacy? Asking people for money. All those athletic amenities on campus, plus the hiring of Nick Saban will be Mal’s legacy. Hiring Saban could be the pinnacle of Mal’s career. It could finally be the transition of Alabama from the past into the future. I compare the hiring to Alabama’s decision to hire Frank Thomas. Bringing in an outsider to update the team. If it works, then Mal will deserve a statue of his own.

6) Other than Georgia, what non-Alabama SEC team impresses you the most? (because everyone would normally answer UGA)

Is Auburn in Alabama or Georgia?

I’d say I’m not really impressed with any SEC team at the moment other than UGA. I think Florida has serious problems on defense. I think LSU has serious issues at quarterback. I think UK returns to earth. I think South Carolina has a lot to prove. I think UT is going to be average. The only questions I have are in Mississippi. How will Ole Miss transition into Houston Nutt? Will Sly Croom be able to build off last season?

I’m not ready to say it is a down year for the SEC. But this might be a down year for the SEC.

16 thoughts on “The return of the C&W Roundtable”

  1. 1) Why do we feel led to sugar coat Shula every chance we get. With great respect Capstone, I don’t think Shula would’ve instilled any more or any less confidence into Parker than Applewhite did. In fact, Parker is gradually growing better and better.

    2) As far as expectations go, they’re still at a bare minimal. We learned our lesson last season by jumping the gun and increasing our expectations after the come from behind win against Arkansas and the thumping of UT. Patience is a virtue. And you made a good point as well, Capstone, these guys AREN’T just here for football either.

    3) As far as the defense goes, I’d rather not state my thoughts and reactions to what I seen last season.

    4) I’m in the same position, I can’t think of anyone, right off the top of my head, who desperately needs to step their game up a notch or two.

    5) All I can say about Mal is, Nick Saban saved his reputation. He done wonders with our facilities, but they alone, don’t win games, which is the most important factor.

    6) If I can’t say Georgia, the only other team I can say is Florida. They had an erratic season last year, but for the most part, they were still a dominant team. LSU’s problem is Les Miles. He nearly cost them a national title last season and, boy, did he luck up against Florida, Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Alabama last season. Tennessee was the most undeserving team to play in the SEC Championship game last season, yet they did anyway. They’ll be competitive in the future, but Fat Phil’s stock is decreasing immensely by the second. I will also give API credit for getting their act together last season, and for Cox stepping his game up as well. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t surprised that they actually improved game by game, last year.

  2. Hey, you know me…I’m the Fire Shula Now guy. He sucked as a head coach, but I honestly believe he’d be a great quarterback coach. I thought Wilson improved every year under Shula. His sophomore season was very good. I expected much more last season, but it was a disaster. I blame the coaches for that.

  3. ‘Expectations? Relative to what? Why would you ask a question like that? I’m not into setting expectations. Aight. That’s your job. What i want to see is the freshmen come in, go to class and do the right things to better themselves as students and football players.’

    The best line by far. It’ll be hard for anyone to have a better answer.

  4. I’m only going to answer one question and my response is simple…

    1) Will the new offense and Offensive Coordinator be a positive change for John Parker Wilson? If so, how much? If not, what concerns you?

    I don’t care if JPW leads our team to its first undefeated season since 1994, or if he goes beyond that winning SEC title number 22 and NC number 13, I’ll be a happy man knowing, barring an unexpected injury or any other medical redshirt related incident, he’ll never step foot on Bryant-Denny soil as a player for us ever again.

    Roll Tide!

  5. yeah! he should know better than to ask about expectations. 😉

    Of course when my turn comes, that’s all I’m going to ask about. Six questions…all expectations!

    Y’know, if I go to media days…think I should ask Saban question #2? 🙂

  6. I dislike Shula and campaigned for his ouster. However – give him the damn credit. He has done an fine job with Garrard also. He is doing what he does best. Position Coach – NOT HEAD COACH !

  7. jpw and applewhite have both received unfair criticism for a transitional year imo.

    when will we learn. changing assistants can be every bit as traumatic to a team as changing head coaches. what is the head coach trying to do with an assistant change? business as usual or is he trying to change philosophies as bryant did in the early seventies?

    sometimes players flourish after these changes, sometimes it takes a while.

    i personally believe we can’t judge success this season solely on wins and losses. let’s get thru the summer with no more bad p r first off.

    with that said, 7, 8 wins with one being OVER AUBURN would tickle me to death. the last to auburn games were winnable and we should have won them.

    it’s time to end that damnable streak!

  8. Hello there… to this humble reporter’s millions (and millions) of fans. I dont want it said that I was getting stuck up since I dumped my loserville gig at the Huntville Times. Things are going well with the transition to my new high profile job. (Did I mention that it is ESPN affiliated?)
    But dont worry, I am not going to allow my new found star power and fame go to my head. Even though, I am Phillip Marshall, (and you’re not.)
    No roundtable would be complete without me, (Phillip Marshall) weighing in on behalf of ESPN. So here goes guys!
    Question#1 Dont care.
    Question#2 Could care less. I am THE voice for Auburn recruiting. (as far as the ESPN in concerned.)
    Question#3 Dont care to care…..
    Question#4 Could care less… When are we going to talk about me again?
    Question#5 Mal who? By the way I have been doing some directing for CTF lately….. Really good stuff…..expecting Hollywood to call any time now…..
    Question#6 Oh that is a simple one….Auburn. You have to admit whether in or out of the showers, these boys are hot hot hot!!! Its not hard to go into that lockeroom for an interview. All I need to make it complete is the Weather Report singing “Its raining men! (halleluyah!)” in the background…
    ooooohhhhh yes…..
    Anyway…..
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Did you know Bo Jackson hates spinach?
    or that Shug Jordan wore Depends* undergarments? You can read about these fascinating facts and more in my coffee table book. “Phillip Marshall does Auburn (and loves the experience)” Available at the new price of $69.95+ postage and handling if you order 2 books it will cost you twice as much +postage and handling……Before anyone complains……..ESPN….need I say more?

  9. It’s an honor to have you here, “Mr. Marshall.”

    One quick question, how do you think Aubarn will fare in the 2008 post season.

  10. In my professional and unbiased opinion. Auburn will walk through the competition in the NCAA (thanks to the Tony Franklin System). I figure they will be averaging (conservatively) 100-125 points, 12 to 17 interceptions, and at least 5 fumbles a game.
    By the third game of the season, The rest of the SEC teams will probably start forfeiting to avoid embarrassment.

    Any way, Auburn will win the BCS Natinal championship over USC by a score of 213-0. And then they will go back in time and refight the battle of Gettysburg, winning the war for the south. Afterward CTT will walk out on the field and stick up 8 fingers. (To taunt the godless Bammer heathens.)
    Sometime in January 2009 CTT will win the WWE RAW Championship Belt Having slapped around Dave Batista until he submitted in disgrace. And on National signing day CTT will sign history’s 1st all 5-star class while simultaneously breaking the world record for shooting down ducks in one day.
    By the way have you read any of my books? Wanna subscribe to my ESPN recruiting site?

  11. I don’t care if Mike Shula was the most profitable vendor on the planet, I still wouldn’t want him anywhere near my team ever again. If a mediocre Garrad were to leave the Jags, and a mediocre quarterback filled his shoes, position wise, he’d remain mediocre and nothing more.

  12. I don’t care if Mike Shula was the most profitable vendor on the planet, I still wouldn’t want him anywhere near my team ever again. If a mediocre Garrad were to leave the Jags, and a mediocre quarterback filled his shoes, position wise, he’d remain mediocre and nothing more.

  13. I don’t care if Mike Shula was the most profitable vendor on the planet, I still wouldn’t want him anywhere near my team ever again. If a mediocre Garrad were to leave the Jags, and a mediocre quarterback filled his shoes, position wise, he’d remain mediocre and nothing more.

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