My thoughts on Bama are this - They beat the ever living shit out of everyone except LSU (they did that the second time they faced them). There are a lot of points that have to be made up between Bama and their opponents for them to lose more than one game.
Another thing is that Bama returns a very solid DL (have to replace Chapman) and a great OL. They have experience at QB. If Saban has a team that is good up front then he can beat you. I don't see more than one loss!
People keep talking about LSU and what they return but that last loss can and will do one of two things - 1) create an enviroment in the offseason that drives them to FINISH the job or 2) take away the swagger that they played with the whole year. I don't think we will know which direction that will go until the season starts. I do know they have to get better QB play to finish. Mettenberger may be very good but it will be his first time starting in the SEC.
My thoughts on Bama are this - They beat the ever living shit out of everyone except LSU (they did that the second time they faced them). There are a lot of points that have to be made up between Bama and their opponents for them to lose more than one game.
Another thing is that Bama returns a very solid DL (have to replace Chapman) and a great OL. They have experience at QB. If Saban has a team that is good up front then he can beat you. I don't see more than one loss!
People keep talking about LSU and what they return but that last loss can and will do one of two things - 1) create an enviroment in the offseason that drives them to FINISH the job or 2) take away the swagger that they played with the whole year. I don't think we will know which direction that will go until the season starts. I do know they have to get better QB play to finish. Mettenberger may be very good but it will be his first time starting in the SEC.
My thoughts on Bama are this - They beat the ever living shit out of everyone except LSU (they did that the second time they faced them). There are a lot of points that have to be made up between Bama and their opponents for them to lose more than one game.
Another thing is that Bama returns a very solid DL (have to replace Chapman) and a great OL. They have experience at QB. If Saban has a team that is good up front then he can beat you. I don't see more than one loss!
People keep talking about LSU and what they return but that last loss can and will do one of two things - 1) create an enviroment in the offseason that drives them to FINISH the job or 2) take away the swagger that they played with the whole year. I don't think we will know which direction that will go until the season starts. I do know they have to get better QB play to finish. Mettenberger may be very good but it will be his first time starting in the SEC.
Happy offseason!
Very well said. I also believe Alabama will probably lose a game next season. With the schedule they have, too many things have to go right for them to run the table. Their most likely losses will be Arkansas or LSU. I really haven't looked at Missouri very closely, so I'm not sure about them. The Tigers are usually very tough at home though.
The one thing you forgot to mention was their biggest strength of all - their offense line. They get everyone back except C William Vlachos.
As you know, Alabama played all season without a true left tackle. They stuck Barrett Jones, who is a prototypical center out there because they had no one else. That's why the recruitment of Cyrus "The Prototype" Kouandjio was so huge for them.
I said last season how badly they needed Kouandjio because Alabama did not have a true left tackle on campus. He was probably their biggest get in last year's recruiting class. Many talent evaluators said Kouandjio was the best looking left tackle prospect they had ever seen. He was deemed a can't miss NFL left tackle.
So with Vlachos gone, Jones will move over to center where he belongs, and "The Prototype" will plug the left tackle spot.
Prior to this season I raved about how unbelievably good Alabama's defense would be this season. Next season Alabama's offense line will be in the same "unbelievably good" class as this season's defense. AJ McCarron will be the most pampered QB in the nation next season, and their stable of incredibly talented running backs should put up huge numbers. Nussmeier should have a lot of fun tinkering with all the toys he has at his disposal.
You make some great points about LSU. It'll be interesting to see where their confidence level is next season when Alabama goes to Baton Rouge. They will need to find their mojo for that game.
My thoughts on Bama are this - They beat the ever living shit out of everyone except LSU (they did that the second time they faced them). There are a lot of points that have to be made up between Bama and their opponents for them to lose more than one game.
Another thing is that Bama returns a very solid DL (have to replace Chapman) and a great OL. They have experience at QB. If Saban has a team that is good up front then he can beat you. I don't see more than one loss!
People keep talking about LSU and what they return but that last loss can and will do one of two things - 1) create an enviroment in the offseason that drives them to FINISH the job or 2) take away the swagger that they played with the whole year. I don't think we will know which direction that will go until the season starts. I do know they have to get better QB play to finish. Mettenberger may be very good but it will be his first time starting in the SEC.
Happy offseason!
Very well said. I also believe Alabama will probably lose a game next season. With the schedule they have, too many things have to go right for them to run the table. Their most likely losses will be Arkansas or LSU. I really haven't looked at Missouri very closely, so I'm not sure about them. The Tigers are usually very tough at home though.
The one thing you forgot to mention was their biggest strength of all - their offense line. They get everyone back except C William Vlachos.
As you know, Alabama played all season without a true left tackle. They stuck Barrett Jones, who is a prototypical center out there because they had no one else. That's why the recruitment of Cyrus "The Prototype" Kouandjio was so huge for them.
I said last season how badly they needed Kouandjio because Alabama did not have a true left tackle on campus. He was probably their biggest get in last year's recruiting class. Many talent evaluators said Kouandjio was the best looking left tackle prospect they had ever seen. He was deemed a can't miss NFL left tackle.
So with Vlachos gone, Jones will move over to center where he belongs, and "The Prototype" will plug the left tackle spot.
Prior to this season I raved about how unbelievably good Alabama's defense would be this season. Next season Alabama's offense line will be in the same "unbelievably good" class as this season's defense. AJ McCarron will be the most pampered QB in the nation next season, and their stable of incredibly talented running backs should put up huge numbers. Nussmeier should have a lot of fun tinkering with all the toys he has at his disposal.
You make some great points about LSU. It'll be interesting to see where their confidence level is next season when Alabama goes to Baton Rouge. They will need to find their mojo for that game.
I say Notre Dame has a much more difficult slate for 2012.
Playing in Ireland (albeit against Navy)
@Michigan State
Home for Michigan
Neutral field Miami
@ Oklahoma
@USC
They could easily be 6-6 next year. Brian Kelly isn't the answer. The only solution to Notre Dame's problem is ponying up 10-12 million dollars to get Saban to come to South Bend. He WOULD get the players.
I say Notre Dame has a much more difficult slate for 2012.
Playing in Ireland (albeit against Navy)
@Michigan State
Home for Michigan
Neutral field Miami
@ Oklahoma
@USC
They could easily be 6-6 next year. Brian Kelly isn't the answer. The only solution to Notre Dame's problem is ponying up 10-12 million dollars to get Saban to come to South Bend. He WOULD get the players.
I say Notre Dame has a much more difficult slate for 2012.
Playing in Ireland (albeit against Navy)
@Michigan State
Home for Michigan
Neutral field Miami
@ Oklahoma
@USC
They could easily be 6-6 next year. Brian Kelly isn't the answer. The only solution to Notre Dame's problem is ponying up 10-12 million dollars to get Saban to come to South Bend. He WOULD get the players.
Just my opinion....
actually I think the Irish's chances would improve if they scheduled the likes of w. Carolina, W KY, and FAU every year. 6-6 quickly morphs into 9-3
I say Notre Dame has a much more difficult slate for 2012.
Playing in Ireland (albeit against Navy)
@Michigan State
Home for Michigan
Neutral field Miami
@ Oklahoma
@USC
They could easily be 6-6 next year. Brian Kelly isn't the answer. The only solution to Notre Dame's problem is ponying up 10-12 million dollars to get Saban to come to South Bend. He WOULD get the players.
Just my opinion....
actually I think the Irish's chances would improve if they scheduled the likes of w. Carolina, W KY, and FAU every year. 6-6 quickly morphs into 9-3
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