12 predictions for 2012: Offense

Twelve predictions for the Alabama offense this season:

Big things are expected from Cooper.

1.] AJ McCarron won’t pass for as many yards as Greg McElroy (2,987) did in 2010, but his team will win more than 10 games. If McCarron goes bowling in Florida this season, it won’t be in Orlando.

2.] Amari Cooper won’t eclipse Julio Jones’ UA freshman single-season receptions record of 58 grabs. Some of that will have to do with McCarron having more quality options to go to, something the 2008 passing game didn’t have.

3.] Barrett Jones will become a first-team All-SEC selection at three different positions (guard, tackle and center). He'll also add another Outland Trophy to his resume, joining former Nebraska center Dave Rimington as one of two players to win the award twice. Ironically, Jones is a favorite to win the award named for Rimington, which annually goes to college football's top snapper.

4.] Alabama won’t have a tight end catch 30 passes this season but Jalston Fowler will help bridge the gap in the passing game.

5.] T.J. Yeldon will rush for more yards as a true freshman than Trent Richardson (751) did in 2009.

6.] He may not begin the season as the long guy, but true freshman Adam Griffith will attempt a field goal at some point during the 2012 season. Three Alabama kickers will see action in 2012.

7.] With Cooper, Kevin Norwood, Christion Jones and Kenny Bell at the top of the wide receiver rotation, Alabama’s yards per catch average will improve considerably over what it was a season ago (11.8 ypc). And yards after the catch will have a lot to do with it.

8.] McCarron and Norwood won’t torch Tyrann Mathieu.

9.] Eddie Lacy won’t rush for 1,500 yards, but the Alabama offense will exceed 2,700 yards on the ground for the third time in four seasons.

10.] With Alabama playing with manageable leads most weeks, the second half of Crimson Tide games will take about as much time to complete as a 100-meter final featuring Usain Bolt.

11.] Fowler will line up at fullback against Michigan, which will result in my twitter timeline being filled with Tarrant Lynch comparisons.

12.] McCarron will wear a black, non-contact jersey to class.