Crimson Red Sports

Most of the early Top 25 picks for 2012 have Alabama in the Top 5. I don't know if we can finish that good. Here's why:

We lose 7 starters off our great defense, plus Watkins from the kicking and punting team and super back-up NT Nick Gentry. We lose 3 of 4 starting LB's & 3 of 4 of our starting DB's. I just don't see how we overcome such incredible losses next season. The LB's & DB's are the backbone of a Saban D.

On offense, we lose our 3 best receivers in Smelley, Hanks, & Maze, plus T. Richardson. I think Lacey will be an outstanding replacement for TR, but WR is still a little murky. Norwood looked great against LSU, but will Bell and Whte step up? Plus, we will still have the same average to poor punter and probably kick-off kicker. Hopefully, the FG problem is solved.

We play Michigan at a neutral site, & at Arkansas, LSU, & Missouri. That could be a tough row to hoe. I can see us losing one game for sure, even two.


 :popcorn2:

I think we will be in a very similar position as we were in 2010 which ended with a 10-3 record. We lose some good players on both sides of the ball. I am mostly concerned about the defense. We have good players who will make plays. My concern is with defensive breakdowns caused by inexperience. In 2010 we lost the LSU and barn game due to defensive breakdowns late in the game. We should have won both of those games. We have enough talent to repeat. We lose good players every year. We lost GMAC, Ingram, Julio and Dareus last year.

To answer your question, Yes I think we are a top 5 team next year. We will start the year rated very high. We have a difficult schedule. We take it game by game. We may lose a game or two and we may not. CNS has our program in position to contend for championships every year. In 2009 and 2011 we won it all. In 2008 and 2010 we fell a little short but we still in the hunt till late in the year. In order to win championships you have to play well but you also need a little luck along the way. I think we will be fine next year.

Maybe, but I don't think the cupboard is exactly bare. True, we lose A TON of experience on defense, but its not like some of the guys stepping in next year have never seen the field. CJ will be back, as well as Nico Johnson. Jesse Williams will be back as well. Lester is coming back, and I think Vinnie Sunseri can step up and play well. He'll never be a Barron, but I can foresee him as a Javy Arenas type player on defense: adequate pass coverage, spectacular in blitz packages.

Offense I think will be a strength. Most of the OL will be back, AJ will have a full year under his belt and will be even better, Lacy I think will be a beast, with Fowler right behind him and young guys like TJ Yeldon and Dee Hart getting some time in as well. Not as much experience at wideout, but I think Norwood, Bell and White can step up, and if Duron comes in like papa said he would, then that will add yet another dimension. I'm not saying undefeated or championship caliber, but still will be a team to be feared. I think 11-12 wins is possible, 9-10 on the downside.

I agree that there are questions on defense, offense and special teams.  But I think Saban has answers.  Our defense didn't miss a beat Monday when Moseley went down.  Many other of our "young" players got a ton of experience.  The offense, if Kuondijo (sp?) comes back healthy, may be absolutely lights out.  And Coach Saban always seems to have a freshman or two that can contribute.  We may lose a game or two.  We may not.  It will be another fun year!   ;) :lol:

The kicker, Adam Griffith, coming out of Georgia is not just a good FG kicker, he can kick it through the end zone as well. Also, don't forget the WR coming out of Miami, Amari Cooper. Many think he can make an immediate impact.

I can't wait to find out.  I like our chances.

Williams, Square, Dial, Dickson, Mosley, Johnson, DePriest will be the front 7 ?    :clap:

My major concern is the defense, which is the lifeblood of every Saban team. I'm waiting to see who the posters think can replace 7 starters on defense with the same results. You don't replace a starter with someone who has seen limited playing time and get the same results, especially Dre, Upshaw, Hightower, & Barron. Trey Depriest, Sunseri, Lowery, Miliner, Clinton-Dix, and some others have great potential, but that doesn't mean they can step in immediately. I just wish we didn't have this yo-yo affect where one year we lose a ton of talent, the next year we don't, the next lose a ton of talent, etc.


 :dog:

The press tried to pull this stuff after the '09 season. Take Trey DePreist as an example. Technically he was not a starter but with STs and LB backups he played a boatload of snaps. First the Crimson Tide, then the SEC, seem to be the only teams that even care about defense. Anytime you hear the press talking about the Tide defense being, or going to be weak, you have to roll your eyes and consider the source.

 The big question mark on everyones mind last summer was QB play. Although a few goofballs tried to make a controversy out of it, AJ settled in early and they added more plays and complication as the season progressed. The QB job was AJ's to lose ALL summer and the only reason CNS did not say so in April was he wanted to keep both AJ and PS motivated. But this was suppose to be the big reason Oklahomo (sp?) was picked #1 to start the season. The media will have to find another excuse to pick a non-SEC team #1 this August. But if they go with "no defense" I won't know whether to laugh or cry.

Barrett Jones back? Kouandjios. Fluker. RTR  We have to replace WV.
Eddie Lacey gets a better pass attack to keep the "D" spread out.
No turnovers or penalties-- both sides of ball. CNS hallmark.
Christion Jones? I'm excited but he'll have to compete with Dee Hart!
LBs galore!
RELOAD!

I think the D front will still be solid.  What will need to be addressed is the leadership that these young men brought to the team.  Also, replacing Corners.  The OL should be strong and Bama should be fine in the offensive backfield.  The young rec's who did contribute this year will now be expected to do better. 

Good point about both corners needing replacement. That's where we got burned in 2010. Also, the leadership of Dre, Upshaw, Hightower, & Barron will be sorely missed. I had forgotten all about the leadership intanigibles. Another intangible is the replacement of the OC, which usually is a problem in the first year of a new coordinator.

 :dog:

I believe we have the talent to fill most the gaps, but my concern is leadership. Barron, Hightower, & Trent set the tone for the identity of this team. That leadership kept this team focused and helped them achieve their goals. Will another group of players step up and hold this group to the same attention to detail, the same pursuit of excellence, and the same drive that led this years team to the NC?

I don't think of athletes of their caliber in terms of being saddled with more responsibilities. I think these "hotshots" welcome the opportunity and think they can do better. But the difference in being an adequate replacement and being a star will be how they handle the next 6 -7 mos. The off-season program. Coach?

I don't think Lowery will be back.  He is listed as a junior but he is not on scholly and I believe he has graduated.

I don't mind winning it all every other year.  If the last 4 years is any indicator, we have 50/50 shot each year.  I like those odds, especially if we still manage to win 10 games and stomp a hole in Auburn during our "down" years (like 2008, not 2010).

:lol:

I think it is spelled Choklahomo.

I hope they put LSU #1 and us somewhere in the top 10.

I think so.  AJ stepped up and is the leader now, along with BJ on O.  Maybe Lester and CJ will be the leaders on D.

I looked at the roster, and here are the guys coming back who are listed as DBs.  This doesn't include the incoming class.  Surely out of all of these guys, we can find some good ones.


Jerrod Bierbower FR
Caleb Castille FR
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix FR
Vinnie Sunseri FR
Jabriel Washington FR
John Fulton SO
Dee Milliner SO
Nick Perry SO
Ranzell Watkins SO
Jarrick Williams SO
Diege Barry JR
Hunter Bush JR
Levi Cook JR
Robert Lester JR

I think the talent will be there for Bama next year, but the schedule isn't quite as favorable as this year. JMO, but the 2 biggest factors going in to 2012 will be, will the leadership be there? And, can we beat Michigan, Arkansas and LSU away from home, particularly Arkansas and LSU on the road? History has shown in the past 2 season openers with big teams that Bama rises to the occasion. I think we beat Michigan and probably even Arkansas. LSU will have a score to settle and will have a lot more returnees than Bama, even though I just saw on ESPN that Mo Claiborne is entering the draft. By far, the toughest test of next year for Bama. Can't take Mizzou on the road lightly either.

DT Brockers from LSU is also entering the draft.

That will be huge.  Spring ball will answer many questions.  My question is who do you see as leaders?  I would think CJ, hopefully RL stays.  AJ and BJ on offense.  

Here are the D lineman on the roster:


LaMichael Fanning FR
Brandon Ivory FR
Wilson Love FR
Anthony Orr FR
Jeoffrey Pagan FR
D. J. Pettway FR
Chris Bonds    SO
William Ming SO
Ed Stinson SO
Undra Billingsley JR
Quinton Dial JR
Damion Square JR
Jesse Williams JR

Who will be the Nose?  Will Jesse move back to the middle?

JMHO but Coah Saban always seems to develop leaders just as he develops players and coaches.  Whether they all come together next season remains to be seen.  If they don't, it won't be for lack of hard work.  By the way, don't forget about Blake Sims.  He's an athlete that Coach Saban will work in somewhere.  RTR!!!

 ;)

Here are the linebackers:

Trey DePriest FR
Xzavier Dickson FR
Adrian Hubbard FR
Jonathan Atchison SO
Josh Dickerson SO
C.J. Mosley SO
Tana Patrick SO
Nico Johnson JR

CJ was the first one to pop into my mind. I think Lester will be a good leader in the backfield, perhaps Dee Milliner as well.

Losing 7 starters on D and 6 on O will definitely have an impact.  It is hard to replace that experience, especially against the competition Bama plays and how a mistake here or there can lose a game.  Whether the younger players can step up and play lights out next year remains to be seen.  They have the talent; it is a question of playing their assignments.  Also, there sometimes is a drop in motivation and work ethic after a championship year.

Bama is definitely a top-10 team going into next season and likely will finish in the top 5.  I won't cry if they don't win it all, but I wouldn't be surprised either.  Huge talent plus great coaching is a winning formula.

No one is disputing that we have talent, it's the lack of experience. Dre is a 3 year starter, talent can't match that. Barron is a 3 year starter, ditto what I said about Dre. We had several defensive breakdowns in 2010 for this very reason.


 :tinfoil:





 :popcorn2:

The lack of experience is definitely an issue.  Some guys learn quicker than others.  I think Vinnie picked up the system pretty quickly for example.  Maybe a few more new guys can do that too.

I'm pretty sure Dre only started 2 years at corner though.  2009 he played special teams, specifically I remember him on the punt team.  That fake punt in the Texas game was a pass that was intended for him but intercepted by Gideon.  I remember thinking Dre looked like he didn't know they where going to pass the ball to him.  2010 was his first year to start at corner if I'm not mistaken.

He certainly had his share of broken coverages in 2010 though.

Baron did start in 2009 and was a huge contributor in his first year.  I believe that is the year he led the league in interceptions.  Then Lester led the league in 2010 I think (his first year too?).

In addition to Robert Lester I expect Nico Johnson, as a senior, to become a leader on the defensive side.

choklahomo :lol:

Glad LSU is on top...more pressure to stay there than to get there.  Ask Bob Stoops!

I don't know how likely it is for Bama to repeat, but I would have never ever thought Monday night would be a shutout, either.  It's a great time to be a Bama fan: history is getting made and everything seems possible!

My concern guys and ladies is the fact of our coaching staff. We don't any cohesiveness. We need a return team coach also. RTR!

My biggest concern is the CB position, since we lose both of our starters. I'm hoping Miliner can improve and John Fulton can step up. Those are the only 2 true CB's I am aware of. Everyone else is a safety. Going from safety to corner is extremely difficult.
We have signed 3 CB's in the 2012 class, but a true freshman at corner is a risk.


 :popcorn2:

I thought we had the top JUCO corner coming in this year?

That could be Dixon. Actually, we have 2 Juco CB's in this class.