My top play of week one will be CLEMSON -5.5
Here is an in depth review of Alabama, an the resoning behind my selection.
Bama Offense<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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returning 10 starters with the entire offensive line. The only position missing was a WR and it looks like Nikita Stover or Julio Jones will be filling that role. They can move the ball . I expect JP Wilson to have a decent year. He’s a Senior and typically even Seniors at Vandy have good years. I have always felt when the pressure is on, he folds like a tent and in big games, I expect that to continue. You can improve on reads and throws but decision making when it’s on the line never improves. You either have it or you don’t. JPW does not have it.
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Their o-line is fairly weak when going against a good defensive front. I feel <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Caldwell</st1lace></st1:City> the center is the best lineman on the team, not Andre Smith who is grossly overrated. He’s consistent and he’s the vocal leader of their team. The offense will go as Terry Grant the RB goes. If he goes down with an injury, they have problems. They have Glen Coffee but that’s about it. They can catch out of the backfield and under McElwain (the new OC), this will be huge for their offense. Overall, the offense returns some most of the players but they are not very strong. JPW is rhythmic. If he’s hot, it’s a good offense because he will reel off some passes in a row. If he’s not in a rhythm, he struggles. Mclewain is unlike most OC’s in that his goal is to run up the middle, throw the out, and then pull the trigger on his goal which is to work the middle of the field between the seams with passes. He throws to the TE more than any coach in the conference. He wants to put the ball between the safeties and lber’s and in the SEC, you will get your wr’s strung up with some of these safeties. This was not a good hire. He wants the ball in Grant’s hands most of the time and loves to run him on a wheel route out of the backfield.
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Bama Defense<o></o>
Returns 6 starters with 2 on the defensive line and 2 at lb and 2 at db. They are running a 3-4 and here is why:
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DL- worst in the conference and may go down as the worst in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Alabama</st1lace></st1:State>’s history. They were shoved around during spring by their offensive line and it is expected that they will give up a ton of rushing yards this year. Clemson’s duo should have a field day here. No good players to talk about here. Although, they have decided to put a 350 or 400 lber at NG to plug between the guards.
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LB- McClain is back, but Jimmy Johns is not….he’s tied up right now. It is expected freshman Jerrell Harris will start at 1 lber and Ezekial Knight at the other or Prince Hall. So many suspensions and injuries here, nobody knows who’s playing. McLain almost killed himself on a motorcycle accident so who really knows who will be here.
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DB- All 4 have playing time. Javier Arenas and Kareem Jackson will man the corners and Justin Woodall and Rashad Johnson will man the safeties. <o></o>
Overall, this defense can defend the pass in the secondary. What they can’t do is stop the run or get a rush. They have major problems and even Nick calling the plays can’t help them. Kirby Smart is not a DC and I predict Nick will be logging extra hours this year to help cover Kirby’s weaknesses.
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My prediction for Bama's season is losses to Clemson in <st1:City w:st="on">Atlanta</st1:City>, at <st1:country-region w:st="on">Georgia</st1:country-region>, at <st1:State w:st="on">Tennessee</st1:State>, at LSU, <st1
laceName w:st="on">Mississippi</st1laceName> <st1laceType w:st="on">State</st1laceType> at home (because they can’t stop the run) and <st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Auburn</st1lace></st1:City> for the 7th year in a row. Traveling to <st1:State w:st="on">Arkansas</st1:State> is not a lock and with <st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Houston</st1lace></st1:City>’s love for running and their inability to stop it, makes Ole Miss a tough one too. Tulane, Western Kentucky, and <st1laceName w:st="on">Arkansas</st1laceName> <st1laceType w:st="on">State</st1laceType> are the only 3 sure wins but hey, so was <st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">ULM</st1lace></st1:City> last year. People can predict things all day long but I have a gut feeling that this may be a long year in <st1lace w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Tuscaloosa</st1:City></st1lace>. BTW, if JPW goes down, you haven’t seen problems. His back-up Greg Mcelroy wouldn’t QB ULM this year. <o></o>
Here is an in depth review of Alabama, an the resoning behind my selection.
Bama Offense<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o></o>returning 10 starters with the entire offensive line. The only position missing was a WR and it looks like Nikita Stover or Julio Jones will be filling that role. They can move the ball . I expect JP Wilson to have a decent year. He’s a Senior and typically even Seniors at Vandy have good years. I have always felt when the pressure is on, he folds like a tent and in big games, I expect that to continue. You can improve on reads and throws but decision making when it’s on the line never improves. You either have it or you don’t. JPW does not have it.
<o
></o> Their o-line is fairly weak when going against a good defensive front. I feel <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
ffice:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Caldwell</st1lace></st1:City> the center is the best lineman on the team, not Andre Smith who is grossly overrated. He’s consistent and he’s the vocal leader of their team. The offense will go as Terry Grant the RB goes. If he goes down with an injury, they have problems. They have Glen Coffee but that’s about it. They can catch out of the backfield and under McElwain (the new OC), this will be huge for their offense. Overall, the offense returns some most of the players but they are not very strong. JPW is rhythmic. If he’s hot, it’s a good offense because he will reel off some passes in a row. If he’s not in a rhythm, he struggles. Mclewain is unlike most OC’s in that his goal is to run up the middle, throw the out, and then pull the trigger on his goal which is to work the middle of the field between the seams with passes. He throws to the TE more than any coach in the conference. He wants to put the ball between the safeties and lber’s and in the SEC, you will get your wr’s strung up with some of these safeties. This was not a good hire. He wants the ball in Grant’s hands most of the time and loves to run him on a wheel route out of the backfield. <o
></o> Bama Defense<o
></o>Returns 6 starters with 2 on the defensive line and 2 at lb and 2 at db. They are running a 3-4 and here is why:
<o
></o> DL- worst in the conference and may go down as the worst in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1
lace w:st="on">Alabama</st1lace></st1:State>’s history. They were shoved around during spring by their offensive line and it is expected that they will give up a ton of rushing yards this year. Clemson’s duo should have a field day here. No good players to talk about here. Although, they have decided to put a 350 or 400 lber at NG to plug between the guards. <o
></o> LB- McClain is back, but Jimmy Johns is not….he’s tied up right now. It is expected freshman Jerrell Harris will start at 1 lber and Ezekial Knight at the other or Prince Hall. So many suspensions and injuries here, nobody knows who’s playing. McLain almost killed himself on a motorcycle accident so who really knows who will be here.
<o
></o> DB- All 4 have playing time. Javier Arenas and Kareem Jackson will man the corners and Justin Woodall and Rashad Johnson will man the safeties. <o
></o>Overall, this defense can defend the pass in the secondary. What they can’t do is stop the run or get a rush. They have major problems and even Nick calling the plays can’t help them. Kirby Smart is not a DC and I predict Nick will be logging extra hours this year to help cover Kirby’s weaknesses.
<o
></o> My prediction for Bama's season is losses to Clemson in <st1:City w:st="on">Atlanta</st1:City>, at <st1:country-region w:st="on">Georgia</st1:country-region>, at <st1:State w:st="on">Tennessee</st1:State>, at LSU, <st1
laceName w:st="on">Mississippi</st1laceName> <st1laceType w:st="on">State</st1laceType> at home (because they can’t stop the run) and <st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Auburn</st1lace></st1:City> for the 7th year in a row. Traveling to <st1:State w:st="on">Arkansas</st1:State> is not a lock and with <st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Houston</st1lace></st1:City>’s love for running and their inability to stop it, makes Ole Miss a tough one too. Tulane, Western Kentucky, and <st1laceName w:st="on">Arkansas</st1laceName> <st1laceType w:st="on">State</st1laceType> are the only 3 sure wins but hey, so was <st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">ULM</st1lace></st1:City> last year. People can predict things all day long but I have a gut feeling that this may be a long year in <st1lace w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Tuscaloosa</st1:City></st1lace>. BTW, if JPW goes down, you haven’t seen problems. His back-up Greg Mcelroy wouldn’t QB ULM this year. <o></o>
