What we thought we knew: Alabama had too much to replace. What we know: The Crimson Tide might be...

What we thought we knew: Alabama had too much to replace.
What we know: The Crimson Tide might be the best team in the country.

After losing its last two games in 2008, Alabama entered this season with plenty of concerns. The Crimson Tide lost three starting offensive linemen, including All-America left tackle Andre Smith, along with quarterback John Parker Wilson and leading rusher Glen Coffee.

But through three games, the Crimson Tide look like the team to beat in the SEC West. Quarterback Greg McElroy has been fantastic, and Alabama has four tailbacks -- Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson, Roy Upchurch and Terry Grant -- who would start for a lot of teams. The offensive line has held up pretty well, and Alabama's defense might be the best in the country.

Alabama also has the easiest road among the SEC West contenders. It plays at No. 4 Ole Miss on Oct. 10, but gets No. 7 LSU at home Nov. 7. The Tide do not play Florida or Georgia, the two best teams in the SEC East.

Comments

Like the support

but I think it is a little early to be drinking the kool-aid. We have not played against a good offense yet.

Against the best D (VT) we had to wait until late (when we had worn them out) to start scoring. Plus our kick-off coverage has been terrible and our DB’s can be beat at times.

We will need to play better against Arky, SC, KY, Ole Miss, UT, LSU & Auburn than we have thus far to win each and every game without the proverbal “off game.” I think MSU & Chatt. are in the bag.

Still way too early to tell.

I hate the NCAA more than UT & AU combined. At least with UT & AU you got a fighting chance.

by 5026 on Sep 21, 2009 4:31 PM CDT reply actions

yes. it is too early to tell...

…but this is the counter argument to the ole miss love fest in the pre-season. the rebels have one of the strongest teams they’ve had in years and a relatively ideal schedule, ergo the darkhorse mnc hype. but the fact is the same argument holds for alabama once you look a little further than the last five quarters of the ‘08 season. this team is as good as advertised and we’ve got as ideal a schedule as you can have in the SEC.

of course keep in mind nobody is saying anything more than we are one of the best teams in the country. just read the front page of this blog to see there are some glaring deficiencies that need to be addressed. but it’s just a lot of folks who had insisted on putting qualifiers on that statement are realizing they aren’t necessary.

by kleph on Sep 21, 2009 5:00 PM CDT up reply actions

It's too late for me..

…stares at empty Kool-Aid jug

by Go Hide in the V-berth on Sep 21, 2009 5:58 PM CDT up reply actions

U CHUG!

by kleph on Sep 21, 2009 7:35 PM CDT up reply actions

..

I wouldn’t say that they had to wait to start scoring towards the end of the game against VT.. Had mcelroy established a rythem a little earlier I think it wouldve been a blowout.. Not to mention the pluthura of mistakes made on D and special teams. I think bama had a very bad night, and VT just played well. You are correct though, it is too early to tell and a ranked ACC opponent is normally only as good as an unranked SEC team most of the time haha. I do believe that they have got the the best they ever could have hoped for out of mcelroy. He’s smart, doesn’t take too long to make his decisions, and spreads the ball out making anyone dangerous. If he can stay healthy and as consistent as he is we just might have the best all around qb we’ve had in a while. The only thing that can prevent this team from accomplishing their goals is themselves. They have the talent and the the drive, they just need to come hard with the WILL part. Consistency consistency consistency! Can’t say it enough

It's not the will to win, but the will to prepare to win that makes the difference.
-Paul "Bear" Bryant

by bamalover on Sep 21, 2009 5:06 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

I'll agree

GMac, unless he totally falls to pieces, and I just can’t see that happening, is far better than we could have hoped for and better (at least right now) than JPW.

That being said, going into Sat. I’d feel better if Rashad Johnson was still running the secondary.

I hate the NCAA more than UT & AU combined. At least with UT & AU you got a fighting chance.

by 5026 on Sep 21, 2009 8:09 PM CDT up reply actions

Look up....

is there a black cloud following you?

Think positive man, give yourself a break.

Got that winning feelin'

by skycaster on Sep 21, 2009 10:02 PM CDT up reply actions

NEWS FLASH

JOHN PARKER AND RASHAD JOHNSON GRADUATED

Let’s move on…

"You have to create 6 seconds of hell each play..."
Coach Nick Saban

by LittleSis on Sep 23, 2009 8:13 AM CDT up reply actions

funny you mention that...

…because so has greg mcelroy.

by kleph on Sep 23, 2009 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions

good point!

JOHN PARKER AND RASHAD JOHNSON ARE GONE.

Let’s move on…

"You have to create 6 seconds of hell each play..."
Coach Nick Saban

by LittleSis on Sep 23, 2009 11:05 AM CDT up reply actions

Let's

give JPW a break. He didn’t exactly have great O-line play until his senior year and the guy made an NFL roster as an undrafted free agent. That alone gets him major respect in my book.

"A demagogue is one who preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots." -H. L. Mencken

by Bens4vcobra on Sep 23, 2009 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions