2008 Pre-Season Analysis

Tide Fans -

Can you feel it? Can you feel that electricity in the air? The office chatter has started, the rivalries are already heating up - it is football season!!

I don't know about you, but in my office the buzz for college football is growing stronger every minute we get closer to Aug. 30th! I'm pretty sure someone will get a blind side full on tackle before the first game gets here. 10 days….10 days until The Tide takes the field against a top 10 ranked Clemson team. I am soo fired up about this game…a little nervous, but still very fired up! I have to admit - it is going to be a little weird opening the season at a neutral site, but in a way it makes it even more exciting. If you all remember, the last time we played in the Georgia Dome we left very happy, and I think we will be happy this time as well. This will be a very tough test for us, but I think playing this game early in the season somehow works to our advantage.

A lot of people are saying that how we play in this first game will tell us how the season will go. I do not believe that. Even if we happen to lose the opening game, I still think we end up with a 9 win season with possibly a surprise victory in there to give us 10. I definitely think we do win one of the games we are "not supposed" to win. I believe that win comes either against Georgia or LSU. And yes - the streak ends this year! Every time I see an Aub with that stupid "6" sticker in their back window I want to ram them. Some of you are probably shaking your head right now as you read this thinking I have lost my mind, but I really do think this will be a good season for The Tide. We finally have some depth in most positions, and along with that some very talented freshman who will see a lot of playing time this year. I was very nervous about our linebacker situation, but I have calmed down a little about that with the reports coming from practice about some of our young talent. Having Prince Hall back in the 3rd game will help tremendously there. Clemson will really test us by running to those young linebackers in our opener, so we will see what our famed freshman can do.

I believe that having more time under Coach Saban; the team has learned his system and is now fully ingrained in "The Process". I also believe, and now some of you may really think I am crazy, that John Parker Wilson will have a good season. I think Applewhite had his technique all messed up last year, and that we will see a totally different JPW. He will have plenty of good experienced targets to throw to in Mike McCoy and Nikita Stover, as well as some really, really good freshman. Can you say Julio!!!! He is the real deal folks - look for #8 in the first game - he will be out there! Also look for good use of the tight ends this season - I think we will hear Travis McCall and Nick Walker's names called out a bunch! As far as the running game - we have more running backs than we know what to do with, and I honestly have no idea who is going to play. I'm sure my "Man Crush" from last season Terry Grant will start, but I believe we will see a bevy of running backs utilized in this new system.

Special teams bring us Javier Arenas and Leigh Tiffin. I am very exited about having a solid kicking game, and an incredible return man. Javier makes things happen when he gets the ball - look for more this season!

I could go on and on with this post, but I don't want to make this pre-season post too lengthy! I just want everyone to be excited for this upcoming season, because I think it could be very special. We knew it was going to take some time for Saban to get things turned around, and it may be another year before we really look like we are “back”, but I think we are going to surprise some people this year, and that we will have fun watching the Tide. I look forward to another season of the Weekly Tide Analysis, and I welcome your comments.
I hope to see all of you in Atlanta….Roll Tide Roll!
Jason