Alabama's Spring Game Showed Why Others Will Cry Later

Larry Burton (Panama City Beach, Fl)

This year during it's spring A Day Game, people who knew what they were watching saw things that made those in Crimson proud and those fans from other schools shudder in shock. Later this year, Alabama will demonstrate why other teams will have fans crying in the stands.

What did the knowledgeable fans see that others may have missed? What happened that should send chills down the spine of every potential opponent this year and for the next few to come?

Quite simply, a talent pool that is so deep it will simply drown all opposing teams.

On the last play of the game, A.J. McCarron threw a pass to Brandon Gibson while second and third team offensive linemen blocked against a first string unit will ultimately be one the nation's best defenses again this year.

In other words, players that won't even see the field much this year won a game against maybe the defense in the nation. That proves Nick Saban is building more than a team in Tuscaloosa, he is building a dynasty.

Fans glimpsed a third string running back slice through the nation's best defensive line for a touchdown. They saw third string corner-backs defending an All American receiver well.

They saw a patchwork line with second and third string centers hold their blockers while the first team center watched from the sideline with a recovering broken foot.

They saw a first year starter in Marcell Dareus look unstoppable as a force on the defensive line and watched as a fourth string quarterback Star Jackson, threw a 25 yard touchdown pass to a forth string running back Demetrius Goode.

Everywhere you looked you saw talent that would start at other schools fighting for precious seconds of playing time at this one school.

All those top recruiting classes have come home to roost.

What fans in the know realize is that this is the year that many picked for Alabama to be at a peak, not last year.

The other thing fans saw was an offensive machine that more than doubled the scoring from last year's A Day Game that produced a national champion. Combined with a defense that many of the Alabama coaches say could be their fastest and most talented ever, and you have a team that could simply make every opponent look like just a decent high school team.

For fans in the know that follow football closely, they saw the beast that simply brushed aside the nation's other two top contenders, Florida and Texas as if they were Junior Varsity teams get bigger, get badder and get better.

On offense, they returned all that made them sensational, and the one's plugged in on the offensive line are faster, bigger and more talented.

On defense, they can evolve into a team that is faster, more aggressive in pass rushing and deeper in talent they can place on the field.

Alabama had a great team last year, and sports afficianados know that this one could be much better.

And that is a frightful and painful thought for all the other schools hoping for glory this year.