They lost 2 in a row (and I need not remind you who the second was to) to close out last season. I certainly hope they 'pick up where they left off.'
Bama lost a lot of starters on offense(7?), so logic tells you they should struggle a bit. But considering how uninspired their offense seemed last year, they still scored and primarily because of the defense, which should be just as good as last year. They don't have a particularly tough schedule either. Hard to say how they will do. Saban's younger players seem to have responded well so far. They and Ole Miss will certainly be the teams to beat in our division. And just as I say that, watch Arkansas or Auburn sneak up and have the best record!
Will they not have a rookie QB? In this respect they will be a lot like LSU last year. Defense is another comparison, but two losses last year were completely about TD's thrown for the other team. We would have beaten Bama and Georgia if not for that, their offenses didn't do it. Georgia had 52 points on the board, but we scored a lot, too. It was only a 14-point game and the 17 points LSU gave up on interceptions was the difference. What was this attitude about? Who had an attitude? How do you know this ? I didn't see the team "basically just quit". I saw them basically get beat.
I think they quit after the Alabama game. The bowl game showed a team with renewed pride that was noticeably lacking after November 7th.
I think the Bama loss took them down a peg in enthusiasm, as tough OT losses often do, but what did you see that makes you think someone "quit?"
Bama probably wont lose games because of their QB -- at least not early in the game like we did last year. I doubt they will put as much pressure on their QB like Crowton did with Lee. However, there is a very good chance that they will struggle because of new offensive linemen, which will ultimately put the ball in the QB's hands on third downs and the fourth quarter. Id say Crowton is to blame as well and I doubt under a more conservative offense they will make similar mistakes early in games. Probably more screens and punts and get the defense back on the field. #4 is too high for a team with a lot of question marks. I don't doubt Ole Miss has the ability to beat the UF's and UGA's of the SEC...but will they beat all of the mid level teams? We'll see...
Ouch !!:wink:. I wasn't privy to what went on in the locker room. But reading between the lines as to why a defense that returned so many starters from an NC team, attitude was the only peg I could hang my hat on... As bad as the co DC experiment seemed, I blame player effort more because the co DCs only administered a defense that was already in place from when we practically lead the nation in D the year before.
The Bammers think that they are 4-deep at running back and will run, run, run the football this year. I think that if they do they will be seeing 8 and 9 men in the box on defense. Nick has to get a QB developed this season and try to have a balanced offense or the Bama running backs won't be able to break out.
True, which is why their QB's are going to have to make plays regardless. Defense and special teams will help and any inexperienced QB too. Theyve got some decent skill players which will make things better but the truth is we're going to have to wait until September to really understand how good that side of the ball is.
