Alabama's a Machine With Interchangable Parts, but What About Next Year?

On the eve of this, the biggest game in Alabama's recent history, it's a good time to both look back at the team's hopes and fears coming into this season as well as look ahead to next year's team.

The year started with pundits saying Alabama would be good but still a year away from competing for a championship. Many prognosticators saw Alabama coming in third in the SEC West behind either LSU or Ole Miss.

The reasons were no experience at quarterback, a shaky defensive backfield with the loss of Rashad Johnson, a patchwork offensive line with a lot of inexperience, and the departure of Glen Coffee, Alabama's best running back, for the NFL.

Half of the doubters were erased when the Tide, in yet another opening day bowl-type game, took on the team picked to win the ACC and rated as high as No. 5 in the nation—the Virginia Tech Hokies, and after a shaky first half, convincingly beat them.

After being beaten and sacked early on, Greg McElroy showed what the 'Bama fans would come to expect from him for the rest of the season. He wound up with 230 yards in a brilliant second half, including some beautiful deep throws.

Doubt one erased.

Though Alabama's defensive backfield did give up one long 43 yard pass with a blown coverage that set up a touchdown that made the score appear closer than it really was, they held Tech to 91 passing yards all day.

They proved to be a lock-down and cover-tight unit that could support the run. Nick Saban and the Alabama nation had a collective sigh of relief once they saw this unit finish a game with such good stats.

Doubt two erased.

That inexperienced patchwork line that nobody had faith in opened huge holes in what has been year in and year out one of the best defenses in America. After giving up two sacks early, they gelled and protected McElroy the rest of the night.

Doubt three erased.

And as for Glen Coffee leaving? Mark Ingram ran for 150 yards and Roy Upchurch ran for another 90. So much for missing Glen Coffee.

Ingram, as you all know, ended the season winning the Heisman Trophy and Alabama was well stocked with backups who also had good years.

Doubt four erased.

As for the machine with interchangeable parts, when the Tide lost Donta Hightower and Damien Square, many thought the defense would suffer. Enter the interchangeable parts, including Corey Reamer, and Alabama went on to lead the nation in most defensive categories.

When Arenas couldn't play, the backups shut down and covered tight just like he was there and Julio Jones handled the kick returns in his place. Things just kept on clicking.

Alabama became a four-headed monster. On offense if you sold out to stop the run, McElroy would torch you. Slow the pass and Ingram, Trent Richardson and Upchurch would run it down your throat.

On defense, no team could run on Alabama with success, and the defensive backfield developed into one the team could count on to help against even the best passing teams.

Many people scoffed when I wrote before the season that this would be a better team than last year's. Many will scoff that next year's team could even be better.

Losing Terrance Cody, Rolando McClain (if he departs early for the NFL), Javier Arenas and two offensive linemen will hurt, but because I see the experienced backups and talented newcomers ready to take their place, I can't predict a drop off.

Donta Hightower will return next year ready to go and will be the coach on the field that Rolando McClain was this year. Josh Chapman has already proven he's ready to fill in for Cody, and the team has so many talented linebackers and defensive backs ready to make their own mark in Crimson history.

Parts may change, but the machine rolls on; Nick Saban is making sure of it.