Is Alabama a Top 5 Team in 2012?

[Marshal Dillon]

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.


 

[pmull]

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.

[cbbama99]

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.

[lstephen]

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!   

[2Stater]

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.

[SUPERCOACH]

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

[XBAMA]

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

[Marshal Dillon]

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.

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.


 

[BAMAWV]

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!

[hscoach]

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. 

[Marshal Dillon]

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.

 

[Bandit]

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?

[BAMAWV]

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. 

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?

[SUPERCOACH]

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.

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.


 

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).

[SUPERCOACH]

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 it is spelled Choklahomo.

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

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