Alabama Football: 5 Reasons to Be Optimistic in 2012

The Crimson Tide's schedule has been released for about a week now, and folks are already burying the Tide in the season opener. I'm hearing things like, "Michigan's a top 10 team and the Tide are losing too many people to be a contender next year."

I say (as eloquently as possible), "Whatever, dude." Alabama definitely has a tough schedule next year against seven teams that went to bowls in the 2011 season. (Three opponents could finish in the top 10 this year.)

Tide fans have plenty of reasons to be optimistic about 2012. Here are my top five.

5. Season Opener vs. Michigan in Cowboys Stadium

The season opener for Alabama is most likely going to be nationally televised. Nick Saban will have the Tide ready for this game.

It isn't the season opener we've become accustomed to over the past few years, but it's against a good team that should come into 2012 with a preseason ranking in the top 10.

'Bama has the tools to beat the Wolverines and will enjoy hype somewhat akin to the hype that the 2011 LSU team enjoyed after taking down Oregon. The Wolverines won't enter 2012 ranked in the top five, but they will be ranked highly enough to give 'Bama some love with a win.

Preparation for this game will be injected into every fall practice and probably some spring practices. Give Nick Saban this much prep time and I don't see him losing a season opener.

4. Experience from the Senior Class

Barrett Jones will be returning for his final year at the Capstone, and that gives us great hope. Every senior on this team was a part of the 2009 and 2010 campaigns.

Our 2010 season showed these upperclassmen what happens if you lose focus. It revealed what happens when you walk onto a field expecting to win simply because you're Alabama.

Barrett Jones will be the leader and anchor of this O-line, and he will not let the underclassmen make the same mistakes that were made in 2010. Granted, most of the youthful mistakes in 2010 could be attributed to the defense, but Jones and the other seniors will be doing everything they can to avoid games being dropped in 2012.

'Bama has the tools to contend again next year, and these men will make sure the tools are nice and sharp.

3. No Distractions at Quarterback

In the 2011 season opener, there were two quarterbacks vying for the starting position. That caused them both to play a little too scared under center. There were interceptions and some dropped passes through the game against Kent State.

Don't look for sloppy play against Michigan by the Crimson Tide's quarterback. He has an entire season of starting experience under his belt, and he will have an entire offseason of practicing the deep ball with his receivers.

The defense shouldn't lose so much talent that McCarron can't make up for some blown coverages early in the season.

2. Schedule Isn't Impossible If You Look at It Closely

Obviously, there's plenty of time to prepare for the season opener. The next truly worrisome game will be against Arkansas on September 15th. The game before Arkansas is against Western Kentucky.

The official party line is "complete focus on the next opponent." That may be the case, but there are a LOT of closed practices at 'Bama. I have to believe that some of the Western Kentucky practices will contain some Arkansas subject matter.

The Missouri game at Missouri is a little concerning, but 'Bama will be coming off the bye week going into that game. With two weeks to prepare, Saban will have the Tide ready for the Tigers. (This is one of three games against the feline mascot, by the way.)

We have Tennessee and Mississippi State before the LSU game, and LSU will have a bye before we play them in Baton Rouge. Not the easiest schedule, as it's all SEC opponents. However, it could be much worse than those two teams.

Mississippi State will give us a highly underrated defense on which to hone our offensive arsenal. LSU will be a rough game, and it could be a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup again in 2012. LSU will lose both their quarterbacks from this year, and that's a point in Alabama's favor as well.

Texas A&M is not ready for the likes of 'Bama yet, and neither is Auburn. Plus, both games are in Tuscaloosa. Assuming the Tide don't let their guard down, these should be wins.

1. Kickers

Competition breeds excellence. Adam Griffith is committed to the Tide, and he should arrive for the 2012 season.

The kicker position is one of the most easily-recruited positions. It's very straightforward: How far can this guy kick, and how accurate is he? You can almost recruit these boys from their stat sheets. The issue is that it's the hardest position to predict future success.

The great news for 'Bama is that one of our three kickers should be great. Which one will it be? At the prospect of not being called onto the field anymore, Cade Foster may get that switch flipped in his head that turns him into a Leigh Tiffin. (Who Saban rehabilitated, by the way.)

Then again, maybe it's as simple as Adam Griffith showing up at the Capstone. Maybe he's already got the stone interior required to cast off the noise around him and focus on nothing but making 50-yard field goals look like chip shots.

Who knows? All I know is that the kicking game is likely to turn around next year, no matter who ends up on the field. I have no preference as to who that is.

Roll Tide Roll!