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Better/worse/about the same: 2015 edition
Posted on 5/4/15 at 10:06 pm
Posted on 5/4/15 at 10:06 pm
Article that inspired this thread: LINK
I disagree on us having a better chance in 2016. We lose almost all of our front seven, quarterback (again), running back (again), Kenyan Drake, Cyrus Jones, Geno Smith, Ryan Kelly, and Dominick Jackson (should he start).
quote:
The Alabama offense will take a step back this year. Any offense that loses its starting quarterback, running back, three starting offensive lineman and record breaking wide receiver will take a step back. Even though Alabama is at the top of the recruiting boards year in and year out, those guys were special players who will be hard to replace.
quote:
This year the defense appears to be the stronger of the two units for the Tide. Alabama’s front seven will be a menace to opposing offenses. We saw just how good this unit was last year in the Mississippi State game. The scary part for other teams is this unit is only getting better.
quote:
Overall this team should once again be one of the best in the country. The playoff, though, is unlikely in my opinion. I believe the Tide will post a 10-2 record on the way to an SEC Championship. That will not be good enough for a playoff berth though. I think the SEC gets left out of the playoff this year. There is too much parity in the West for a clear cut team to rise above the rest of the pack, and the East is still a gigantic black hole, no matter the hype around Tennessee this spring. I think Alabama loses to a Mississippi School (probably Mississippi State) and one of the three games versus Arkansas, Wisconsin and Georgia.
There are simply too many questions surrounding important positions for this team to compete for a championship, in my opinion. I believe 2016 represents a more realistic opportunity for Alabama to bring home its 16th national title.
I disagree on us having a better chance in 2016. We lose almost all of our front seven, quarterback (again), running back (again), Kenyan Drake, Cyrus Jones, Geno Smith, Ryan Kelly, and Dominick Jackson (should he start).
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Posted on 5/4/15 at 10:18 pm to chattabama
The last five you listed are easily replaceable.. The big thing in '16 will be our front on defense if that's up to standard we will be in good shape
Posted on 5/4/15 at 10:20 pm to chattabama
quote:
disagree on us having a better chance in 2016. We lose almost all of our front seven, quarterback (again),
In my opinion, the person who winds up being the starting QB this year will be here next year....
As far as RBs, I have no reason to believe that we won't simply reload, enough anyway to be solid at the position.
It really just depends on how well the young guys are playing by the end of next year.
Posted on 5/4/15 at 10:43 pm to Funky Tide 8
quote:
In my opinion, the person who winds up being the starting QB this year will be here next year....
I am hoping for this. I think if Cornwell and Coker are even near equal the job should be given to Cornwell. It's time to have a consistent leader at QB again. I know Coker looked better at A-Day, but Bateman looked better than Sims last year and we all know how that turned out.
Posted on 5/4/15 at 11:11 pm to chattabama
QB: ??? too early to tell
RB: ??? probably worse, but we dont know what Harris will bring. last few times we relied on a freshman RB, it worked out really well.
WR: worse. Coop was just insane. We'll have better balance but not a better WR.
OL: much better. Big Cam and Kelly coming back, and I believe we are upgrading talent at all three other spots.
TE: hopefully better. still waiting on OJ's nuts to drop
FB: worse without fowler
DT: better. gotta believe they'll be a year bigger, stronger, meaner.
DE: better. Allen, Pettway, Tomlinson coming back. D.Hand gonna be in the war party this year too.
OLB: better. Devall, Lee, Anderson coming back. Evans and Williams looking great. Even Miller looking ready.
ILB: better. Rags coming back and Foster finding his way on the field. who wants to run up the middle on this team?
Safeties: worse. No Landon, no bueno.
CBs: better. Brown and Hump looking good. Cyrus returning. Mo Smith might be the best fit at Star we've had in awhile.
Punter: worse. gotta believe all the additional tail he's been getting will throw off his game. but not by much.
Kicker:
PR/KR: please be better than the shitshow Christion Jones put on last year.
RB: ??? probably worse, but we dont know what Harris will bring. last few times we relied on a freshman RB, it worked out really well.
WR: worse. Coop was just insane. We'll have better balance but not a better WR.
OL: much better. Big Cam and Kelly coming back, and I believe we are upgrading talent at all three other spots.
TE: hopefully better. still waiting on OJ's nuts to drop
FB: worse without fowler
DT: better. gotta believe they'll be a year bigger, stronger, meaner.
DE: better. Allen, Pettway, Tomlinson coming back. D.Hand gonna be in the war party this year too.
OLB: better. Devall, Lee, Anderson coming back. Evans and Williams looking great. Even Miller looking ready.
ILB: better. Rags coming back and Foster finding his way on the field. who wants to run up the middle on this team?
Safeties: worse. No Landon, no bueno.
CBs: better. Brown and Hump looking good. Cyrus returning. Mo Smith might be the best fit at Star we've had in awhile.
Punter: worse. gotta believe all the additional tail he's been getting will throw off his game. but not by much.
Kicker:
PR/KR: please be better than the shitshow Christion Jones put on last year.
Posted on 5/4/15 at 11:24 pm to chattabama
Meh we always worry.
I'm going to lean towards as good if not better than 2014, given the improvement our defense is likely to make and the wider range of offensive threats at our disposal.
I'm going to lean towards as good if not better than 2014, given the improvement our defense is likely to make and the wider range of offensive threats at our disposal.
Posted on 5/5/15 at 4:59 am to chattabama
QB: About the same
RB: About the same
WR: I don't even know, losing Cooper isn't something you can marginalize, but we're still stacked with talent.
TE: Better
OL: Better
DL: Better
LB: Better
DB: Better
ST: About the same
After 2010 we lost our QB, starting and Heisman winning RB, record breaking WR, and our Left Tackle and while the offense may not have been as good, it was an all time great team. All the returning experience on D played a big part in that. And would ya look at all that returning experience we have on D this year?
RB: About the same
WR: I don't even know, losing Cooper isn't something you can marginalize, but we're still stacked with talent.
TE: Better
OL: Better
DL: Better
LB: Better
DB: Better
ST: About the same
quote:
The Alabama offense will take a step back this year. Any offense that loses its starting quarterback, running back, three starting offensive lineman and record breaking wide receiver will take a step back.
After 2010 we lost our QB, starting and Heisman winning RB, record breaking WR, and our Left Tackle and while the offense may not have been as good, it was an all time great team. All the returning experience on D played a big part in that. And would ya look at all that returning experience we have on D this year?
Posted on 5/5/15 at 9:00 am to chattabama
By the end of the season, I think we will be about the same as last year.
QB: About the same or slightly worse. I feel like Coker is the starter and a better passer than Sims, but he may not have the legs to get out of tough spots and avoid sacks.
RB: Worse. I was a huge Yeldon fan and Henry has not really done much for me.
WR: Worse. Cooper is irreplaceable, so that is a big downgrade at WR1. Upgrade at WR2. Whether or not Chris Black is an upgrade over Christian Jones remains to be seen.
TE: Better. TFS looked like he could be an outlet better than Vogler was. I don't predict anything for Howard. All world physical traits, but it hasn't come together for him yet.
OL: Better at the end of the year. CRob is putting himself in a position to be a top 5 player in the draft in a few years. Kelly will get his shite pushed in on rushing plays but is a capable pass blocker and good signal caller. Losing Arie hurts more than I thought it would, but the other two were very replaceable. Replacing Leon Brown is addition by subtraction. Sheppard was very average. Dominick Jackson in pass coverage scares me though. I think they come together at the end of the year.
Front 7: Better. They will be nasty. Ragland coming back was a big plus for us.
Secondary: Wash. Losing LC hurts, but I think Geno and Eddie are capable. Corners should improve with anoth year and a better secondary coach.
Our schedule is tougher on the way there though.
QB: About the same or slightly worse. I feel like Coker is the starter and a better passer than Sims, but he may not have the legs to get out of tough spots and avoid sacks.
RB: Worse. I was a huge Yeldon fan and Henry has not really done much for me.
WR: Worse. Cooper is irreplaceable, so that is a big downgrade at WR1. Upgrade at WR2. Whether or not Chris Black is an upgrade over Christian Jones remains to be seen.
TE: Better. TFS looked like he could be an outlet better than Vogler was. I don't predict anything for Howard. All world physical traits, but it hasn't come together for him yet.
OL: Better at the end of the year. CRob is putting himself in a position to be a top 5 player in the draft in a few years. Kelly will get his shite pushed in on rushing plays but is a capable pass blocker and good signal caller. Losing Arie hurts more than I thought it would, but the other two were very replaceable. Replacing Leon Brown is addition by subtraction. Sheppard was very average. Dominick Jackson in pass coverage scares me though. I think they come together at the end of the year.
Front 7: Better. They will be nasty. Ragland coming back was a big plus for us.
Secondary: Wash. Losing LC hurts, but I think Geno and Eddie are capable. Corners should improve with anoth year and a better secondary coach.
Our schedule is tougher on the way there though.
Posted on 5/5/15 at 9:04 am to chattabama
This is sort of a macro view:
My expectations for the defense will be tempered until I actually see us consistently stop people on 3rd & Long. Its been a problem that has been building for a few years and I don't think whatever flaw is responsible will be automatically fixed overnight.
As for the offense, we lost all of that explosiveness and we will not have Sims' legs bail us out of tough situations (WVU, LSU, Miss. State) but people forget that we struggled against some teams and had way too many 3 and Outs at the wrong times. I don't think the Offense will take a huge step back but they'll need to find a rhythm/identity early. Our championship teams had identities. We haven't had a "tough" idendity on offense in 3 years. Kiffin will have to learn to stick with what works and know when to start making the other team's arse quit.
My expectations for the defense will be tempered until I actually see us consistently stop people on 3rd & Long. Its been a problem that has been building for a few years and I don't think whatever flaw is responsible will be automatically fixed overnight.
As for the offense, we lost all of that explosiveness and we will not have Sims' legs bail us out of tough situations (WVU, LSU, Miss. State) but people forget that we struggled against some teams and had way too many 3 and Outs at the wrong times. I don't think the Offense will take a huge step back but they'll need to find a rhythm/identity early. Our championship teams had identities. We haven't had a "tough" idendity on offense in 3 years. Kiffin will have to learn to stick with what works and know when to start making the other team's arse quit.
Posted on 5/5/15 at 10:28 am to chattabama
quote:
Overall this team should once again be one of the best in the country. The playoff, though, is unlikely in my opinion. I believe the Tide will post a 10-2 record on the way to an SEC Championship. That will not be good enough for a playoff berth though. I think the SEC gets left out of the playoff this year.
This wouldn't surprise me at all...I agree that the SEC champ could very well have 2 losses this year. Unless 1 or 2 of the Power 5's do likewise, whoever the SEC champ is could be on the outside lookin' in...
Posted on 5/5/15 at 12:13 pm to chattabama
I disagree on the offense. Yeldon was banged up all season and consider Henry as the primary RB last year so I do not see us replacing a starter there.
If Sims can find success last year we will do it again this year. We may not be any better at QB in the end but I do not see us being worse either.
I was never impressed with those leaving on the OL except Arie played solid all year. I have to believe we will be better by the year end.
Cooper will be missed but we can not rate our WR corps on one player. Overall I think this may end up being our best WR corps under Saban.
I see no step back this year and believe like in 2009 the defense will cause much havoc and allow our offense a lot of time to point up points when needed.
If Sims can find success last year we will do it again this year. We may not be any better at QB in the end but I do not see us being worse either.
I was never impressed with those leaving on the OL except Arie played solid all year. I have to believe we will be better by the year end.
Cooper will be missed but we can not rate our WR corps on one player. Overall I think this may end up being our best WR corps under Saban.
I see no step back this year and believe like in 2009 the defense will cause much havoc and allow our offense a lot of time to point up points when needed.
Posted on 5/5/15 at 12:54 pm to chattabama
About the author:
"Pezgordo
Tim Tolman, aka Pezgordo, is a graduate of Arizona State University and an avid PAC 12 football fan. Pez has been handicapping college football for over 30 years. He lives in Phoenix, Arizona with his beautiful wife Jessie, their 3-year-old-daughter Isabel Anneliese (projected 2033 Stanford graduate and 2035 World Cup participant) and two dogs Maximillian and Natasha. Pez never misses an ASU home game and tries to travel to a few away games each year too. Preferably to Boulder, so he can watch ASU kick Colorado’s arse with his communist/socialist wannabe brother-in-law, who happens to be a CU grad (big surprise). He is an avid hiker and tries to get in a few Grand Canyon treks each year."
Certainly seems like an authority on Alabama/SEC football.
"Pezgordo
Tim Tolman, aka Pezgordo, is a graduate of Arizona State University and an avid PAC 12 football fan. Pez has been handicapping college football for over 30 years. He lives in Phoenix, Arizona with his beautiful wife Jessie, their 3-year-old-daughter Isabel Anneliese (projected 2033 Stanford graduate and 2035 World Cup participant) and two dogs Maximillian and Natasha. Pez never misses an ASU home game and tries to travel to a few away games each year too. Preferably to Boulder, so he can watch ASU kick Colorado’s arse with his communist/socialist wannabe brother-in-law, who happens to be a CU grad (big surprise). He is an avid hiker and tries to get in a few Grand Canyon treks each year."
Certainly seems like an authority on Alabama/SEC football.
Posted on 5/5/15 at 9:34 pm to chattabama
quote:
quote:
Overall this team should once again be one of the best in the country. The playoff, though, is unlikely in my opinion. I believe the Tide will post a 10-2 record on the way to an SEC Championship. That will not be good enough for a playoff berth though. I think the SEC gets left out of the playoff this year. There is too much parity in the West for a clear cut team to rise above the rest of the pack, and the East is still a gigantic black hole, no matter the hype around Tennessee this spring. I think Alabama loses to a Mississippi School (probably Mississippi State) and one of the three games versus Arkansas, Wisconsin and Georgia.
This guys talks about how good the front 7 is yet says Bama will lose to one of the three teams Saban's defense is built to stop. Running teams without good QBs.
Bama will not lose to Arkansas, Georgia or Wisconsin. Texas A&M, Auburn and Tennessee have the best chances to beat Bama this year.
You have to pass the ball to beat Bama.
Posted on 5/5/15 at 10:25 pm to chattabama
quote:
I think the SEC gets left out of the playoff this year.
Since the ACC won't be crap without FSU, pray tell me who then will make up the four teams of the playoffs in the author's opinion?
Posted on 5/6/15 at 8:16 am to East Coast Band
You guys are focused on the talent and the measurables where we should always be near the top under Saban. The problem this year as I see it is the intangibles: complacency, leadership, etc. Saban himself went off on a rant at the Dallas Crimson Caravan about the problems in this area. He said complacency is rampant and the proof is in the pudding. Look at the off season stuff we've had this season we haven't had in the past few years...at least not to this degree. I'm thinking this is 2010 redux: a 10-3 record, no hardware, a Citrus Bowl berth, and everyone saying how we're the best team in the country not in the playoffs when it's all said and done.
Posted on 5/6/15 at 8:34 am to phil4bama
Maybe we need another 2010.
Posted on 5/6/15 at 9:14 am to phil4bama
Complacency from what?
Leadership, sure, maybe.
But what do they have to be complacent from?
Leadership, sure, maybe.
But what do they have to be complacent from?
Posted on 5/6/15 at 10:21 am to East Coast Band
quote:
pray tell me who then will make up the four teams of the playoffs in the author's opinion?
It's not that hard for me to imagine...if the Big 12 has a repeat of last year (which with their round robin schedule wouldn't be surprising), you could have 2 1-loss teams such as Baylor and TCU again. Both of those get in before a 2-loss SEC champ...and then "probably" Ohio State (don't see them having more than 1 loss). If the PAC-12 has a 1-loss champ they'd get in...however, the PAC-12 should be relatively competitive and might have a 2-loss champ as well...but, considering how poorly our top teams did in bowls last year, there's no certainty that a 2-loss SEC champ gets in before a 2-loss PAC-12 champ. While I tend to agree with you 'bout the ACC/FSU, Clemson has a manageable schedule this year and could conceivably finish with only 1 loss. So, while nothing's certain, this writer's premise is by no means outside the realm of possibility.
Posted on 5/6/15 at 12:52 pm to chattabama
Author clearly possesses little knowledge of Bama's true depth at certain positions, that the OL leaving are all replaceable (even Arie K wasn't having the best spring last year) and doesn't even consider the return of Drake or that Yeldon was barely usable at the end of the season.
And then predicting 2016 as being a better chance? Lol ok
And then predicting 2016 as being a better chance? Lol ok
Posted on 5/6/15 at 2:48 pm to CapstoneGrad06
Having a good offense like this past season would be nice...but it's not necessary if our D would stand up and run shite like they had been doing the previous few years.
This post was edited on 5/6/15 at 3:04 pm
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