I am sure I will get a few “welcome back to reality” posts, but a month ago I really thought Saban would have something in store for the SEC West this year.
Well, since my first post, Alabama’s football squad has been torpedoed by criminals and injuries. I have been waiting to write just to see if another shoe will drop on Alabama.
Then it did.
Paul Finebaum, noted Alabama sports commentator, had a televised interview with Nick Saban. I have yet to actually see the interview, but what is troubling for Tide fans was the apparent attitude off camera. Supposedly, Saban came off as very pessimistic about this season.
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The linebacking position is so thin that Saban will probably have to scrap his 3-4 and go to a 4-3 defense. Also, the No. 1 recruiting class will apparently get a first-rate education in the SEC, because it looks like they will have a very significant role on the team.
What does this mean for Alabama this year? In my first article, I proposed what Alabama could do with the schedule in front of them. I think I took it a bit too far, but my argument was that the schedule was manageable, under the right circumstances, for a really nice season.
Throw out the first three games, because I don’t believe that a loss (not saying Alabama will lose) to Clemson would be that big of a deal. I would argue that Clemson has more to lose than Alabama. The next two games are against cupcakes, so Alabama should head into the Arkansas game no worse than 2-1.
The Arkansas game is the make or break game. A loss to a floundering Arkansas team should brace Alabama Nation for at best another trip to Shreveport or Birmingham (since that city is now in the SEC Bowl tie-in). A win keeps a nice season intact.
Right now, if Saban gets to the eight-win mark, it will be a heck of a job.
It will all depend on the new freshman class and the overlooked redshirt freshman class. Then again, it was freshmen that propelled Georgia to the Sugar Bowl.
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about 1 month ago
Interesting...a good article. I do believe that Bama are going to do well this season though. Saban is just temptering expectations because that's what coaches do. And usually, they do it most when they think they could be really special...it's JoPa 101...
Saban will let a lot of those youngsters from that amazing recruiting class play this season, but the good thing is, they won't be youngsters when they get into the heart of their SEC schedule. They don't play LSU and AU till the end of the season, and by that time, those guys will be battle-hardened SEC players. Bama have played both AU and LSU close the past few years and I think this is the year they could beat one or both of them.
Funny...a few weeks ago, I didn't think Bama would do much this year, but after thinking about it more, I think they will end up 1st or 2nd in the SEC West.
about 1 month ago
well at LSU saban had a way of trying to downplay fan expectations and curtail the "catastrophe syndrome" before it starts.
i didn't see the interview with finebaum that you're talking abuot so i wouldn't really be able to pass judgement but i'm sure what liger said is close to the truth.
about 1 month ago
I don't really think that anything has changed over the last month (or even the summer) that will have a significant impact on the Tide's season. The biggest blow was the loss of Zeke Knight, but even that was expected going all the way back to spring practice. All the other departures were players that had no significant role. I absolutely agree though that this season's success will hinge on how the freshmen respond. There are 6 or 7 true freshmen who will be thrown into the fire early on, but the good news for BAMA is, they are guys (like McClain last year) that have the talent to play, and play well.
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