Georgia wrap-up: A story too preposterous for Hollywood, but still so very real
From now until the day that football ceases to be played, is Jalen Hurts’ legacy, and someone should carve it into the precast concrete of Mercedes-Benz Stadium for good measure: Here played a true teammate, unselfish and honorable, a good man and leader of men, a champion. Here was where Jalen Hurts was finally appreciated for the winner he always was.
Arkansas preview: Bama is catching Razorbacks in transition
October 4, 2018 Comments Off on Arkansas preview: Bama is catching Razorbacks in transition
Although the Bret Bielema era ended rather unceremoniously in Fayetteville, through at least the first four games of the year, Bielema suddenly looked like Vince Lombardi in the rear-view mirror as far as most Arkansas fans were concerned.
Arkansas lost games to Colorado State and North Texas. As bad as that was, the Mean Green of North Texas blew out the Razorbacks. The combination of factors necessary for North Texas to blow out an SEC team occurs with the frequency of ice ages. Apparently 2018 was the year of the Mean Green Woolly Mammoth.
Continue reading …Louisiana wrap-up: Flat finish belies just how dominant Alabama was
September 29, 2018 Comments Off on Louisiana wrap-up: Flat finish belies just how dominant Alabama was
Alabama broke out to a 49-0 lead at the half over Louisiana, then added another score in the third quarter before the air sort of went out of the ball in the fourth quarter. Nick Saban certainly can’t mind that, because it gives himself something to focus on for the upcoming week.
Continue reading …Texas A&M Preview: Aggies Are Better Under Fisher, But Not On Bama’s Level Yet
September 20, 2018 Comments Off on Texas A&M Preview: Aggies Are Better Under Fisher, But Not On Bama’s Level Yet
There are a lot of similarities between Texas A&M in 2018 and Alabama in 2007. Both programs were coming out of the pit of despair – which for their respective fan bases, means anything less than 10 wins a season. While the Aggie offense is much improved – which you’d figure would happen, given Fisher’s history as an offensive coordinator – the Aggie defense might not be able to slow down Alabama’s high-powered passing attack enough to pull the upset.
Continue reading …Ole Miss Preview: Tide’s Offense Might Find Itself in Shootout of its Own Making
September 13, 2018 Comments Off on Ole Miss Preview: Tide’s Offense Might Find Itself in Shootout of its Own Making
This game isn’t really a trap game for Alabama, as Ole Miss has won two games in the series recently and isn’t about to sneak up on Alabama in any way. It’s still a very dangerous matchup, however, and shows why Nick Saban so badly wanted to add Freeze to his staff over the offseason.
Continue reading …Previews 2018: Alabama Crimson Tide
August 10, 2018 Comments Off on Previews 2018: Alabama Crimson Tide
The 2018 team needs to completely rebuild the back seven of the defense, but it’s a testament to Saban’s recruiting that despite having just two starters returning among the linebackers and defensive backs, every unit rates as “Very Good” with the potential to be much more than that. Offensively, Alabama must decide who it is and who it wants to be, as not only is there a full-blown quarterback controversy afoot, but also a significant change in offensive coordinator leadership.
Continue reading …Spring preview: For once, identity will be determined by who wins certain jobs
March 19, 2018 Comments Off on Spring preview: For once, identity will be determined by who wins certain jobs
Alabama has multiple dichotomies in play. There is the quarterback battle between Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts, a contrast of styles between a quarterback ideally suited for a pro spread passing game and one suited for a spread-option style attack. There is new offensive coordinator Mike Locksley, whose background promises more success the more misdirection and spread elements are inplay, but then there’s new QB coach Dan Enos, who made his bones largely on the back of more traditional sets with play-action and a quarterback under center.
Continue reading …Georgia wrap-up: Saban’s courage to make a tough call nets him a sixth title
January 9, 2018 Comments Off on Georgia wrap-up: Saban’s courage to make a tough call nets him a sixth title
If coaches are granted that kind of freedom after just one title, imagine the length of leash there is for Nick Saban, now winner of six titles. For the second time in his coaching career, he now finds himself in the rarefied air once inhabited by Paul “Bear” Bryant, the first time of course being when he took the job in Tuscaloosa in the first place.
Continue reading …Mercer preview: Wounded Alabama hopes for a Mercer-ful respite before Auburn game
November 15, 2017 Comments Off on Mercer preview: Wounded Alabama hopes for a Mercer-ful respite before Auburn game
Mercer, a school whose program lay dormant from 1942 to 2013, is a Southern Conference member of the former Division-IAA, now called FCS. The Bears are 5-5 in 2017, put a small scare into Auburn earlier in the year, and lost by just 1 point to Wofford, which now sits at 9-1 and leads the Southern Conference standings.
Continue reading …MSU preview: Bulldogs can be explosive, but can also self-destruct
November 9, 2017 Comments Off on MSU preview: Bulldogs can be explosive, but can also self-destruct
Prior to Mississippi State’s 34-23 win over UMass last week, the Bulldogs hadn’t played a single game this year that didn’t end in a blowout.
The Bulldogs had six wins, the closest margin of which was 21 points in a thumping of Texas A&M. The Bulldogs also had two losses, which came by 28 and 39 points.
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