re: What do you expect out of Alabama this year?

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What do you expect out of Alabama this year?

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I truly don't have a very specific expectation. I think the range in possible outcomes is about as wide as we've had in 7-8 years (since 2015, probably).

I think the style we are attempting to play fits well with the talent and experience we have on this team, especially offensively. I think the offensive line is going to be very good and I think our backs are going to be very good. However, the mystery of the QB situation combined with the WR room is enough to muddy the expectations. Can Milroe run the offense without turning the ball over? Can scheme with more motion, easy throws, better tight end room, a real run threat at QB make those possible deficiencies less of an issue? All of that makes me cautiously optimistic about the offense but also understanding that there's a legitimate chance it looks very average at times.

I'm very excited about the defense. DL depth is a bit scary, but I really like the experienced bigs we have up front. Love our edge guys. Excited about Lawson busting out this year and thing that either Campbell or Marshall will be solid at the other ILB spot. Secondary has a chance to be very versatile. Can't wait to watch Downs play. And most of all very excited to see a group that plays fast, without thinking and unmoored by confusion and second guessing, which is the main reason I think Steele is an upgrade for what we do over Pete.

Best Case Scenario - We truly are a great running team that resets the LOS. That leads to teams having to make decisions on bringing up safeties, along with having to always spy Milroe, which then leads to a whole lot of easy throws to single coverage on tight ends/receivers. The offense is both explosive and consistent and Milroe is good enough against good defenses. The defense is consistent, penalties subside and we get better at quick change stuff (where we were dead last in the country last year). Kicking is awesome and nets us an extra 7-10 points per game on average.

Worst Case Scenario - Offensive line is still inconsistent which makes everything crumble around it. Rees' playing calling is erratic without the core ability to run the football. Our defense is very good but not elite up front and our offense can't keep track in games that become somewhat of shootouts. Kicking is awesome and nets us an extra 7-10 points per game on average.


I really do think the pieces are there to be a very, very good football team (in terms of scheme fit with personnel and combination of experience and talent and depth). However, I also think it will require different pieces working together for the whole to be what it needs to be, and there is a real chance one or multiple pieces of that puzzle do not materialize and it sinks the whole thing. A lot of changes in personnel and coaches will do that. It's going to require a lot to click, and with our schedule it has to click pretty quickly.

So I don't know! I'm excited to find out.