2008 Alabama Crimson Tide Preview

[BigTymePlayer25]

<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1lace w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">ALABAMA</st1:State></st1lace> CRIMSON TIDE<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>​

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2007 Record: 7-6 Returning Starters: 13 (7 Offense / 6 Defense)
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Strengths<o></o>​

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1. Coaching- Love him or hate him, Nick Saban is one hell of a recruiter and coach. Though the Tide looked unprepared in a couple games (especially down the stretch), Saban has had another year to bring in HIS players (kids he personally recruited).
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2. Offensive Line- I have this down as the Tide’s best line in almost a decade. Not since former All-American Chris Samuels has Bama had a standout LT like BIG Andre Smith. He is one of the best blockers in the country and will protect John Parker Wilson’s blindside. Bama returns 4 starters on the O-Line, which should equal plenty of holes for RB’s Terry Grant, Glen Coffee, and Roy Upchurch. I expect these guys to pretty much man-handle most D-lines.
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3. Backfield- Starting sophomore Terry Grant returns this season and is finally healthy after a sports hernia surgery. Grant led the team in rushing with 891 yds, as junior Glen Coffee chipped in 545yds. Saban loves to switch out RB’s in order to have “fresh legs” in the ballgame at all times. With the 3-headed monster of Grant, Coffee, and Upchurch, I believe this backfield is amongst the top in the conference.
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4. Special Teams- Standout KR/PR Javier Arenas returns for his junior season after a break-out sophomore campaign. I can’t remember Bama having a special team threat like this since the great David Palmer back in the early nineties. Arenas has 1,610 return yards in his 2 seasons thus far. He’s a threat to take it to the house any time he touches the football. Also, K Leigh Tiffin really came into his own last year, as he tries to out-kick the shadow of his legendary father Van. Leigh hit 25 of 34 FG’s last year and will be one of the best kickers in the conference.
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Weaknesses<o></o>​

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1. Wide Receiving Corps- Bama must find viable replacements for DJ Hall and Keith Brown. The remaining Tide wideouts are extremely inexperienced, but All-Everything recruit Julio Jones should have a huge impact immediately.
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2. D-Line- Standout DE Wallace Gilberry is now with the NY Giants. Bama will indeed miss him this year, as the only decent D-lineman they have is senior Bobby Greenwood. This is one area where Bama really lacks depth, and they will struggle to put pressure on the quarterbacks this season.

2008 PREDICTION = 9-3<o></o>​

 

[TheD.I.G.]

Im looking at it from the other side, but, I think you're being optomistic.

At Clemson, At Arkansas, At Georgia, At Tennessee, At LSU, & home vs Auburn. I don't think they are favored to win any of those games at this point, and they must beat Miss, Kentucky, Miss State as well. They SHOULD be better though. Im just not sure how it will reflect in the record.

Special teams should be a strong point, thier line will be good, the backfield should be good as well. Im not sure about receiver, who's going to be starting there?

I give Bama a hard time, but I would like to see them turn it around. Im afraid that the schedule may keep them down this year.

 

[BigTymePlayer25]

Im looking at it from the other side, but, I think you're being optomistic.

At Clemson, At Arkansas, At Georgia, At Tennessee, At LSU, & home vs Auburn. I don't think they are favored to win any of those games at this point, and they must beat Miss, Kentucky, Miss State as well. They SHOULD be better though. Im just not sure how it will reflect in the record.

Special teams should be a strong point, thier line will be good, the backfield should be good as well. Im not sure about receiver, who's going to be starting there?

I give Bama a hard time, but I would like to see them turn it around. Im afraid that the schedule may keep them down this year.

You make some good points bro. Starting at WR we got Nikita Stover, Mike McCoy, and probably the prized recruit Julio Jones.....they will definitely miss DJ Hall this season!

 

[SoonerBS]

The linebacker corps is the weakest part of the defense and it just got weaker with the arrest of Johns and his dismissal from the team.

 

[TheD.I.G.]

Those three WR's are pretty solid talent. The experience isn't there, but at WR sometimes that can be overcome by talent. I think Hall was super talented but seems like he didn't care. Thier offense should be ok in pretty quick time. Their defense is another story. Rolondo McCain (Mr. I wrecked my motorcycle on the day I bought it) is good, that's about it. Can't count on Prince Hall at this point. Secondary, what going on there?. DL is weak. They need some people to step up fast as Clemson, Georgia, and Arkansas are all in the first 5 games

 

[BigPIG19]

At WR, you better watch out for a player by the name of Darius Hanks, and the possibility of Burton Scott playing as well.

 

[Gaz]

No way in hell Bama wins 9 this year. That's a homer talking.

 

[rolltide]

game is not at clemson it's neutral in atlanta

if they beat clemson they'd be favored at arky but regardless arky is 2nd worst team in sec this year and a home win means the Tide is in for a 7-5 year.

8-4 or 9-3 depending on clemson game

DL is the weak point and may need Dareus to start as true frosh. LB's are talented (certainly not the weakest part of the team) but VERY thin so any injury is a huge problem. Secondary is solid but if the DL gets little pressure SEC teams will routinely drop 27+ on them