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Looking ahead to 2012

  • Looking back at the talent Alabama has assembled and had come and go over the past 4 years we could say that aside from a few injuries and coaching breakdowns last year and the dramatic play of Tebow/not stopping UF on 3rd and long at key times in 2008 SECCG...this team could have easily played for/won 4 straight BCSCGs. So, thinking Bama will be in a rebuilding period next year is a vast mistake. This is a reloading team. While Bama is losing a good bit of experience and leadership this year. Most openings are being replaced with guys with a higher talent ceiling and still some experience. This years team only had the challenge of controlling their effort and breaking in a new QB on their way to the NCG. In 2012 the offense should be in good shape.

    On Offense we will have a deep core of WRs with a wider array of ability than we have had since CNS got here. RB could be much like LSU was this year as we will platoon 4 very talented guys at that position. O line should be the best in the Nation and the way CK is rehabbing we are fine across the line. Key areas to replace...of course replacing TR is a key and Lacy can handle a bulk of the carries but I think we platoon our guys a lot and have a real diverse rushing attack. Finding that guy to play Smelley's role...we have guys to do it but BS was as solid a TE/HB as we have had in a long time. I truly think next years O could eclipse the 40 ppg mark.

    On D...NT is the spot of concern. We need BI to really come on. Just so we can have JW, ES, QD and DS as the core and BI to spell JW. Add in Fanning and Pagan and that's a pass rushing nightmare.

    at LB it doesn't get much deeper than this position. The only thing left here will be where the new guys find a spot.

    DB's, @ S, Vinny, Lester, Haha...lots of flexibility here. CB Milliner and Dixon along with Foulton. Williams and Perry need to step up.

    Freshmen expected to compete...Collins, Williams, Yeldon, Anderson, Ragland, Cooper and Jones.

    Looking at what we have on hand and coming in...Its hard to see this team not in the hunt to repeat. LSU or USC seem to be the favorites right now...I am not so sure LSU isn't about to go into a season like Bama had in 2010...high expectations and won't meet them. LSU's reason for not meeting them won't be the same. They will have an easier schedule but they had their soul taken in the BCSNCG. USC has the O to be in there but their D needs work especially behind their LB corp. They just aren't a complete team. I think we have a prime chance to fly under the radar early and develop. Michigan will provide the early test that we need to get the guys attention. I could see a run like 2009 and this team is very similarly built. The talent level is much higher now than then. Our biggest key will be the young guys developing a toughness and standard of effort on D. They have seen the best now they know the level they need to strive for. Next year is gonna be fun.

    This post was edited by helenatider on 1/12/2012 at 7:24 PM

    helenatider

  • With the O line we are going to have and the recievers, and the running backs, Bama might average 50PPM a game vs. 40. If AJ grows and develops as much next season as he did this season from the beginning to the end of the season, only injuries will stop the offense. I don't think any defense will. Saban strategy might be to just keep the ball and keep the D off the field until they grow up and mature. Or more like the Pro game today. If your D is just average, or in our case young, just outscore everyone like New England does. Could be a different type team until the D grows up, but the talent is clearly there and only getting better with each class. Each year I say Coach Saban can't possibly do this again there is already too much talent on campus, and every year he just improves all parts of the team. This train just rolls on faster and faster.

    Bama_joe


  • There is now an established culture and a level of expectation that is known for the 2012 squad. This kills the concern that maybe there would be a repeat of 2010. Not gonna happen.

    Seabreeze2

  • My theme for the next few months:

    You just don't replace the guys we are going to have to replace and expect to take up where you left off. We will be really good again, but I think it's imperative that we understand just because they have 5* by their name doesn't mean they are going to posess the intangibles that the Hightowers, Upshaws, Chapmans, and Barrons of the world.

    Outside of the intangibles, I have no doubt we will be a little hamstrung in what we can do on defense. We have to find a third corner and as of right now Vinnie is the other starting safety. I know folks will pencil in Ha-Ha, Jarrick Williams, Nick Perry, or Landon Collins ahead of Vinnie, but what little I have seen he is head and shoulders above them mentally.

    It's the B.J. Scott rule - we will always play the guy that does it right more than the guy that does pretty

    deaux68 ●

  • deaux68 said...

    My theme for the next few months:

    You just don't replace the guys we are going to have to replace and expect to take up where you left off. We will be really good again, but I think it's imperative that we understand just because they have 5* by their name doesn't mean they are going to posess the intangibles that the Hightowers, Upshaws, Chapmans, and Barrons of the world.

    Outside of the intangibles, I have no doubt we will be a little hamstrung in what we can do on defense. We have to find a third corner and as of right now Vinnie is the other starting safety. I know folks will pencil in Ha-Ha, Jarrick Williams, Nick Perry, or Landon Collins ahead of Vinnie, but what little I have seen he is head and shoulders above them mentally.

    It's the B.J. Scott rule - we will always play the guy that does it right more than the guy that does pretty

    Our only limitation on D next year will be what each guy can absorb mentally and put into their playbook. As far as the DB's, Vinnie is gonna be on the field. He is so far ahead of the rest that its not fair. I was told he came in with as much knowledge as a 3rd or 4th year guy but couldn't play with those instincts all the time. I think he will next season. Foulton, HaHa, Williams, Perry and Collins will all have to find their spots. I think the fight between HaHa and Vinnie could be strong. Collins is going to come in ready as well. 2012 these guys are gonna have a nice learning curve...but I am looking at 2013 and this D is going to be sick all across the board.

    If we can get these guys to sharpen up their curve as far as grasping the D. Thats the key. We do that and make a run and win the NCthis year and...well 2013 this D is going to be sick...This could be an epic run and were just starting.

    This post was edited by helenatider on 1/12/2012 at 10:21 PM

    helenatider

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    hubcitytider

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    thrill2k1

  • bamabiscuit ●

  • Nice post, +1.

    Our team is going to be in great shape in 2012 to repeat as BCSNC.

    Our offense is going to be POWERFUL. That O-Line is going to move mountains come next year. AJ has arrived, he is highly experienced now, knows what it takes to win the big one, and is a great passer. He is head and shoulders above many NC QBs that we have had in the past. I do not want to compare him to Namath, but for some reason Namath sticks out in my mind when I think of AJ's potential and style. Running back will be fine. Having T.J. will be very helpful, and he is an early enrolee who will get a chance in the spring to get in the fight.

    Our D will not be as strong, but will be strong and the offense may help them out as opposed to the D helping the O like this year. Looking at the Jucos coming in they have a great chance like Menzie did to fall right into place. Collins, could show up this summer and could contribute early as well. I think LBs will be fine, especially with C.J., DePriest (Love that guy, smart), Jesse Williams on the line. Other incoming freshman could contribute as well as the season begins.

    Buttom line is we are preranked #3 by one sporting agency. That is just one indicator that we have the returning talent, and the incoming recruiting class is not even considered but will be huge with making the team better.

    So, I think we can only hurt ourselves mentally/emotionally like we did after Pasadena. We lost games that year which we were not supposed to lose. I think it was about entitlement, resting on the fact we already won one NC mindset, which played into overall performance on the field. Plus, leaders did not step up to keep the team focused.

    I think this team, for this coming up season has to focus on making up for what happened after Pasadena, and focus on "finshing" the season like they should. I think that should be the right mindset. Let's go out and prove we can win back-to-back NCs and set ourselves apart like that. It will be our lack of passion, mind set/focus, that will deter us from another title. I don't think it will be injuries, or another better team (There will not be one) out there who can beat us.

    RTR

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    “Although our intellect always longs for clarity and certainty, our nature often finds uncertainty fascinating.” Karl von Clausewitz

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