Crimson Red Sports

What are your major concerns for this year?  Where do you think Bama needs the most improvement from last year?

This a question at this time fits well. (1) Special teams (2) DB's because what they are charged with in duties. I am a firm believer, always have been, that the intangibles win or lose a game. RTR!

OL and DBs.  They were weaknesses last year that did not get much better as the season progressed.  If the OL struggles again this year I don't think we'll be in the playoff.

I think the DBs will be okay this year.  Our stronger DL will certainly help, but injuries decimated the DBs last year, and we never recovered.  

Could the O-line be worse than last year?  No.

Concerns:

1. QB.

2. Injuries in O-line (cannot predict it; ask UGA).

3. Punting (youth and punting make a scary pair).

Defensive line... Our pass rush has got to be better than last year for sure

#1 Concern is QB. 

Will Bama have a QB who can keep the D from stacking the box?

My biggest concern is the mental attitude of the players. When Bama finished the season last year their mental attitude had hit rock bottom and it showed on and off the field. This season has already had some disciplinary action with suspensions and these are the kind of distractions that I thought ruined the team last year. When you have suspensions and add injuries to that, it really tests the attitude of the players. CNS has been preaching since the bowl game that the team needs more and better leadership this year and we will soon see what is in store for us this season.

Well said Jamos and I fully agree! I do think we have some guys stepping up in that leadership role and should be better than last year. i feel they still have a ways to go and we'll have to see how they handle early success, but I've been very encouraged by some of the reports and Nicks PC's.

Dead on, J. What I see different about this team is the hunger. Can they keep it all year? That remains to be seen, but I certainly hope they do. I hope the "D" doesn't have to carry the "O" and I hope the "O" doesn't have to carry the "D". Balance would be a great thing.

I think leadership can come from DePriest and Collins on defense and Cooper and Yeldon on offense, they just need to assert themselves into these positions.  Too many times people think leadership must come from the seniors.  I think the O line  coming together is the first place Bama must improve.   This can be aided by using backs to hekp certain linemen against certain player like didn't happen in the AU game when CK was left to handel Ford by himself. They also need to cut down on the false start penalties which help stop drives last year. Second, Bama must improve in the FG area.  It needs to be automatic from 45-40 in.  Too many points left on the field here last year and those points cost games. Bama needs to get back to being able to run the screen.  It seems that something gave this away last year and the backs are too good not to use them in this way.

The areas of concern for me:


Special Teams: Everyone forgets that all aspects of special teams is 1/3 of a game. Punting, FG kicking, return game, etc. This has been a problem area for Saban since he got to Alabama. It mystifies me why this has been allowed to fester for so long.

D Line: We HAVE to have a pass rush, but in the 3/4 defense you need LB's to rush, too. Also, a strong D-line can deal with the hurry-up offense better.

D-Backs: This was a disaster area last year but some of those problems can be traced to no pass rush.


 :think: