re: Alabama and LSU next year outlook

Not sure why everyone assumes that Bama has a huge dropoff next year. On offense, the two most important position/groups (QB & OLine) should be strengths. (Assuming BJones returns). RB won't have the incendiary player like Trent, but LSU seems to have done pretty well with a solid committee.

On D, the biggest hole in my mind is replacing Josh Chapman. If Saban finds another big plugger for the middle (Ivory? move Jesse inside?), the front 7 looks premier again. An ILB duo of CJ & Nico are by far the best in the conference. And the depth of talent at the OLB position that BAma has stockpiled, the LB corps as a whole should be a major strength. The secondary will have to replace Menzie and Swagpatrick, but the safety tandem of Lester and Ha Ha, along with Milliner & Fulton should be solid.