(and I will when the sting fades a bit). We got whipped. We got outplayed and outcoached by an inferior team. We once again failed to FINISH and this will drive CNS and the players to work like hell in the offseason. CNS is surely not taking the day off. He is in the thick of recruiting and nobody is better. As much as this loss sucked, it will give us the motivation we need to improve between now and the first kick next yr. RMFT

We don’t have a QB.
We only have one WR threat downfield.
Darius Hanks, Maze, are far from speed threats.
We don’t have a consistent shut down corner.
We don’t have a physical safety threat.
We don’t have a true DE pass rusher.
We don’t have depth at LB or legit OLB starter not named Hightower.
We dont have a kicker that makes FG consistantly.
Were losing Kevin Steele who is a very good recruiter.

Now with all this said I have faith in Saban and his ability to analyze talent and adjust. I read earlier that Burton Scott is possibly being sent to defense at Safety or Nickel type defender. Our OL is all in shambles but we have an entire year to get that back in line and regroup. We are going to lose some talent but we have great depth at OL and have a good prospect class with DJ fluker and James Carperter could be huge pluses at OL or DL depending on where they are needed. Brandon Gibson is a DJ Hall type WR and could produce next year. However we NEED a shut down corner to replace Arenas and anyone to replace mar. Johnson and sheriff. Those guys are not athletic but don’t fit our system on offense or defense. We need OLB opposite of HighTower, and a TRUE pass rusher, and we must get another downfield threat. It doesn’t need to be a top prospect but we need a legitmate WR that can seperate and make plays. I like Smelley as a TE next year and as a Red Zone threat. The man has hands. Earl Alexander is too damn slow. I like the guy but he is to slow. He reminds me of Shaq rumbling down the court. He’s more of a blocker that will get some PA passes.

I got faith in Saban. Losing Steele will hurt (recruiting wise) but Saban will fill that hole as well. Our replacement for Steele should be someone with excellent recruiting skills and a presence in either Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Ohio, or Mid Atlantic. Should bring a recruiting base like steele and the panhandle of FL and South Florida, and Georgia.

Roll Tide.

Here’s the down-side for next year – while we may not be the darlings of the media we will certainly be the “revenge” game for 8 SEC opponents next season. We will be playing 8 games against teams with a chip on their shoulder after what we did to them this year.

Here’s hoping that doesn’t take too great a toll.

They are losing a stellar front four, even if they get more consistent on offense (not to mention, Nutt was never a stellar recruiter). That cannot be overlooked. I still think the West is a two way catfight between UA-LSU. Ole Miss and Arkie fight for 3/4. The Barn and MSU slapfight for the cellar.

I like us to be overlooked a bit at the start. Here is a shocker- our O-Line next year will be better.

We can’t replace Andre with an equal, but we will be better at the other 4 spots. Seriously we will. Who will be our new LT is uncertain- but I like this Carpenter as a possibility there. But we will be balanced and able to run left or right.

If you remember before this year we were not thought to have a great O-line, but we did. We will be very good there next year too. We have recruited great at O-line and we will work these new guys in.

QB is up in the air but really who ever wins the spot will be JPW’s equal in ability although lacking experience. With coach Mac he will be ok.

Bama will win 10 next year. Only Va Tech, LSU, and Ole Miss look like possible losses and I think we take 1 of these 3 for sure. Even at Oxford I think we can take Ole Miss. Our most likely loss could be Va Tech as it will be a learning situation for our QB. LSU is home and I think we are going to be hard to be at home for a long while.

mark it dudes. sunday january 4, 2009, tempebamafan called for a second straight 12-0 regular season. i’m takin that to vegas too…

The Tide will be stronger and meaner. I’ll bet large sums that either Mac or Star play better in the backfield than JPW. I’m not taking anything from JPW because, he did give us a great regular season. The O-line might not be as powerful as this year but, they really will not have to be with the new backfield linning up. Also the D-line will be a lot more dominant against the run and pass. If I can see this and I’ve never coached college football then you are truly underestimating CNS. I didn’t expect them to perform so well so soon and really looked forward to 09 to be honest. We will see Urban and the Gators again in ATL and this time we will dine on fine gator tail. The Tide will put up more points and move the ball a lot faster than we have ever seen, "almost lethal’.

could have been if he’d had coach Mac all four seasons. Still not NFL talent, but a sight better than he was this year, and he got the job done fairly well this year. I hate it what he and all the other seniors had to endure for most of their time here, and am glad that our players for the next several (may it be forever!) years will get quality coaching from the start of their tenure here to the end.