This Bama team reminds me of...

[Ichiban]

They have some similarities to the 2002 Ohio St team that won the NC, and also the 2000 OU Sooners that won it as well. I am not saying their style of play, or position by position is exactly the same, but here is where I draw the similarities:

1-New coach(in first couple of years), trying to rebuild a national power.
2-Team that was not a preseason favorite, or picked by all of the "experts" to be playing for NC.
3- Team that people said was still a year or two away from greatness, but then they will be the real deal.
4-Team that does not necessarily light up the scoreboard and beat the crap out of everyone they play...but they do find a way to win games and have a toughness about them.
5- Play good defense, and don't have a Heisman type media darling.
6-They do not get the respect they deserve, and I believe the two teams I mentioned earlier went into the NC game as double digit underdogs, and left the game as champions.

I would not be at all surprised to see this team keep winning games. It is a powerful force when you feel you are not respected and you are playing to prove what you are about. This team gets the TEAM concept, and it is about winning ballgames. They are definitely not the sexy pick, and everyone can say that IF they lined up against so and so, and IF so and so wouldn't have lost, and IF this and that...but these guys know how to WIN. Just like the OSU and OU teams mentioned, I think when a new coach takes a team over, they push you a little harder, make you work that much harder, and you aren't working like you deserve to be sucked off already...you are playing to earn it.

Anyway, we'll see how the season unfolds...

 

[rolltide]

totally reminds me of the 1992 championship team. Great running game, phenomenal defense, much-maligned winning QB, and a great coach. The biggest difference was that Bama was only #1 in the final polls that year but the similarities are amazing. Just like 1992 there are a bunch of teams out there (TT, Okla, Fla) that have these great offenses and seem unbeatable but they don't have Stallings, or Saban. Also in 1992 the Tide scraped by several teams with pretty unimpressive offensive performances but were in every game due to defense. Hopefully, like 1992, they beat MSU and Auburn to end the regular season then take out a favored Florida team to win the SEC Championship. Even at that point they would be dogs to whoever they played in the title game IMO

 

[birminghambook]

totally reminds me of the 1992 championship team. Great running game, phenomenal defense, much-maligned winning QB, and a great coach. The biggest difference was that Bama was only #1 in the final polls that year but the similarities are amazing. Just like 1992 there are a bunch of teams out there (TT, Okla, Fla) that have these great offenses and seem unbeatable but they don't have Stallings, or Saban. Also in 1992 the Tide scraped by several teams with pretty unimpressive offensive performances but were in every game due to defense. Hopefully, like 1992, they beat MSU and Auburn to end the regular season then take out a favored Florida team to win the SEC Championship. Even at that point they would be dogs to whoever they played in the title game IMO

I think this year's offense is better than 1992 but the defense is not the same. We will have a very difficult time defending Florida and/or any Big 12 team. Not saying Alabama can't or won't win but we still have a hard road ahead. I am not ready to look past Mississippi State (2 straight losses) or Auburn (6 straight losses). If Alabama gets past those 2 and Florida is still rolling I would probably play Florida against Alabama up to 7-8 points. I will most likely hedge my Alabama to win BCS championship with a Florida ML bet. I have $100 on Alabama at 45 to 1 and another $100 at 60 to 1. If they are to get past Florida they would be underdogs to almost every other team. No matter what happens Alabama has put themselves back into the conversation. Just wait until you see osme of the talent we will have in the next few years (think LSU, USC, Florida, Texas, Georgia) Saban will have us competing for championships year in and year out. We are WAY ahead of schedule but it does feel good. Especially with so many people claiming Alabama is a "fraud" or "overrated" or will get bitch slapped by everyone. There was even 1 yahoo who claimed on this board preseason that Alabama would lose to Clemson, Georgia, Tennesse, Mississippi State, Auburn, and most likely Ole Miss. OPPPPS??? Now his argument is they will lose to Florida by 30? They may get beat but Alabama will not get beat by 30. We will leave that to the Georgia and LSU's of the world.

 

[Paddywack]

Does this Bama team have a George Teague?

 

[MajorGCG]

Book I agree with a lot of that but be careful about expectations for next year after losing a seasoned QB.

I dont know who you have coming up at OL either but I think you guys lose a few there too. I think Bama has taken over the west. LSU will stay down IMO bec I think Les Miles is a marginal coach and an overrated recruiter. Ole Miss and Arkansas will be pains in the ass with their coaches. Auburn - who knows. In the easy, Tennessee I think has 3-4 years of great coaching and recruiting before they get back together, so the East will continue to be Florida and Georgia.

Until the league develops some QBs, it will be down again. This year was a down year for the SEC - I dont think any objective observer can state otherwise.

 

[GrilledCheese]

Book I agree with a lot of that but be careful about expectations for next year after losing a seasoned QB.

I dont know who you have coming up at OL either but I think you guys lose a few there too. I think Bama has taken over the west. LSU will stay down IMO bec I think Les Miles is a marginal coach and an overrated recruiter. Ole Miss and Arkansas will be pains in the ass with their coaches. Auburn - who knows. In the easy, Tennessee I think has 3-4 years of great coaching and recruiting before they get back together, so the East will continue to be Florida and Georgia.

Until the league develops some QBs, it will be down again. This year was a down year for the SEC - I dont think any objective observer can state otherwise.

... and 4 starting OL leaving, including a top 5 draft pick. Defense will be ridiculously good next year (if Cody stays), but offense will be very very young.

 

[birminghambook]

... and 4 starting OL leaving, including a top 5 draft pick. Defense will be ridiculously good next year (if Cody stays), but offense will be very very young.

Only 2 seniors on the OL plus JR Andre Smith will be going pro. That means we replace 3 OL, not 4. We do have to replace the 2 TE that are excellent blockers and that may play a bigger role. Alabama's offense will probably look much different next year. I think the coaches are smart enough to play to their strengths. I feel either Tyler Love, John Michael Boswell, or even true freshman DJ Fluker should be able to step in for Andre at LT. Mike Johnson at LG will be back, we will have to replace Caldwell at center which will be HUGE. New starter at RG but I am not worried about that and Drew Davis returns as starting RT.

As long as our QB manages the game properly will will be competing for the west again. All running backs return, all significant WR return, and our defense will probably only lose 2 starters and both will be replaced by MUCH BETTER athletes. That, along with many unbelievable athletes on offense and defense in the 2 deep.

Schedule should be manageable. We avoid Florida and Georgia from the East and get Arkansas, LSU, and Tennessee at home. Right now I think 9 wins looks about right. Maybe less if things fall apart or maybe more if the QB situation and OL situation works itself out. Either way we will be in contention for the SEC championship game. Florida will be absolutely loaded so they will be huge favorites no matter who they play if the win the East.

 

[MajorGCG]

There's a lot of talk of Tebow, Percy, and Spikes leaving early. That's a lot while still being just a few. Our entire 2 deep on defense will return with the exception of Spikes. On O, UF loses both OTs and Louis Murphy.

There has been some talk of Tebow and Percy coming back again next year, but I don't feel that's too likely right now. Tebow will come back before Percy does anyway. Should be a fun season either way. Johnny Brantley will be a good one at QB.

 

[fballplaya]

There's a lot of talk of Tebow, Percy, and Spikes leaving early. That's a lot while still being just a few. Our entire 2 deep on defense will return with the exception of Spikes. On O, UF loses both OTs and Louis Murphy.

There has been some talk of Tebow and Percy coming back again next year, but I don't feel that's too likely right now. Tebow will come back before Percy does anyway. Should be a fun season either way. Johnny Brantley will be a good one at QB.

Tebow has to come back though doesn't he? He isn't even in any talk of being a top 10 qb let alone a top 10 selection......

<TABLE class="tablehead widetable" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=stathead style="BACKGROUND: #000"><TD colSpan=4><CENTER>Top 10 Quarterbacks</CENTER></TD></TR><TR class=colhead vAlign=top><TD>Player</TD><TD>School</TD><TD>Height</TD><TD>Weight</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD>1. Sam Bradford**</TD><TD>Oklahoma</TD><TD>6-3½ </TD><TD>218</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD>2. Matthew Stafford*</TD><TD>Georgia</TD><TD>6-2½</TD><TD>235</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD>3. Mark Sanchez*</TD><TD>USC</TD><TD>6-2½ </TD><TD>225</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD>4. Josh Freeman*</TD><TD>Kansas State</TD><TD>6-5½</TD><TD>238</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD>5. Hunter Cantwell</TD><TD>Louisville</TD><TD>6-3⅞</TD><TD>231</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD>6. Graham Harrell</TD><TD>Texas Tech</TD><TD>6-2⅛</TD><TD>199</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD>7. Rhett Bomar</TD><TD>Sam Houston State</TD><TD>6-2¼ </TD><TD>212</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD>8. Nate Brown</TD><TD>Central Arkansas</TD><TD>6-1¼</TD><TD>210</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD>9. Curtis Painter</TD><TD>Purdue</TD><TD>6-2½ </TD><TD>225</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD>10. Stephen McGee</TD><TD>Texas A&M</TD><TD>6-2⅝</TD><TD>220</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[letsgobirds]

Tebow has to come back though doesn't he? He isn't even in any talk of being a top 10 qb let alone a top 10 selection......

<table class="tablehead widetable" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="100%"><tbody><tr class="stathead" style="background: rgb(0, 0, 0) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><td colspan="4"><center>Top 10 Quarterbacks</center></td></tr><tr class="colhead" valign="top"><td>Player</td><td>School</td><td>Height</td><td>Weight</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td>1. Sam Bradford**</td><td>Oklahoma</td><td>6-3½ </td><td>218</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" valign="top"><td>2. Matthew Stafford*</td><td>Georgia</td><td>6-2½</td><td>235</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td>3. Mark Sanchez*</td><td>USC</td><td>6-2½ </td><td>225</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" valign="top"><td>4. Josh Freeman*</td><td>Kansas State</td><td>6-5½</td><td>238</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td>5. Hunter Cantwell</td><td>Louisville</td><td>6-3⅞</td><td>231</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" valign="top"><td>6. Graham Harrell</td><td>Texas Tech</td><td>6-2⅛</td><td>199</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td>7. Rhett Bomar</td><td>Sam Houston State</td><td>6-2¼ </td><td>212</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" valign="top"><td>8. Nate Brown</td><td>Central Arkansas</td><td>6-1¼</td><td>210</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td>9. Curtis Painter</td><td>Purdue</td><td>6-2½ </td><td>225</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" valign="top"><td>10. Stephen McGee</td><td>Texas A&M</td><td>6-2⅝</td><td>220</td></tr></tbody></table>

tebow will be nothing more than a career backup in the NFL anyway.

 

[rolltide]

hunter cantwell? lol, too funny...gotta love nfl scouts. hard to argue with the top 3 but freeman hasn't seen 238 lb since he was 19. tebow will have an nfl career but likely as a backup

 

[MajorGCG]

First, that list is retarded.

As for Tim, I think he has to come back. But as of right now, he's planning on leaving.

IMO - he's better than most of the QBs on that list. Harrell is too low also. Painter and McGee are awful. Im also not impressed with Stafford. His career #s are pretty lousy esp for the huge hype he gets. His TD/INT ratio is crap. There is just no excuse for his numbers being where they are.

I think Tim gets a bad rap for the style of O UF utilizes. I think he can be a lot like Steve Young. Also, there's too much comparing to Alex Smith. Pretty much anyone would have failed in Smith's situation.