Alabama Football's Fight: For the Crimson Tide, It's Survival Time

One of the more memorable lines in a movie for me was during Apollo 13 when flight director Gene Kranz played by Ed Harris in the midst of overwhelming avalanche of bad news asked his engineers, "What do we have that's good."  

I picture the Vanderbilt coach asking himself that every week but for Nick Saban it has probably been a while. 

Though the world seems to have caved in on the Crimson Tide this week I don't think its a huge surprise to Nick.  He was likely hoping that his team could improve fast enough to avoid the crash and burn we all witnessed last Saturday night, but it was not to be.  

So Alabama is no longer the class of the nation, the SEC, or even the western conference.  They have multiple undefeated teams remaining on the schedule.

The list of problems is extensive:

True Freshman starting at linebacker and corner

A walkon still playing significant snaps at safety

Julio Jones has a broken hand

Courtney Upshaw banged up again

Starting Tackle DJ Fluker injured and out

Defensive line ineffective at the pass rush

No consistency at linebacker due to injuries and constant movement

The deep passing game has disappeared.

Vast SEC scheduling conspiracy provides every team a week off before playing them.

So What does Alabama have that still good?

Quarterback:

Alabama needed Greg McElroy to be an NFL quarterback against South Carolina and unfortunately he fell short. McElroy threw for a lot of yards but he held the ball way too long and didn't look for his check downs.  The results were a bunch of sacks and long yardage.  McElroy needs to go back to playing within himself, this is correctable. 

Greg McElroy is a proven winner at Quarterback.  Lots of teams would trade theirs for ours any day. He struggled midseason last year and worked his way out of it.  He should be able to do that again.

Running Backs: 

Alabama still has two of the best.  They have been limited and shut down the last two weeks, but if Alabama can make a hole they will find it and gash the defense.  Don't you miss the good old days?  Hopefully Alabama will get back to that this week since Ole Miss Defensive Tackle Jarrell Powe seems to need a reminder.

Alfred McCullough:

Alfred isn't the physical freak that DJ Fluker is but he's built like a tank and is pretty athletic for an offensive lineman.  He started as a defensive lineman and converted.  He has played situationally all year and is the best of the backup lineman.  He may not dominate as a run blocker like Fluker sometimes did but his pass blocking should be adequate until Fluker gets healthy.

Offensive Line:

Overall the blocking both run and passing has been good.  The meager running game the last two weeks and sacks were mostly the fault of others and the game situation. 

Tight End: 

Alabama probably didn't utilize Michael Williams and Preston Dial nearly as much as they should have against South Carolina.  I question why we used a linebacker as a receiver on the fake field goal when Williams does this sort of thing every day.  

Darius Hanks:

Hanks has really been our most consistent receiver.  He's not been targeted as much but perhaps he should have been.  He will get his chance with Julio Injured.

Kevin Norwood:

One of the most athletic plays I've seen all year was by wideout Kevin Norwood.  He's a young receiver who may be rough around the edges,  but Alabama needs someone to make a difference in the secondary and he may have the talent.  It's time to find out what he can do. 

Marcel Dareus:

He's been up and down some but he's still a major load to deal with.  If Alabama could get him some help,  ANY help,  it could totally change the defense.  On the one occasion that he had a healthy Coutney Upshaw opposite him the line dominated Florida.  

It may be time to try linebacker Dante Hightower at defensive end.   With the development of Nico Johnson and CJ Mosley at middle linebacker it could be an opportunity to allow Dante to help a position that has really struggled this year. 

Linebackers:

Yea these guys have had a bad year,  but their is still a lot of talent there.  They have moved around so much they are probably more confused now than they were in the beginning,  but if Alabama can settle and stay healthy they could improve dramatically.

Alabama is facing some adversity that they haven't seen in a while.  In the case of the odd scheduling quirk that has all their SEC opponents facing them after an off week, it's an adversity no team has ever faced.  The ship may be full of holes but she's far from sunk. 

I didn't list any defensive backs as something that works because clearly they collectively don't.  But the secondary is loaded with raw talent and they are playing their hearts out.   This was a process Alabama was unfortunately going to have to endure when so many regulars left the program at once.

The coaches need to find new ways to take what works and make it work better.   The players need to bring a new attitude, a reckless one to the defense and the offense needs to be more aggressive in all phases.  Alabama can still win their way back to Atlanta. They have the talent to do it, but can they put it together in time?