Bama in a much stronger roster position to start 2016

15-0. Screenshot me saying this and watch me be right. This team will be one of Saban's best. RTR!

Every year for a few years now we've all said "Bama will have three losses this year, they've lost too much."

Honestly Bama will stay dominant. Saban has pretty much proved that he's plugging and playing right now. The thing is Bama's schedule really does not favor them this year. Tennessee, LSU, and Arkansas will all be much improved, and they play all of them away (with the addition of Ole Miss away as well who seems to be finding a way to get it done against them recently). While I believe Alabama will stay just as dominant, will they be able to handle a tougher schedule than last year? I feel that if Ole Miss and Tenn can force Bama into a shootout they'll be able to win. The same goes for LSU but our ability to even gameplan to go for a shootout seems doubtful at the moment.

That being said the game has come down to the wire the past few times in Tiger Stadium. Even Miles's worst two teams ever took eventual Division winner Bama teams into OT (08 and 14). And the '12 team went down to the last minute.
So the question really isn't if Bama will be worse because I don't think they will. But can any of their four hardest opponents all take advantage of an improved team and home field advantage to rise to Bama's level?

We will see.

But can they take care of business in Oxford?

quote:

---

But can they take care of business in Oxford?

---

Doesn't matter, does it?

quote:

---

Bookmarked. This bama team pales in comparison to 2011/12, and those teams didn't go undefeated. The chance their 2016 team does, with a new QB and RB, is extremely low.

---

Its all about the line play baw

On the road at OM/LSU will be no easy task this year, I feel TN time is due soon too to be honest. Will be a fun season as usual I'm sure ??

quote:

---

This bama team pales in comparison to 2011/12

---

I think this team has a chance to be as good as any team Saban has had.

Doesn't mean they will, they could be like 2010. But the balance of talent across the board on both sides of the ball + experience at different levels is more than we have ever had.

quote:

---

Going forward you can say that about any team we will have barring some glaring recruiting issue or kicking a bunch of people off the team, massive spring/fall camp injuries, etc.

---

I think this one specifically. We return an elite talent, experienced group on the DL and secondary. We return a full time starter leader at LB and others who have played.

On offense, we return a chunk of the OL, all of our pass catching options (including 2 additions in Foster and Bowling Green whitey) and have what should (could) be two very talented young kids at RB and QB, positions we have had guys perform well in pretty much every year the last decade.

I think we should be more explosive on offense than we have been in a long while (with more options) and just as good on defense (a small drop off on the DL, but better secondary play).

However, as we all know, you never know. 2010 had similar feelings and they are the only Saban team to lose more than 1 game in the regular season since 2008.

I'm not completely sold on Foster's ability to call the game like Ragland/Moseley, etc, I need to wait and see. Also curious about the secondary regarding second safety spot and what we do with Minkah/final corner position - really wish Tony Brown was reliable or else we would be totally set.

WR is stacked, RB I never worry about (in any year) and QB i just can't pretend to know who it will be or how well they will play, but the past two years have been fine with me so I'm not too worried and I think Kiffin is one of the best coaches you could have for qb development.

For the OL, we had some problems last year, especially early and we need to replace Ryan Kelly. I know they got voted #1 but they were not to the level of 09/11/12 in my opinion and I still kind of view it as a bit of a question going in (as an entire unit).

and 2010 is a great point, although we got boned by injuries that year. I don't think we will come out and be dominant like 2011, but similar to the last couple years if we can get clicking and get on a role who knows what the team can do.

quote:

---

I'm not completely sold on Foster's ability to call the game like Ragland/Moseley, etc, I need to wait and see

---

I'm curious to see the difference with Pruitt. I think the spring moves of Evans to MLB are really interesting (and I like it a lot).

quote:

---

Also curious about the secondary regarding second safety spot and what we do with Minkah/final corner position - really wish Tony Brown was reliable or else we would be totally set.

---

If the light turns on for Tony Brown then goodness. Our secondary is so fast, physical and now experienced.

quote:

---

For the OL, we had some problems last year, especially early and we need to replace Ryan Kelly. I know they got voted #1 but they were not to the level of 09/11/12 in my opinion and I still kind of view it as a bit of a question going in (as an entire unit).

---

100% agree. Our OL last year was average for the first 2/3 of the year. They were a lot better post-bye week, but they were not great. However, like the other positions, I feel like we have really really solid, talented and experienced depth there. Agree about replacing Kelly - that is a big key.