2011 Pre-Season Analysis

Tide Fans –

Yesterday in Birmingham, Alabama there was a little cool breeze in the air. I even saw leaves falling from trees as if to announce fall was here. The leaves were actually falling because they were dead due to heat and lack of water, but regardless it got me excited! As I sat on my porch I felt the breeze telling me…”Hey buddy…football season is almost here…get off your ass and write the pre-season analysis!” It is game week… the greatest time of year is upon us, and I cannot wait!

Big things are expected from Alabama this season. Every poll and every magazine has The Tide ranked either 1st or 2nd. I am not a big fan of pre-season rankings, etc…It is just opinions of people who more than likely have never even played football. Don’t get me wrong…I like where they think we are, but it also makes me nervous. Hopefully Sports Illustrated didn’t give us the kiss of death by ranking us number 1. I do believe we have a very good football team…a very talented football team, and a team with revenge on their mind. Last year we missed our shot at playing for another national title by about 4 busted plays. 1 or 2 plays in the LSU game, and dare I mention the couple of plays against Auburn that would have changed the outcome.

This team is hungry, and they have a lot to play for. Riding on the emotions of a city rebuilding from the deadly tornado, to the death of a teammate…The Tide will be a highly motivated juggernaut. If we can use our emotions in a positive way, stay focused, and execute…I don’t believe there is a team out there that can stop us.

Let’s take a quick look at The Tide:

Offense – 2 words…Trent Richardson! Most of you know that I loved Mark Ingram…keep that in mind when I say this – I think Trent Richardson is better…and not by just a little! Trent will be a front running Heisman candidate all season. He may not win it, but he will be in New York – no doubt about that! His arms are just ridiculous…have you seen them? It’s like he has thighs coming out of his shoulders!
Obviously our entire offense will not just consist of Trent and his spectacular running…we have a host of talent to help him out! Returning receivers Darius Hanks and Marquis Maze will try and pick up where Julio left off…God I miss Julio!!! We also have some young talented receivers who I think will make a big impact this season. DeAndrew White, Kenny Bell, and as of today Duran Carter! Let’s not forget the tight ends…I think Michael Williams, and Brad Smelly play a big role this year as well.

Obviously quarterback has been all the talk this summer. I really don’t care who starts, because I believe they are both very talented. I think Saban plays them both, and feels them out for who plays better in certain situations. The good thing is that we have 2 capable QB’s! I think they will both experience some growing pains…let’s just hope they get over those really fast!

Defense – I don’t even know where to start. Whenever I start to get worried about who might beat us, or if our offense doesn’t produce…all I have to do is think about how ridiculously awesome our defense is going to be! I pity the first QB that gets sandwiched between Donta' Hightower and Courtney Upshaw…just ask all 3 of the QB’s Michigan State went through in the bowl game…they are still hurting.

Our secondary is going to be solid…which means we can blitz more…which means sandwich time for our front guys! You can’t move the ball really well when you are laying flat on your back! Our guys are fast, and they are going to be flying all over the place – it will look like we have 15 men on the field. We are about 3 deep at every linebacker position, and the line has depth too! It is going to be a fun season…man I love a powerful, punishing defense!! I just chest bumped the wall…I am fired up about the D!

Let’s run through the schedule:

Kent State – good warm up for our QB’s to work the kinks out and get some confidence.

Penn State – Our first test, and one I am a little nervous about. Going up there with untested QB’s makes me a little apprehensive…but then I just think about the defense again and I feel better. We just need to play conservative smash mouth football and our defense will take care of the rest!

N. Texas – Yawn

Arkansas – First SEC game, and always a close one! A lot of people are high on the hogs this year…not me…I think we make the pigs squeal…again crushing them with our defense

Florida – They will be fired up and ready to play us in the swamp…but I just don’t think they can hang with us for 4 qrtrs. This one may be close…but the Tide rolls in Gainesville…Trent runs wild!

Vandy – bring your kids to this one…it should be fun! 

Ole Miss – Bama pounds the “Black Bears”…seriously…how gay is the new mascot?

Tennessee – They put up a fight…but they just can’t hang with the big boys yet…but they are getting better.

LSU – If they have a team coming into this game, and are not all subpoenaed…then it may be interesting. LSU has been highly touted as well, but I just don’t see it. I think they have possibly 2 losses before we play them.

Miss. State – This is the game that bothers me…it’s a trap game that follows a big one against LSU. We have to go over there, and I am nervous…they are getting better. I think this one is close either way

Ga. Southern – Another game to take your kids to!

Auburn – “Never Again” is posted all over the weight room and locker rooms at Alabama, referring to the melt down in last years game. I would love nothing more than to go down there and whip that ass…but we have to be careful here. You never know what tricks Auburn is going to pull. I think we beat them, but not by as much as everyone thinks we will. It is always a fight…but I sooo want revenge!!

I can’t believe kickoff is like 4 days away!! This should be a very exciting year for us Bama fans…one that hopefully ends to the tune of Zydeco music, red beans and rice, and beignets! Sounds good doesn’t it?? I am not making hotel reservations for New Orleans just yet (I did that last year and it backfired on me). But, if we can get through our first few obstacles unscathed then I may consider it. We have the weapons…we have the will power…and we definitely have the coach to get it done!

Another season of Crimson Tide Football is upon us…how sweet it is!

See y’all soon!

RTR!

Jason