10/15 2008 Second Half Preview
Since this is our off-week, I had a lot of ideas about things I could blog about. I thought opining about the Stallings Era, revisiting our 2008 recruiting class, discussing our 2009 recruiting class, and based on the happenings last weekend, I was hoping I could talk about being ranked Number 1. However, since that didn’t happen, I decided to give a preview of the second half of the season. As always, the second half of our season is a real gauntlet, and we have to bring it each and every week.
We kick it off next week against Ole Miss. This game really scares me, because I’m afraid that we won’t fully appreciate the talent that the Rebels possess. Actually, they’re probably the most balanced team that we’ll play the rest of the season. Jevan Snead, their QB, is a transfer from the University of Texas, and he is really good; think of a smaller version of Tim Tebow with a better arm. They have loads of talent at RB, including Cordera Eason, who shunned us to attend Ole Miss. Their defensive line is absolutely ridiculous. Not only do they have Greg Hardy who almost single-handedly beat us last year, but they also have Jerrell Powe at defensive tackle, who is as talented as any defensive tackle in the league. Ole Miss is notoriously inconsistent, but remember, they beat Florida in Gainesville, so when they play their best, they can beat anybody, and you know they’ll play their best against us.
After Ole Miss, we face the Tennessee Volunteers. Yeah, I know most Bama fans are already putting this one in the win column, but that’s a huge mistake. Tennessee is undoubtedly one of the most talented teams in the SEC; they’re just lacking one position, QB. Seriously, watch them play, and you’ll see that their defense is rugged, and their running backs are fantastic. If they only had a QB, they would probably be ranked in the Top Ten right now, and that’s where it gets scary. They have two QBs who are very talented; they’re just young and aren’t playing well. If they have a good game when we go up to Knoxville, they’ll give us all we want and more. Let’s hope they wait awhile to start playing well!
After Tennessee we play Arkansas State, who really shouldn’t pose much of a problem, except for the fact that they have one of those explosive system-based offenses. Hey, since we lost to Louisiana-Monroe last year, we can’t afford to look past anybody.
Then comes LSU. This game will be one of the hardest hitting games any of us have ever seen. Hopefully we’ll both be in the Top Ten, and in all probability, the winner will represent the SEC in the SEC Championship game. Similar to Tennessee, LSU is ultra-talented, but have issues at QB. Unfortunately, Les Miles and Gary Crowten are handling their young QBs very well, maximizing their effectiveness. This game will be close, and if our players think for one second that LSU can’t beat us, we’ll not only lose, we’ll get crushed. I trust Saban to not let that happen.
Next, Mississippi State comes to town, and I hope that our players still wake up screaming thinking about losing to these jokers 2 years in a row. MSU has a solid defense, and a really good running back, and that’s about it. Of course, we’ve seen the last two years that if their defense can keep the game close, they have a way of pulling out a win at the end. We need to get a little payback this year, so this game had better not be that close at the end.
We all know who’s next, the Auburn Tigers! Their struggles on offense have been well-documented, and surprisingly, they actually fired their offensive coordinator, Tony Franklin, mid-season, so it remains to be seen how they’ll respond. Like always, their defense is incredibly physical, so we can’t depend on our running game to push them around. We have to have a solid passing attack, and we have to figure out some way to protect Wilson. All in all, we absolutely, positively have to win this game. We simply cannot lose to them for a seventh straight year, and with the season we’re having and with this game being in Tuscaloosa, we have to win.
Of course, if we’re fortunate in the games I’ve described, we’ll go to SEC Championship game, where we’ll probably face the winner of the Florida – Georgia game. I won’t preview the Gators right now, because that game is a lifetime away. I’ll just be thrilled if we’re there, and based on the first half of this season, I’ll be crushed if we’re not.
So that’s what we have ahead of us. Each and every opponent poses a challenge, and can beat us if we don’t come to play. I won’t make a prediction as to how we’ll finish, but I’ll say this. For the first time in my memory, when I think of the games that lie ahead of us, I’m not betting against us in any of them. Saban has worked miracles with this team, and our players have played inspired football this whole season, and that’s something we haven’t seen in decades. It’s been a magical ride; let’s keep it going!
As always, feel free to contact me with any questions or comments.
Roll Tide,
Kenny
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