Crimson Red Sports

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I am not a gambler, let's make that clear as you all probably know by now. Just for fun here I am going to post numbers of Alabama chances of winning the BCS title again and I would say 4 to 2.50 they will win it all again. Why you are thinking, well I am glad you ask that question. There 3 reasons right here they can win it all;
1. An offense like we ain't had in years.
2. A defense that will grow after each game.
3. The flat out determination of a recruit who comes here with the mindset to win National Championships.
I like our chances. RTR!

IOW .....


(http://img1.UploadScreenshot.com/images/main/6/16613205762.png) (http://www.UploadScreenshot.com/image/1101518/1327764)




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I believe it all rests on the mental attitude of the team. 2008 had very raw talent but through determination was only 1 quarter away from playing for the NC that year. 2009 we used 2008 as motivation and reached the top. 2010 IMO was the most talented team in the last 4 years, but the mental focus was not there and the results showed it. Only after the Iron Bowl were they woken up and poor Michigan State felt the full affect of what we could have done all year. 2011 was a good team, but they were the most focused Bama team I had seen since 92. Still using the Iron Bowl as fuel, they were on a mission and they achieved it.
#1 question this year will be "what is the mental focus of this team?" I watch almost all of CNS press conferences and in most years he uses them to get the mental message to his team talking about the identity and maturity of the team. Last year he didn't talk as much about it, and I finally realized why. He didn't have to, they got it. If this team gets it too, we will be very hard to beat no matter where we play. If we need to mature, I hope we do it quickly before 2010 happens again.

Another overly entusiastic fan wrote the article. We lost our six BEST defensive players and we're supposed to win the NC with our OFFENSE??? Isn't this the identical argument some of our fans made in 2010? How do we replace three and four year players/starters like Dre, Hightower, Upshaw, Barron, Menzie, & Harris. We lost 3 linebackers and 3 from the defensive backfield. Our strength is our defense, especially LB's & DB's and we lost 6 of the 8 players in those areas. Sorry, I'm too much a realist to think we can replace such players overnight. I hope we can win the SEC, but the NC might be out of our reach.



With a veteran quarterback, an up-and-coming offense and a talented, deep defense, the chances for a BCS repeat in Tuscaloosa appear promising. But the prospect of adding yet another crystal football to the mantle hinges on a few important areas.



 :popcorn2:

Huh? We lost 10 starters from the 2009 defense and you think their replacements in 2010, mainly untested players, were better than 2009?


 ???

Yes I do. They did return Hightower, Barron, Upshaw, Nico, and Chapman who all played with first team at one time or another. Then you had Harris and Lester who did have PT, then add in CJ, Millner, Menzie, & Dre then yes I do think they were a very talented bunch. My original opinion was about the team as a whole with an offense that didn't lose much at all. I see your point, but like I said in my opinion the team as a whole was more talented. If you disagree, I understand that and respect your opinion. When you try and compare these teams it is very hard and is like splitting hairs. They all have their strengths and weaknesses. Let's just be happy we have so many teams to debate over unlike the inbreds across the way that still talk about 2010 like it was Christmas Day.

Talent does not equal experience or ability. I will take an experienced 3 or 4 year player any day over a "talented" freshman or sophomore with no or very little experience. After losing 10 defensive players after 2009, it was obvious the Tide would struggle somewhat in 2010. We have had 4 & 5 star players who were considered talented but never started or did much at Alabama. We had several raw, inexperienced players going into 2010 who needed a full year of real experience which came together in 2011 and gave us a fantastic year. This will be a very interesting season for our team.


 :popcorn2:

I agree with you totally when you compare talent versus experience, usually experience will win that one. I also believe good leadership, and I emphasize the word good, plays a major role also. The good leadership usually follows the experience level of the players. The one thing that I think that is the main cog in the wheel this year will be injuries. I agree that Bama has much more team depth than they have had in the past years, but some key injuries can change the future of this team in a hurry this year. That is where the word luck comes in to play and Bama will need some to win the NC this year. JMO RTR!!

Let's face it.  The most important thing for this season is for AJ to remain healthy.  Without AJ playing, Bama would be a middle tier SEC team.  That is because the defense is young, and Bama will need some offensive production to get through the season unscathed.  Backup options at QB are the most limited they have been for some time.

2011 was maybe the first season that Saban didn't speak about mental focus, and it was clear why.  That was one of the most focussed (and greatest) defenses in Alabama history.  The younger offense made some mistakes, which particularly hurt the team in the first game against LSU, but came on strong in the BCSCG.

Even with the talent, I do anticipate some mental breakdowns by the young players on D.  I hope they prove me wrong, but I'm not counting on it.  This defense probably won't be as stout at last year's team.    Hopefully they improve during the early season before Bama gets into the heart of its schedule.

With AJ healthy, the offense should be improved.  The OL will be a veteran squad, one of the better units in recent memory.  And there are more than enough options at WR and RB to compensate for the loss of some key players at those positions.  EL showed much improvement last year, and if he can stay healthy he will be Bama's go-to RB.  I really like Yeldon, too, and although young he has as much talent as any RB on the team.  I don't see a redshirt for him this year.

Bama is a top 5 team this year, and if some of the young players step up it could compete for the crystal trophy in January.  LSU likely will be the toughest test, with a veteran returning defense and an improvement at QB, once again that game in November could decide the outcome of the season.

Bingo, you nailed it about AJ. If he gets hurt, we are in some deep do-do. Don't be surprised if he doesn't get several "accidental" late hits during a game. I expect this mainly against Arkansas & maybe LSU.

 :tinfoil: