re: So if Alabama 'murderball' is the best way to win, why did they get away from it?

quote:

---

But I'd say on the doubting himself meter, Saban's higher than he's been since you lost to that non power 5 team in his first year. Not to say that it's extreme doubt, but I do think he's less sure of what the right move is relatively speaking.

---

This year certainly has the biggest variance in possible outcome of any we've had since 2014 and maybe since 2008.

We have great players, great depth and I think still a pretty solid staff. I like the overall theme of the coaching changes on both sides. There is also a chance that the QB situation never materializes, Rees is a schizophrenic OC and Steele's defenses aren't complex enough (and the DL isn't good enough up the middle) to stop really good offenses (of which we'll play a bunch).

We could be extremely good this season, but we could also be clunky and lose 3-4 games if a lot of the variables go sour because of the difficulty of the schedule. And I don't think anyone truly knows which why it will go.

So basically, we're like a lot of teams between #5-15 or so most years (but with a higher upside). If things go right we can win a national title. If things go wrong we could go to the Outback Bowl. Something in the middle and we probably are a fringe Top 10 team.