Alabama Crimson Tide: When Coach Nick Saban Screams "Next," Who'll Respond?

This season has seen a lot of different people stand up and step up for Alabama. This is not a team built around one player as Florida seems to be with Tim Tebow or Oklahoma is with Sam Bradford. Can you imagine Texas being in the top five without Colt McCoy?

There have been games like Arkansas when Greg McElroy torched the Razorbacks and put the game out of reach. Other games saw Mark Ingram simply run over the opposing team to lead the Tide to victory.

Sometimes the defense saved the day in a brutal manner and kept opponents from ever mounting a challenge. Last week the special team units did Tennessee in.

People are tending to focus only on Terrance Cody and his two blocks, but what about Lee Tiffin's four field goals or the run that little used Terry Grant had on a kickoff return that helped set up Tiffin for one of those kicks? A lot of special team players stood up and stepped up.

People who weren't supposed to be even be in games have contributed so much. If you take the strip that Cory Reamer ripped from the arms of a receiver, that game would have certainly been a different game. He was only in the game due to an injury to Dont'a Hightower.

This is about a team that has receptions to every eligible receiver on the team, who has a star back to be sure, but has three others behind him that can carry the load if needed.

It's about an undersized center than hasn't allowed his man to sack the quarterback and defensive backs who have held opposing Heisman hopefuls to pitiful performances and kept big name receivers in check for most of the season.

So what if Greg McElroy's going through a mid season slump. That just gives someone else the opportunity to step up and shine.

It has certainly been entertaining to watch these last three Alabama games. You see them keep finding different ways to win, different heroes to marvel and each working toward the same outcome, a win.

With LSU looming just down the road, yet another highly charged emotional rivalry game will come into Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Who will be that game's hero?

This team is beginning to sell the fact that they will continue to win to both the fans and the press, but how they do it will be the question that keeps everybody guessing.

And if all the units finally play one game in equal harmony is there anyone who can beat them?

Until that happens we'll be content to sit and watch who or what group will be the next persons to step up next for Alabama.

Stay tuned and see who answers the call when Nick Saban calls, "Next!"

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