Alabama 2015 Preview: Crimson Tide Rollin’ To SEC Title?
You know you’ve built a dynasty when every year, people are talking about the Alabama Crimson Tide and mentioning the words “National Title”. In fact, it’s a disappointment when they DON’T get to the final game. And when they were outplayed by Ohio State in the College Football Play-Off semi-final and didn’t get there, it was a disappointment, despite winning the SEC Title.
LAST SEASON
As mentioned, Alabama lost the College Football Play-Off game to ‘The’ Ohio State University. They didn’t just lose, they were wildly outschemed and outplayed, with the secondary bullied throughout the game. Before that, Alabama went a tidy 11-1 and won both the SEC West and then the SEC Championship Game. Their only loss was in front of Katy Perry, College Gameday, and Ole Miss, who then invaded the field in some of the best scenes 2014 had to offer us.
‘Bama had seven players picked in the NFL Draft – noted as the lowest since 2011 – although one of their best went the way of professionalism – their great wide receiver, Amari Cooper. The Tide will still return 12 starters. And despite the usual coaching rumors, neither Lane Kiffin or Kirby Smart left for pastures news, and Nick Saban’s wife did not buy a house in Texas.
OFF-SEASON
Alabama has actually had a horrible off-season discipline wise, having to boot Jonathan Taylor – who they’d brought it after Taylor was actually booted from UGA for pretty much the same thing – for domestic violence. Also arrested were cornerback Cyrus Jones, safety Geno Smith for a DUI (idiot), and RB Tyren Jones for weed possession. Cyrus Jones’ charges were later dropped, while Tyren Jones was booted. It’s been a ‘off-season horribilis’ for the Nick Saban “family”, who’s life actually got even more expensive as he just got a new son-in-law.
NOW…..
POUND ‘EM ON THE FLOOR
It should be pretty easy to work out what Alabama’s strategy will be behind a massive offensive line: Pound ’em into the ground. At least, that’s what I would do. The Crimson Tide have got Derrick Henry, who will run you over, or run past you. He’s actually gone under-the-radar this off-season with all the talk about Mssrs. Fournette and Chubb. And there’s a healthy Kenyan Drake back, too.
WHO IN THE HELL’S GONNA BE THE QUARTERBACK?
Jake Coker injured his foot in training, but is apparently back and as good as ever. And by the word “good”, we don’t mean “outstanding”, because if he was “outstanding”, he wouldn’t be in a straight-up fight for the starting job with freshman Blake Barnett (who a lot of fans think should get the job) and David Cornwell. I don’t know who the starter’s going to be, and I don’t think Saban or Kiffin does yet. And they aren’t in a hurry to name one, though.
Receiving-wise, we expect T.E. OJ Howard to be a monster target for Kiffin’s offense, which is said to be speeding up in this new age of bullet-fast offenses. WR Robert Foster’s playing with a sprained MCL, and ADarius Stewart are expected to be strong targets too, but expect life after Cooper to be harder.
DEFENSIVELY….
THE DEFENSIVE LINE IS A FREAKIN’ MONSTER. I put this in facts because it’s a fact. A’Shawn Robinson, Jarran Reed, Jonathan Allen, D.J. Pettway, Dalvin Tomlinson, Da’Shawn Hand and Darren Lake are all filthy. I expect to see a lot of offenses go backwards against these guys. How will they cope against speedier offenses? We will see. But against one-trick ponies, they’ll be fine.
BUT SECONDARY-WISE….
A lot of people are telling me how underrated Alabama’s secondary is, and they might be right. But it wasn’t Alabama’s lack of athletes that made their secondary so bad in 2014. It was the coaching. For some reason, the players had been told to go for the big hit instead of the ball, and more often their over-aggressiveness caught them out. We saw them being caught out against Ole Miss. Then against Auburn. And then against Missouri in the SEC Championship Game (seriously, if you watch the game see the big plays they gave up), and then Ohio State and Cardale Jones did the same. Statistically, they were mediocre (58th in pass yards allowed in the nation). And were found out for it. Will new secondary coach and former Chicago Bears defensive co-ordinator Mel Tucker Cyrus Jones turn the team into world beaters?
SCHEDULE
Sep. 5 – Wisconsin (at JerryWorld)
Sep. 12 – Middle Tennessee
Sep. 19 – Ole Miss
Sep. 26 – Louisiana-Monroe
Oct. 3 – at Georgia
Oct. 10 – Arkansas
Oct. 17 – at Texas A&M
Oct. 24 – Tennessee
Nov. 7 – Louisiana State
Nov. 14 – at Mississippi State
Nov. 21 – Charleston Southern
Nov. 28 – at Auburn
The schedule’s evil, there’s no doubt about it, although it’s a little easier because they play a non-Melvin Gordon Wisconsin team in JerryWorld, which takes out any worry of going to the nasty away environment that is Camp Randall. We expect them to win. In fact, we expect Alabama to win all of their games until the Iron Bowl on November 28th. When they play Auburn for an unbeaten season, a SEC West title, a berth in the SEC Championship Game, and a possible trip to the play-offs. Where they lose.