Crimson Red Sports

Everyone thinks they have all the answers and reasons for why their team will win each year. But for me, it’s all about being objective and offering you my reasons why your team will excel and why it won’t.

It’s a gift and curse, really.

Well, I'm taking a page out of ACC blogger Heather Dinich's book and looking at one good reason why each team in the SEC will win and why each won't.

Some teams will give their fan bases more hope to make 2012 a pretty darn good year, while some might have their followers a little more worried.

Let's begin things with the defending champs:

Yes, All-World running back Trent Richardson is gone, but that doesn't mean that the Crimson Tide offense won't be as intimidating. In fact, it might be more balanced and more explosive without him in the lineup. Quarterback AJ McCarron is a year older and the coaches hope wiser. Coach Nick Saban really does want to let him loose. He wants to see more of a downfield passing game and he knows that McCarron has the talent to do all that and more for Alabama. The question is if he can get over some of the silly mistakes he tends to make by trying to press and do too much.

Regardless, an older, more experienced McCarron is a good thing for the Tide. He'll be equipped with some younger receivers, but the coaches expect to get more home run power out of them, starting with the true freshmen from this year's recruiting class. Chris Black and Amari Cooper both enrolled early this spring and showed off solid playmaking ability. The thought is that they'll open things up more in the passing game and spread the field more for McCarron. Also, highly-touted incoming freshman Eddie Williams will get his chance at wide receiver. Sophomore DeAndrew White could be a big-time deep threat with all that speed he possesses. Also, tight end Michael Williams can really be a beast on the field. The coaches are expecting even more from him this fall.

Alabama wins with defense. We lost our 6 best defensive players, including 3 LB's & 3 DB's. Hard to replace 2 and 3 year starters with someone from special teams or high school. I just can't see us overcoming such losses.
 :tinfoil:

Come on, MD.  You're just sandbagging.  How many times last year did you hear we're a year away?
You know we'll be good enough; among the best defenses in the nation.  If our offense performs as it should, we'll have a chance to repeat.  Even a loss at LSU shouldn't drop us out of the top 4, assuming we win the rest. (http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg201/Chechem_2008/dancingelephant.gif)

Aren't we still in the BCS format this year?  :-\

Bama doesn't rebuild each year, they just reload. :clap:

J, doesn't it feel good to say that again after all these years?  :popcorn2:

I wanted to give up on Bama more than once during the Fab 3 years, Francione, Price, and Shula, but I just couldn't. That was as low as I have ever been on thinking things would ever change for the better again.
Yes it does feel good and I hope I never have that bad feeling ever again.

Come on, MD.  You're just sandbagging.  How many times last year did you hear we're a year away?
You know we'll be good enough; among the best defenses in the nation.  If our offense performs as it should, we'll have a chance to repeat.  Even a loss at LSU shouldn't drop us out of the top 4, assuming we win the rest. (http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg201/Chechem_2008/dancingelephant.gif)

I remember that sick feeling I had after Vandy beat us 14-10 in 1969.  It's been a long time now since I was that disappointed.  Hopefully it'll be a long time ahead.

...

I remember that as well and you're right it was a bummer, but I never lost faith in Bear as a lot of them did. There were a lot of folks ready to replace Bear then, even as good as he was.

We've got a lot of fans that are so called big fans until Bama loses one and then just sit back and listen to the naysayers.

I remember that sick feeling I had after Vandy beat us 14-10 in 1969.  It's been a long time now since I was that disappointed.  Hopefully it'll be a long time ahead.

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Wow, talk about bringing back memories. I was a young teenager and I remember listening to the game on the radio. Scott Hunter stunk the stadium up that day and could not complete a pass. I remember hearing an Auburn fan making a joke about it in a store. He said Hunter tried to throw his helmet on the ground but missed it. Ouch.

This may not be precisely on topic but I'm excited!  Anyone know when fall camp opens in T-town?

I was in school at Alabama then.  Vandy won with short passes and making the fewest mistakes.  The game was just 2 weeks after we beat USM 63-14 (and a B'ham sportswriter declared that we'd win the NC), and just a week after the most-exciting game Bama played in years (33-32 against Ole Miss).  Vandy caught us FLAT.

I was sick.

Alabama wins with defense. We lost our 6 best defensive players, including 3 LB's & 3 DB's. Hard to replace 2 and 3 year starters with someone from special teams or high school. I just can't see us overcoming such losses.



 :tinfoil: