Alabama Football: Is Bama's Season Done Before It Has Begun?

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.

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.