Can Alabama win back to back national championships?

[cloverleaf]

I believe Alabama has a great opportunity to win back-to-back national titles during the
2018 season. The Tide went back-to-back in 2011 and 2012 and has the talent to follow
the 2017 title team with another this season. Alabama has been consistently good at
running the ball and stopping opponents running game defensively. Bama will be good
at both again this season. Here are stats that prove my point during the Saban era.

Year...Offense YPG....Defense YPG...Record
2008...184.6...74.1...7-6
2009...215.1...78.1...12-2
2010...182.9...110.2...14-0
2011...214.5...72.2...12-1
2012...227.5...76.4...13-1
2013...205.6...106.2...11-2
2014...206.6...102.4...12-2
2015...200.0...75.7...14-1
2016...245.0...63.9...14.1
2017...250.6...94.7...14-1

2018 will prove to be another powerhouse team for the Tide!

 

[cloverleaf]

Under Saban, Alabama has won 5 national championships.

(2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017)

Each of those championship seasons, Bama's defense was exceptional
against the run. (78.1, 72.2, 76.4, 75.9, 94.7 yards per game.)

 

[cloverleaf]

Alabama/Saban

Seasons: 11
Record: 132-20
National titles: 5
SEC titles: 7
Bowls: 10-4
Heisman: 2
Consensus All Americans: 29
Salary: $11.125

*I have always argued Bear Bryant is Alabama's greatest coach. Keeping Saban
second is getting harder by the season.

 

[MackDonald]

Clover; As I've stated before, I've seen many "dynasties" toppled over the years but Alabama has so damn much inertia going for them which enables the program to out-recruit other schools, obtain (and retain) knowledgeable, experienced coaches while offering a rich, winning tradition unequaled anywhere else. There are many fine college football programs but none exceed the legacies left by the Crimson Tide.

The only soft underbelly I see is [if] complacency was allowed creep-into the program which I doubt Saban would ever let happen.....He would retire first.

 

[cloverleaf]

Mack, I can't see any complacency with Saban at the helm. Saying that, Bama will never
be soft while he's coach. The guy really enjoys coaching and is driven like no other coach
I can think of.

Plus, his assistants know if they do well at Alabama, they have a chance to become a head
coach. Plus again, winning brings the coaches more cash in bonus payouts. Saban and his
nine on-field coaches were paid $1.6 million in bonuses with Saban getting $400,000 and
strength coach Scott Cochran receiving $96,300. It's good to win a national championship
if you coach for the Crimson Tide.

 

[lolz_69]

The only contenders to topple them Imo are Georgia and Ohio state

 

[rolltide]

this year, more than any in the past decade, injuries on defense will decide our fate. We have a young, inexperienced secondary and defensive line and are running 4 scholarships short on the DL so simply cannot have the injury bug again on defense.

only other thing that can upend us is "the noise" ... between jalen, his dad, tua's hand, and our annual offseason weed arrests there's some chance at not being as focused as needed. I'm also definitely not sold on having Locksley as OC....thought Kiffin was a genius, Dabol and Sarkisian were dolts, but Locksley would be the worst of the 4 and might even be worse than Nussmeier was. Overall we have a better staff than the 2017 version and that staff was good enough for a trophy so should be in it until the end.

 

[cloverleaf]

We and I mean a bunch of us old Alabama loyalist agree with you about Locksley as OC. Saban
could have hired a much better offensive mind. Should be some good sideline ass chewings this
season.

I just hope the quarterback situation doesn't split the team. Third teamer Jones out played Hurts
in the A-Day game.

 

[cloverleaf]

Alabama players draft round projections from NFL.com

DB Minkah Fitzpatrick 1st round
LB Rashaan Evans 1st
WR Calvin Ridley 1st
DL Da'Ron Payne 1st
DB Ronnie Harrison 2nd
DL Da'Shaw Hand 2nd or 3rd
DB Anthony Averett 3rd or 4th
RB Bo Scarbrough 4th or 5th
P . JK Scott 5th
DB Tony Brown 5th or 6th
OL Bradley Boseman 5th or 6th
DB Levi Wallace 7th
WR Robert Foster Priority Free Agent
OL Joshua Frazier P F A

 

[Albatross]

Bama fans are gonna miss Scott more than anyone on that list. That guy was a game changer.

Big Bo may last 3 years in the NFL.

 

[REDEYE]

The only contenders to topple them Imo are Georgia and Ohio state

Clemson is the favorite in my mind

 

[cloverleaf]

According to Rammer Jammer who cover Alabama athletics, Mack Jones proved during
the A-Day game he needs to be a part of the quarterback competition. After a stellar spring
game, many around Tuscaloosa are calling for the third team Jones to enter the race to be
the starting quarterback. The battle has been mostly a two man race between last year's
starter Jalen Hurts and national title game star Tua Tagovailoa. But Tagovailoa missed the
spring game, so Jones got his chance to shine. He threw for 289 yards on 23 of 35 passing
and connected on two touchdown passes. Jones took home MVP honors for the game. That
performance convinced a lot of people that Jones needs to be seriously in the QB mix for who
opens the season. Several players said Jones proved that he needs to be given a shot. Stay
tuned...this QB race is going to be interesting.

 

[cloverleaf]

Every year the Alabama defense has to replace a lot of starters. This season will
be no different. Eight new starters will line up for the 2018 season. Here's a look
at post-spring projected line up for Bama's defense.

DL: Isaiah Buggs (6-5, 290, Sr.), Raekwon Davis (6-7, 208, Jr.), Quinnen Williams (6-5, 300, Jr.)

ILB: Dylan Moses (6-3, 235, So.), Mack Wilson (6-2, 240, Jr.)
OLB: Christian Miller (6-4, 245, Sr.), Terrell Lewis (6-5, 255, Jr.), Anfernee Jennings (6-3, 260, Jr.)

CB: Trevon Diggs (6-2, 198, Jr.), Saivion Smith (6-1, 200, Jr.)
. S: Deionte Thompson (6-2, 196, Jr.), Xavier McKinny (6-1, 195, So.)

ST: K Joseph Bulovas (6-2, 218, Fr.) P Skyler Delong (6-4, 183, Fr.) LS Thomas Fletcher (6-2, 225, So.)

Obviously anything can happen before opening week but these guys seem to have a leg up
going into fall practice.

 

[groundhog11]

I think bama ,georgia, Clemson are the only 3 contenders...bama wins it again. The schedule sets of well for bama until they play aub and georgia.

 

[cloverleaf]

I think bama ,georgia, Clemson are the only 3 contenders...bama wins it again. The schedule sets of well for bama until they play aub and georgia.

Agree Ground Hog that Bama has a favorable schedule. Alabama isn't likely to be even really challenged before
November and might be a three touchdown favorite in every game prior to Auburn. The offense has the potential
to be the best during Saban's time in Tuscaloosa and Bama's early schedule should provide plenty of time for the
secondary to gain its footing. Anything can happen but I believe we see Alabama and Georgia in the SEC title
game again.

 

[cloverleaf]

Alabama plays Louisville opening week this season September 1st in Orlando. Normally of late,
Bama's opening week opponent would be considered a challenge. Not this season my friends.
Louisville is +31 right now at 5Dimes knowing that the Cards will have to replace a Heisman QB
with a new guy facing a preeminent defense in college football. Alabama has opened the past
six seasons with a neutral site, non-conference game like this one and the Crimson Tide won all
six by an average 37-13. This game could get ugly in a hurry.

Sidenote: The Tide has been favored in 111 of its last 112 games and should be the betting favorite
in every game this fall based on preseason projections. By the way, the road game at Georgia in 2015
was the exception. Alabama won that game 38-10 for the record.

 

[cloverleaf]

The talk about quarterback Tua Tagovailoa considering transferring away from Alabama
apparently was quite legitimate. Tagovailoa spoke at his former middle school in Hawaii
on Thursday. According to Hawaii News Now, the Bama QB told students that he was
discouraged by not playing and ask his dad to contact Southern Cal about a possible transfer.
Lucky for Alabama that Saban put him in the national championship game or he probably
would be leaving the Crimson Tide. Now he is favored to be the starter in the fall. Thank
you Lord!

 

[MackDonald]

The talk about quarterback Tua Tagovailoa considering transferring away from Alabama
apparently was quite legitimate. Tagovailoa spoke at his former middle school in Hawaii
on Thursday. According to Hawaii News Now, the Bama QB told students that he was
discouraged by not playing and ask his dad to contact Southern Cal about a possible transfer.
Lucky for Alabama that Saban put him in the national championship game or he probably
would be leaving the Crimson Tide. Now he is favored to be the starter in the fall. Thank
you Lord!

With only so much playing time during a college football game these coaches today have to be "Houdini's" when it comes to dishing out time on the field, especially when their roosters are filled with so much talent, often three or more [deep] like an Alabama enjoys while trying to keep "peace" on the sideline. We all realize that injuries and other factors require teams to have reserves (depth) that can fill-in at any given moment but these "blue chip" players off the field want playing time...... now, regardless of in-game decisions the coaches have make to win the game.

They may not show it but there is a lot "gnawing" on the inside of many of these players while they are riding the bench. Potential transferring will always be a part of the juggling act that for most college football coaches have to deal with today. .

 

[cloverleaf]

Highly rated defensive lineman Antonio Alfano became the latest four-star standout to
join Alabama's No. 1 rated 2019 recruiting class. Alfano, who is rated as the nation's
No. 5 strong-side defensive end in 2019, verbally committed to the Crimson Tide on
Friday afternoon at his Colonia (NJ) high school. The 6-foot-4, 285 pound Alfano becomes
Alabama's 13th commitment and 12th four-star commit. He chose Bama over Georgia
and Penn State.

Sidenote: Pretense U made a pitch for Alfano promising him they would make him All-
American and would win another "fake" national championship with rings, banners and
and free tickets to Disney World. He told Central Florida he wasn't interested.

 

[Knightrofins]

Highly rated defensive lineman Antonio Alfano became the latest four-star standout to
join Alabama's No. 1 rated 2019 recruiting class. Alfano, who is rated as the nation's
No. 5 strong-side defensive end in 2019, verbally committed to the Crimson Tide on
Friday afternoon at his Colonia (NJ) high school. The 6-foot-4, 285 pound Alfano becomes
Alabama's 13th commitment and 12th four-star commit. He chose Bama over Georgia
and Penn State.

Sidenote: Pretense U made a pitch for Alfano promising him they would make him All-
American and would win another "fake" national championship with rings, banners and
and free tickets to Disney World. He told Central Florida he wasn't interested.

I'm sure that last paragraph is a false statement as i cannot see any NON P5 school promise a national championship. Lets stick the facts, cant we???

On another note, i wonder if he had the grades to get into UCF. Luckily Alabama's standards arent as high