Fight On, Fight On, Fight On, Men. You're Bama's Football Pride, Roll Tide!

It is time for the Crimson Tide to turn it up a notch.

Alabama will walk into Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium/Hollingsworth field ready for the Rebels. It doesn't matter what Houston Nutt has up his sleeve, his athletes will not be able to pull off the win over this star-studded bunch.

In fact, one can honestly say that at this point in the season, no one is playing better. That includes Florida, with or without Tebow, Texas with McCoy, Bradford-less Oklahoma, Miami, LSU, Virginia Tech, USC, and all the other 4-1 teams.

They aren't flying under any one's radar, they are soaring over all the other teams with a class of football new to Alabama fans and taking other teams totally by surprise. No one has tested them this year and this weekend will be no different.

McElwain has installed an offense that is like no other in the SEC or elsewhere in the country, and we haven't even seen but a small sample of the installation. They are about to get revved up and the Rebels won't be ready.

Over the past three years, Saban and Company have built this team into their kind of team. They have developed play makers on both sides of the ball and at every position.

Let's get a look at what is happening on offense in 2009.

Multiple Sets

Two years ago, people were wondering why youthful sensation Major Applewhite (Opie) left coaching at Alabama as offensive coordinator to return to his alma mater for a downgraded position (QB coach). In retrospect, we couldn't have hoped for anything more significant to put us on track.

Enter the bright mind of Jim McElwain. From Michigan State, to Louisville, into the NFL, and back to college at Fresno State, McElwain has garnered a reputation as one of he best offensive minds in college or pro football ranks.

The pistol formation, wing T/wildcat, spread, shotgun, I-formation, ready, set, hutt, hutt—he has it all installed and ready for action. We still haven't seen the best of what this offense is set up to do, but we have reached the half way point of the season and the stretch run is here. It is time to roll.

Greg McElroy is just the guy to take the lead on this team, implement what they have installed, and put it on the field.

In addition to his fabulous skill set that allows him to ably set this offense into motion, the young Texan is a full-out class act from Southlake Carroll high school who was patient enough to wait his turn in high school and college.

Right now, he stands at 21-0 as a starter, has a 5-A Texas state championship notched on his belt, and is poised to take the SEC West and vie for the SEC title. Win that and the national championship is next.

Leadership at QB

McElroy has already passed for over 1,000 yards this season, is 78-of-119 attempts, and has thrown for nine TD against one INT. His passer rating is 165.5 at the writing of this treatise and will surely improve after this weekend.

The Alabama starting QB has the highest completion percentage in the league. He will scorch the Rebel secondary.

The Ole Miss defense has not seen an offense this good and they will not be able to hold back the Crimson Tsunami coming their way.

In addition, he knows how to motivate his line. After freshman RB Trent Richardson nearly got pinned for a safety in the contest against the Wildcats last weekend, while the play was being reviewed by the officials, McElroy could be seen chewing out the offensive line for poor protection and sloppy play. The result: a 97-yard march to the end zone.

Stellar Backfield

Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson have combined for 810 yards on 135 carries for an average of 5.9 yd/carry and account for 10 rushing touchdowns. Grant and Upchurch kick in another 52 carries, 301 yards, and four touchdowns. This is the deepest and best backfield in the nation. They deliver punishment for a full 60 minutes.

Balanced Passing Attack

Moreover, Ingram is tied with Colin Peek, who is leading the receivers with 14 catches, 147 yards and three TD. Peek has gained 160 yards on as many catches and scored once.

Julio Jones has yet to be a factor beyond the Virginia Tech game. He has missed two complete games (two plays in the North Texas game) and has yet to hit his stride.

Against Arkansas, Julio scored his first TD of the season. That was an intentional play designed to let the star receiver know that this offense wants him as a participant and will need him to be a play maker in this stretch run.

During Julio's recovery period, four receivers have stepped up and kept the passing game front and center of this offensive attack. Marquis Maze, Darius Hanks, Mike McCoy, and Earl Alexander have hauled in 29 receptions for a combined 544 yards.

Brandon Gibson and Michael Bowman have contributed as well. TEs Brad Smelley and Prestion Dial and RBs Richardson, Upchurch, and Grant have caught passes for positive yards as well. Kevin Norwood is waiting in the wings to make a contribution to the multiple set, high octane aerial attack.

Excellent Offensive Line Play

The offensive line play in 2009 has exceeded all expectations. McElroy took some hits in the Virginia Tech game—particularly the first half—but since then, the five men up front have owned the line of scrimmage.

Against VT, McElroy was sacked twice but pressured constantly in the first half. In the second half, pressures were fewer and he was not sacked.

In the four games that followed, he has been sacked only three times and pass protection has been very good.

On individual plays, the O-Line can look average, but when the game is over, their body of work shows them to be exceptional at pass blocking and getting downfield to clear a path for the rushing game.

James Carpenter (6'5", 300 lbs.), the junior college transfer, has stepped into the shoes of All-American Andre Smith and Alabama fans have seen him work just as hard at protection.

It is as if an All-American is still at left tackle, and that may yet prove to be the case at season's end, when the honors are collected.

Carpenter's speed and quickness allow for a more elegant offensive attack in the running game. He is frequently used to move from left to right and lead the rusher through the first line to the strong side linebacker, providing the block to get the runner untouched into the secondary. It's a beautiful thing to watch in motion.

Senior Mike Johnson has provided great leadership to this group. At 6'5", 303 lbs., this mass of humanity at offensive guard handles the opposition like yesterday's trash.

Fellow senior Drew Davis is a workman. Standing at 6'7" and weighing 306 lbs., the right tackle can move any defender in his path.

When the ball goes off right tackle, RS freshman Barrett Jones and TE Preston Dial move in sync with Davis to clear the path. These men, along with center William Vlachos, present 1,122 lbs. of mass to the opposition.

The men in Crimson are ready for the stretch.

The Defense

Man, there is no time to discuss the defense right now. They are the heart and soul of this team and are worthy of a separate treatment, soon to come.

What Can the Opposition Do?

There is nothing for the Rebels to do except get ready for a beating—you know, like the kind you hated in high school. You were caught dead, guilty of wrongdoing, and the assistant principal had your name. You were summoned to the office and presented with the facts. No disputing the facts; time to take your licks.

Rebels, you have been summoned. You have been found lacking against this bunch. Don't flinch and you will only have to take two licks. If you flinch, you will suffer more punishment.

It's on

Florida and LSU: We will see who rises to the top after your face-to-face meeting.

The west is hoping for an upset, LSU, but you might have Gator chomp marks on your backside by the end of the day. Live up to your chant and make the Gators tiger bait.

Your fans had better raise the decibel level and make that place rock for the home team. If you don't take care of Florida this weekend, they will likely roll into the SEC title game undefeated.

From the SEC to the Rose Bowl for a national championship bid, this weekend is big.

"Fight on, Fight on, Fight on, Men, remember the Rose Bowl, We'll win then. So Roll onto victory, hit your stride, you're Bama's football pride, Crimson Tide, Roll Tide, Roll Tide."