Bleacher Report - Articles by Hank Gray

Alabama Crimson Tide Survives in Last Stand: Perfect Outcome in Long Run

Hank Gray — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:37:53 -0500

I will begin this article by giving my respect to the Auburn Tigers and Gene Chizik. They could not have been coached better, and they could not have played with more heart than they did against a VERY good Alabama team.

They came out and ran many trick plays that brought success, and left Alabama with a fourteen point deficit five minutes into the game. Their fans remained in the game for all four quarters, and played a big part in their success.

I owe that to the Auburn Tigers, they shocked the nation

Now, on to the team that took a bullet to the chest, but was able to tough it out and get the victory. The Alabama Crimson Tide did not play their best game, which is obvious to everyone that has a clue about football.

Auburn had Heisman Hopeful Mark Ingram's number, holding him to 30 yards rushing.

Many had a sick feeling in their gut when they saw Mark Ingram's stats.

I began to, but ended up grinning in satisfaction

As Ingram got wiped off the map, freshman Trent Richardson stepped up and proved that he could produce when it was crunch time. Although it is not proven in the stats, Richardson played an important role in the Tide's victory

Julio Jones had been hiding for most of the season, but he came ready to play against Auburn

Julio is a great receiver, but he is almost guaranteed to drop a pass or two almost every game. He made several key catches that led Alabama to a win over Auburn

All doubt in Greg McElroy has been removed, and he proved that he can lead a comeback. He may not put up unbelievable numbers, but he gets the job done

Next week, Alabama is scheduled to face off against top ranked Florida

I believe that the Auburn game reminded Alabama that if they do not show up to play, they will have their rear-ends handed to them

A huge victory over Auburn would have got them on a high, and possibly lead them to believe that they are flawless

Now, they will be a lot more focused, and hopefully will bring their "A" game

View on the Crimson Tide: What You Will See in Weeks to Come

Hank Gray — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:24:23 -0400

The Alabama Crimson Tide's performance on Saturday was surprising in some ways, and disappointing in others.

Personally, I enjoy having the problems we do have rather than having no problems at all. This being that every mishap the Crimson Tide had is very coachable.

If you look at the score, it does not do the Tide Defense any justice. If you ask me, 150 yards allowed is not too shabby. And I'm sure Bama fans are not complaining about putting up nearly 500 yards on a very strong Virginia Tech Defense.

I am going to list some Tide players and go in depth to explain what I see now, and believe I will see later in the season.

Julio Jones- He did not surprise anyone in the season opener, and did have his dropped passes. He still had his four catches for 46 yards. Virginia Tech had a double team on him nearly the entire night. This led to Maze and Hanks being wide open for many huge connections. I believe that as the season progresses, teams will realize that there are more weapons as receivers other than Jones. Teams will not survive double-teaming him, and once they stop doing so, He will live above the hype he has and be an even more dominant receiver.

Hanks/Maze- These two "dark horses" are loving the Jones double coverage. This leaves the two wide open, and they proved Saturday night that they can make over the shoulder catches. Look for them to explode and to provide for a threatening Alabama offense.

Greg McElroy- He surely did not surprise anyone in the first half. He quickly gathered himself and came out and had a great second half. While he is not a Tim Tebow, he fits into the Alabama offense well. In his first start at Alabama, he was 15-30 with 230 yards, I was not disappointed. Not to mention he had 28 yards rushing, and is not scared to take a hit. Look for him to get better over the season as he gains experience.

Mark Ingram- A bowling ball. Had a wonderful game, wheeling off 150 yards and a touchdown. He is a proven leader, and is the base of the Alabama offense. Very disciplined, and will remain consistent over the season as he did last year.

Roy Upchurch-While he averaged 12.9 yards a carry, he also had a few mental mistakes which is once again coachable. But you have to love the way this kid plays. He possesses a killer mentality. I can recall him running down the field and from what I saw, it looked like he could have outran a guy, but instead, he cuts right in to him, causing the Virginia Tech player to have to go to the sideline. And when he scored his touchdown, he nearly took a players helmet off as he fell into the endzone. He is an explosive back, and Iron out the kinks and we will have two guys fighting for a position.

Trent Richardson- I cannot recall ever seeing a true freshman running back attack the hole and by himself, power through five Virginia Tech defensive players to ground out a six yard carry. This guy will get more carries as the season progresses, and I look for him to live up to his hype and be a factor into this offense

The defense as a whole- Put pressure on Tyrod Taylor all night. Had a great performance, and showed why they could be the best defense in the nation.

That pretty much sums up what I see, and I would like to make a dedication to the Virginia Tech Hokies.

You guys had a good game, and lived up to the hype. I wish the best for your season, and hope you all bounce back. Good luck this season, and make the best of it.

The Hype Begins: Crimson Tide Looking to Make Another Run

Hank Gray — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:15:34 -0400

It's about that time again—roughly three months from kickoff, and many fans are unsure.

Starting your season off against a good football team such as Virginia Tech could be great, but could also be bad.

Personally, I like to see good match-ups for the first game. I want to know after four quarters of action what kind of team the Crimson Tide will have for the remaining 11 games.

The Tide has a good quarterback. You can say what you want, but McElroy can throw the deep ball better than the past five quarterbacks the Tide has had. If you can do that, the running game comes into the picture. The Tide has a triple threat backfield with Richardson, Ingram, and Upchurch, as well.

Julio Jones, with a year under his belt, is preparing for a breakthrough season. The defense should be fine, with Rolando McClain returning. The offensive line will be the determining factor for the Tide's 2009 season.

If the offensive line can mature quickly, 2009 could be a special season for the Crimson Tide.

Quarterback Battle: Star Jackson Vs. Greg McElroy

Hank Gray — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:57:43 -0500

Writers note: This article consist mainly of opinion. If that is a problem, save yourself the time and do not read or comment this post.

Following a devastating loss to Utah, many Alabama fans have found themselves looking forward to next year.

The table is set for another great season, all except for who will be the field general, a.k.a. quarterback.

The two guys that will be battling for the position are redshirt Greg McElroy and redshirt freshman Star Jackson.

Greg McElroy capped a 36-0 victory over Auburn with an impressive 34-yard touchdown pass to Marquis Maze.

Star Jackson was redshirted his freshman year, so he has not seen the field during a game yet.

I was at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, and watched both quarterbacks warm up. Greg McElroy has one problem concerning him, and that is his feet. He does not have much speed, which is something that can add a whole new weapon to an offense.

Star Jackson has bulked up since he was signed by the Tide, and appeared to have some zip on the ball when he threw to his receivers. His speed is his greatest weapon, running a 4.56. That is not exactly wheeling it, but for a quarterback that is pretty good.

The opinionated part of the article comes when I say that I would much rather see Star Jackson named the starting quarterback. It has been ages since the Tide has had a versatile quarterback that can move the ball.

Not only moving the ball but being able to move around in the pocket is something that past Alabama quarterbacks have not been able to do.

It would not be bad to see McElroy take the throne, considering he is more mature and has a lot more experience that Jackson.

One fact remains: The best man will play. Nick Saban has declared this many times before.

Please leave your thoughts on who you would like to see starting and why.

Fall of The Crimson Line: Bama Stabbed in Leg, But Not Heart

Hank Gray — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 07:34:22 -0500

I'm sure most of you do not understand the title of this article, but it fits well with the situation.

If it were 2005, it would have been a stabbing in the heart, that Alabama would not have been able to recover from. Shula could not have brought the Tide back to domination the following year, simply because he cannot recruit nor coach.

I was sitting in the upper-deck in New Orleans, awaiting for the game to start, when something did not feel right. Utah had a fiery look in them that The Crimson Tide did not.

If Andre Smith had played, who knows what would have happened? Mike Johnson would not have gotten hurt for sure, and we would not have had only two players in their original positions on the offensive line.

Alabama fans, this ones for you.

We have no valid excuses for our pitiful performance, because if we deserved to beat Utah, we would have had enough depth for Smith's absence to not be a factor.

On the other hand. Andre Smith does not play on defense. 21-0 sounds like a defensive failure. Sure, Andre Smith was a HUGE distraction to all of the Alabama team, as well as the coach, but it should not affect the play that much.

The one thing I complete disagree with is the statement: "Nick Saban was out coached."

When an Andre Smith goes down days before a game, it is nearly impossible to get that off of the players mind.

I have lived through one Alabama national championship, but I had not even said my first words yet.

It is time to wake up and smell the coffee, because this is not even close to the end of the road.

Alabama was stabbed in the leg. It will take some time to heal, but we are not dead.

We are Alabama, and it takes things like this to get motivated.

Alabama's Andre Smith Suspended

Hank Gray — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:21:51 -0500

Andre Smith was suspended by the University of Alabama on Monday, Dec. 29. Sources reported that he had illegal contact with an NFL agent.

Nick Saban declared, "The University of Alabama, the team, and the football program are more important than any individual player. Everyone on our team depends on each other to be responsible, to make good choices and decisions relative to their actions."

This will affect the Tide but should not matter dramatically. The Tide offensive line, arguably the best in the nation, was held together by the top projected NFL draft pick, Andre Smith.

The Utah defense will not penetrate through Nick Saban's masterpiece offensive line. That may seem to be a biased opinion, but it is fact.

This inconvenience is not good for the Tide, but it will not affect them as it would have if Alabama had lost its star lineman before they faced Florida.

Whether or not this situation will affect Andre Smith's decision on whether to stay in college or to head for the NFL has not been revealed.

Alabama's Size vs. Utah's Speed

Hank Gray — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 13:06:01 -0500

Speedy Utah

Smashmouth Bama

When the bowl picks came out, Alabama was supposedly mad and thought they deserved more.

Utah felt as if it time to shine.

People seem to take what the fans think, and make themselves believe that the players think it, too.

I would bet my paycheck that you see the same Alabama team you have seen all year.

Sure, Utah will be fired up, why would Alabama not be?

Every week, Saban has said the same thing about how the rankings do not matter, and how the team will be ready.

It will be size vs. speed, and expect Alabama to slam it down Utah's throat two to three times a drive. If Utah can pick apart Alabama's coverage, the Utes will have a fair shot. Along with their wildcat formation, they could do some real damage.

Expect Glen Coffee and Mark Ingram to have big days, and do not be surprised if Julio Jones has a breakthrough game. Nikita Stover has a lot of motive as well.

Utah's speed has dominated the past defenses they have faced, but check their schedule. Wait, that is why they are not in the title game.

Alabama's defense is a system.

Even if you have speed, they rotate so well that it is tough to get around them, because everyone knows where to be at the right time.

Saban will have his team prepared for Jan. 2.

Bama Is Back: Why Every True Alabama Fan Is Tired of Hearing This

Hank Gray — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:05:35 -0500

"Bama's Back," an Alabama fan cheers.

The truth is, Alabama has been back, and they have left following every season this statement is made.

Alabama was back when Mike DuBose led the Crimson Tide to a 10-2 season in 1999 with an SEC championship. The fans were fired up. Alabama was back.

Mike DuBose was fired the next year, and Alabama fell back into a hole.

Even though strangled by the wrath of probation, Dennis Franchione led the Tide to a 10-3 record, a team that would have been eligible for an SEC Championship game, but was prohibited from postseason games. Fans overlooked the whole probation situation, yelling "Bama's back!"

Franchione resigned and headed to Texas A&M. The Tide was rolled, yet again.

Mike Shula stepped in, following the fire of Mike Price, who was caught in Pensacola, Florida in a hotel with at least one exotic dancer. Not many people believed he was the man for the job. The highlights of his coaching career at Alabama include signing of Andre Smith, a top offensive lineman, and leading the Tide to a 10-2 season and winning the Cotton Bowl against Texas Tech.

Alabama was back, but the next season they went 6-7, losing the Independence Bowl to Oklahoma State. Alabama was back, and Sports Illustrated agreed, but the following season said otherwise, and Shula was fired after his 6-7 season at Alabama.

Nick Saban stepped in and went 7-6 his first season, but the next season he led the Tide to a 12-0 regular season, with a loss to Florida in the SEC championship game. Nick Saban is a completely different coach than the others, who failed to maintain 10-win seasons.

They are cheering "Bama's Back" once again, but this time they mean it.

Saban Knows College Is Home: There to Stay, for Now

Hank Gray — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 10:07:57 -0500

I recently read an article saying that Nick Saban would most likely jump ship in two to three years. Here is why I disagree.

Nick Saban has been at the University of Alabama for two seasons now, and the "process" he talks about in every press-conference, is not just blabber.

He is steadily rebuilding the football program at Alabama, and will not leave until he gets them back to national prominence. The writer of the article said that Saban's recruits most likely will not have him for their career, but that surely does not affect their decision to play football for the Tide.

In my opinion, I see him staying with the tide for at least five more seasons, but then again. that is just my thoughts. He even stated that college football is his home, and he is very comfortable in Tuscaloosa.

After a bitter NFL struggle in Miami, it is hard to see him leaving Tuscaloosa in the next two to three years.

I am not saying he will retire at Alabama, but I do not believe he is going anywhere soon. I am sure he is on the NFL owners' minds as their target for their next coach. You might say he would not turn down the money they had to offer, but with a four-million dollar contract, Saban probably realizes that he does not need more money to be happy.

Saban deserves to be a hall of fame college football coach, but did not have the best experience in the NFL.

On the other hand, most Alabama fans would not be upset with Saban if he left five years now, as long as he completes his "process."

So far, the process he speaks of has been pretty good to the Tide. He sacrificed his first season with Alabama for the long-term process. He went 6-6 in his first season, following a bowl win, but followed that up with a 12-0 season in his second year. The Tide will play the Utah Utes in the Sugar Bowl in January.

The main thing that will determine how long Saban stays is his success rate. If he gets a championship ring in the next year or two, he might be with Alabama for five more years. If the process takes longer, you might be looking at seven or eight seasons, who knows?

In Tuscaloosa, Saban has earned the name "Dr. Saban", the way he restored the Tide after they were not looking so healthy. When you are sick, the doctor stays by your side until he knows you are healthy. On most occasions, the doctor even wants to stay with you longer to see your success, and make sure you stay that way.

Once you are back to health and he thinks you will be OK for good, he then will let you go.

That is how I view Saban's situation with the Tide. Alabama is beginning to look healthy, but Saban will keep providing medication for the Tide, until he cannot do anything else for the program.

Whenever that is, it be three years to eight years, after that, it should not matter who the Tide's coach is, as long as they do not panic and hire someone of Gene Chizik's caliber.

Auburn fans, feel free to get mad, and Alabama fans enjoy this article.

Bama Football Team Rises, Other Sports Fall: The Reasons Why

Hank Gray — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 09:10:28 -0500

Mal Moore: you either hate him or love him.

If you are an Alabama sports fan, that is.

The University of Alabama has maintained good basketball and baseball teams in the past, but only while the football team was down. I saw it as Mal Moore's fallback to get him out of a potential football crisis.

There have been problems that were not his fault, but most are.

He simply does not focus on all sports.

When he landed Nick Saban, all Tide fans worshiped him. Now that the football team is back, no one really cares about the basketball and baseball teams.

Men's basketball coach Mark Gottfried should have been fired after last season. He is not a bad coach, but it is time for Moore to hire someone that can bring them back to a top 10 team.

While the basketball team is 5-3 as of today, they have yet to show the power they used to possess. With JayMychal Green, a true freshman, the talent is there. The team just is not executing with what they have.

Baseball coach Jim Wells is not getting the job done either. If Mal Moore cared about the baseball team, he could get someone in there that could bring the Tide back to where they once were: competing in the College World Series.

The Crimson Tide went 35-28 overall in 2008, but 16-14 in the conference. Moore looks at the situation and probably says to himself, "Well, at least both teams had winning seasons."

No.

Alabama has potential to be a three-sport program like Florida or LSU. If some attention were directed towards the other two programs, the possibility could be a reality.

The fans at Alabama are more than happy with the football team, but c'mon Mal.

SEC vs Big 12: From Top to Bottom

Hank Gray — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 14:38:13 -0500

SEC Rankings

Western

Alabama
Ole Miss
LSU
Arkansas
Auburn
Miss. St.

Eastern

Florida
Georgia
Vanderbilt
South Carolina
Tennessee
Kentucky

Big 12 rankings

North

Missouri
Nebraska
Kansas
Colorado
Kansas State
Iowa State

South

Oklahoma
Texas
Texas Tech
Oklahoma State
Baylor
Texas A&M

Those are the final conference rankings following the 2008 football season.

The Big 12 and the SEC are the two most dominating conferences in College Football.

The Big 12 is known for its quarterbacks, while the SEC is known for their stingy defense.

The Big 12 has three great football teams: Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas Tech. After that, who else is there?

The power distribution of the two divisions is off by a long shot, where the SEC is balanced. Hm, that sounds a lot like the teams.

Oklahoma has a VERY commanding offense, but you have to realize that when you do not play defense, and you focus all of your time on offense, you better come up with something.

The SEC's top teams play a variety of offense and defense. Florida's Tim Tebow leads a commanding passing team, and Percy Harvin's ability to outrun anyone in college football is amazing.

Alabama plays their own kind of football.

They do not score 60 points a game, but they find a way to win, with the exception of Florida.

They get the ball, lure the defense to sleep, and eat the clock away. They capitalize on big plays, and their defense is ranked among the best.

The Big 12's defense on the other hand, well...

If they did play defense I would talk about that.

People say Oklahoma's defense has stepped it up, that seems a little outlandish to me.

OK, let's match em' up

Florida vs. Oklahoma

This one will be a thriller, but I cannot see Oklahoma winning. Florida's defense is great, and if they can slow down Oklahoma's offense, they are the better team.

Texas vs. Alabama

This would be a great game, and if the BCS was effective, this game would be played, and man, it would be a good one. I see Alabama's defense controlling the game, and the offense would be able to break through against a mediocre defense.

Ole Miss vs. Texas Tech

Now is as good of a chance as ever for Ole Miss to become an elite team. After and emotional win over Florida, they have stepped their game up. I expect Ole Miss to shock the nation with a win over a once- overrated Texas Tech.

Missouri vs. Georgia

A better than average Missouri offense against a struggling Georgia team. The Bulldogs have a good passing game, and a typical SEC defense. I would put my money on Georgia, but consider this game a toss-up.

I honestly believe that Ole Miss could beat any team on the Big 12 North division, and think they could beat the third-sixth ranked teams in the Big 12 South

Since the Big 12 and the SEC seem to dominate every year, it seems like it would be a cool thing to have an SEC all-star team play a Big 12 all-star team, where i think the SEC would win by two scores.

The SEC's defense is too much for the Big 12's offense. And the SEC's offense is too much for the Big 12's poor playing of defense.

Gene Chizik To Be Named Auburn Head Coach

Hank Gray — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 15:40:21 -0500

Gene Chizik, former Iowa State head coach, will be named the head coach of the Auburn Tigers football team on Monday at 2 p.m. (Eastern) at a news conference. He went 5-19 while at Iowa State, and will be departing after only two seasons.

On Saturday, Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard confirmed that Chizik was leaving.

"Gene confirmed for me today that he is accepting the head coaching position at Auburn," he said. "I'm disappointed for our Iowa State fans and student-athletes that he has chosen to leave our program after only two seasons. I understand that it is a dream job for him, but the timing and the way it played out has been hurtful and disappointing. Although this is a significant setback, we will get through the challenge because the Iowa State University athletics program is far greater than one person."

Chizik has reasons for this being his dream job. He was the defensive coordinator at Auburn from 2002-2004. 2004 was the year his defense led the nation in scoring defense with 11.3 points per game. He then went on to Texas to be the co- defensive coordinator for the following two seasons.

He also announced that he has wanted to return to Auburn.

"Through my travels in coaching over the last 23 years, there's one place that I've always wanted to return to and that is Auburn," he said. The tradition of the Auburn football program combined with the passionate fans and their love for Auburn are second to none. My family and I are Auburn through and through, and look forward to being part of the Auburn family and community."

Although unsuccessful at Iowa State, he was not exactly in a good situation. He has yet to prove his head coaching ability, but the Auburn Board of Athletics has faith in him to turn the program around.

Florida's Rebound Vs. Oklahoma's Vicious Offense:NCS Preview

Hank Gray — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:34:17 -0500

The questions have been asked, but no one has any answers.

Can Oklahoma stop Florida's rumbling offense?

How well will Oklahoma's offense do against a powerful defense?

Will Florida's defense keep them in the ballgame?

Every question asked will be answered quickly following kickoff on January 8, 2009.

Oklahoma is a true offensive powerhouse, arguably the best there has ever been. With Bradford in the backfield, Oklahoma seemingly cannot be stopped.

Florida's Brave-heart, Tim Tebow, has proved himself to be one of the greatest leaders football has ever seen. Their offense has not missed a beat since their fall to Ole Miss early in the season.

The most important questions are: Can Florida's defense stop Oklahoma? Experts say no, but with their speed, I think Florida can shock the nation by holding them under 30 points.

The outcome of the game will be determined not by how many points each team can score, but how many points they can limit the other team to. If Florida slows down Oklahoma's offense, they win this game without a doubt.

Although Florida can put points on the board, and can also keep the other team's off, they have not seen an offense quite like OK's. Oklahoma most likely will struggle from the defensive side of the ball. But hey, that might not matter if they can put enough points on the board.

Tim Tebow is a warrior, willing to do anything it takes to better his team. He can affect the defense and the special teams from the sideline, as he did against Alabama.

Sam Bradford is a proved warrior as well, generating the motivation for complete domination. As Tebow does every game, Bradford sacrificed his body in hopes of a touchdown against Oklahoma State.

Predictions will vary on a wide scale. No one knows how each team will compete; therefore the only thing we can do is wait for the game to come around.

Hank's prediction: Florida by 14

The Iron Bowl: Auburn's Reign Quickly Fades

Hank Gray — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:13:26 -0500

There are two universities in the state of Alabama that will be discussed in this article.

The first team is a dominating team that has a reigning past, and has had many obstacles in the past decade. This team known as The Alabama Crimson Tide.

The other team is a one-time national champion, who enjoyed a national championship almost 51 years ago. They have had a decade of outstanding football. This team is known as The Auburn Tigers.

A guy on the radio a few days ago said, "Auburn is like a girlfriend who thinks she's a nine, but really a six. She always thinks she deserves more than what she gets, but doesn't realize that she is not as good as she thinks she is."

It sounds critical, but even a blind squirrel can find a nut every now and again.

The Tigers recently fired head coach Tommy Tuberville, arguably the most successful coach in the Tigers history. Newspapers say he left on his own terms, but the truth is out. He was fired.

Getting to the point, Tuberville was dismissed after one unsuccessful season, because the Board of Athletics at Auburn University believe they deserve someone better, and here they are today, a squirrel in the middle of the road: they don't know what to do.

The truth is that Auburn is not a bad program. They surely are not an elite program such as Florida, Georgia, Alabama, USC, and so on. They never will be an elite school, and are slowly heading down a path that Alabama went on when Dennis Franchione left the Crimson Tide.

The Iron Bowl has been played many times, and Alabama leads by a single-digit margin. Auburn enjoyed a six-win streak, but Alabama has regained their name, and almost any college sports fan will tell you that Alabama has a better program than Auburn.

The Tigers' six-win streak was thrown back in their face this year, as the Crimson Tide defeated them 36-0.

While Alabama is back where they belong, Auburn is drifting back to where they belong. Don't think that Auburn cannot turn things around and become a great program, but it is not likely.

The purpose of this article is not to bash Auburn, or to praise Alabama. It is simply an illustration of the differences in the two programs.

2009 Alabama Recruiting Class: Shaping Up to be Another Strong One

Hank Gray — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 10:48:14 -0500

Alabama landed the top recruiting class of 2008, but what are the chances of this happening twice in a row?

The 5'11'' running back out of Florida has committed to the Tide, and will add on to an already top-notch running game. Alongside Glen Coffee and Mark Ingram, Richardson will most likely not be redshirted his freshman year with the Tide.

The second rated inside-linebacker Nico Johnson has also committed to the Tide, an effective run-stopper who can also get to the quarterback when needed to. He has decent hands for a linebacker, and is an all-around great athlete.

The fifth-rated quarterback out of Saint Paul's Episcopal School, AJ McCarron has given Alabama his word as well. He lacks mobility, but has a cannon. Some experts compare him to Brodie Croyle, only a little less injury-prone.

Alabama had a mountain on the defensive side of the ball in 2008.

In 2009, there will be a five-star mountain named D.J. Fluker at offensive tackle. Weighing in at 325 pounds, he can still wheel off a 4.9/40. This guy is a mountain and can still move.

Rod Woodson, a four-star commit, is a talented DB with some speed, comparable to Javier Arenas.

Michael Bowman has four stars, and is a progressing wide receiver who shined in his senior season in high school.

Alabama has a fifth-ranked recruiting class on Rivals.com, and eighth on Scout.com as of December 10th, but many things could change from here until national signing day for the better or worse. Either way, this recruiting class is shaping up to be a nice one.

Alabama Crimson Tide: This Is Only the Beginning

Hank Gray — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 09:42:06 -0500

It seems there's been some questioning of Alabama's future involving who is leaving, and who is coming in. Every day, people question the quarterback situation, the offensive line, and the defense. Here's my projection of what to watch for in 2009.

The Offense

Greg McElroy will be the starter next year, and his back-up will be Star Jackson. Four-Star recruit A.J. McCarron will most likely red-shirted, depending on how well he learns and adapts to the system. I look for Star Jackson to be used as a weapon for something such as the Wildcat formation.
The running back situation couldn't get any better, with Glen Coffee and Marc Ingram carrying the load, and don't be surprised when five star recruit, Trent Richardson, is not red-shirted and gets some carries as well.
You can not replace an Andre Smith, but with the recruiting mad scientist Nick Saban, you can come pretty close. Antone Caldwell was a big time center as well. These two men will be missed, but don't expect these losses to make too big of a difference.

No matter how the quarterback situation turns out, what is arguably the most talented wide receiver in college football will be ready to go in 2009; his name is Julio Jones. The recruiting mastermind, Nick Saban, will be sure to land a few other wide receivers who could/will make a huge difference. The only receiver leaving is Nikita Stover, who wasn't much of a factor anyway. With a commanding quarterback, the Tide's passing game could give them the offensive spark they've been looking for.

The Defense

With Mount Cody returning, his experience combined with his beastly appearance might help the Crimson Tide to have the most feared rushing defense. Linebacker Rolando Mcclain, who will be returning as a junior has the potential to be the best at his position in the league, alongside Mark Baron, who is shaping up to be among the elite.
Losing Rashad Johnson, the one time walk-on, will affect the tide, but once again, I see Nick Saban finding someone to fit in his spot without problems. Watch out for young players such as Courtney Upshaw, Calvin Lee, and Alonzo Lawrence to step up as key figures to the Tide's success.

Alli Sharrief has shown great improvement since Nick Saban took the throne, and with another off-season of hard work, could develop into a top player. Combine these talented DB's with the mountainous defensive line, and you could have an impressive defense.

Special Teams

With returning kicker Leigh Tiffin, punter P.J. Fitzgerald, and dangerous return man Javier Arenas, the Tide doesen't lose much, and will improve over the off-season.

The Improved Team

The Tide have the tools, work-ethic, and coaches to have a repeated 12-0 season. Half of the players who helped Alabama get their undefeated regular season weren't Nick Saban's. In fact, they were Mike Shula's, who could barely crack the top 25 recruiting classes. Nick Saban's outstanding recruiting ability, combined with elite coaching ability, leaves the Tide with room to do nothing but improve. Kirk Herbstreit said that this is the least talented team that you will see under coach Saban, and look what they have already done. Alabama is back, and looking forward to success in the future.

Alabama Falls to Florida; Restores Pride in Crimson Tide Football

Hank Gray — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 15:05:31 -0500

It was a disappointing feeling when the Tide fell behind by two scores on Saturday. Needless to say, not many people expected the Tide to be ahead in the fourth quarter, or to even be in this game in the first place.

The nine of Alabama's seniors are not the most talented players on the roster, However, they were the first players that bought in to what Saban was trying to coach, and will be remembered for bringing Alabama back to where they belong.

Alabama is scheduled to play against Utah on Jan. 2, at 7:00 p.m. The Crimson Tide has one loss to SEC champion Florida, while Utah will be trying to wrap up an undefeated season against the Crimson Tide.

Alabama has arguably the best rushing defense in the nation, with a strong running game. The question that will determine the outcome of the game: Can Alabama stop the Utah passing attack?

If Utah capitalizes on the big plays, I look to see a close game, but if Alabama plays their kind of defense, there is no doubt that the Sugar Cup will be brought home with the Crimson Tide.

Prediction: Coffee, 137 yards, TD; Ingram 42 yards, 2 TD; Wilson 172 pass yards, TD.

Crimson Tide wins this one, 31-10.