Next years season projection - Page 3

MegaVars · January 9th, 2009, 11:58 AM

Imo...Us going undefeated next year would be more amazing than this past season. Of the only 9 seniors on the team we`re replacing our QB, both TE`s, All SEC Center, RG, DE, All American Safety, and an All American LT for early departure. You just can`t replace some of these players overnight. I look for some growing pains next year, especially in the O-line. We will still be in the situation where some freshmen are going to have to step up and fill some key spots. The chink in our armor this past season that I believe will effect us next season is that we did not have enough opportunities to put the back ups in to get some good PT and it showed when they were forced into action. Couple these factors in with some improved teams in the SEC next year, an undefeated season next year would be more of a major accomplishment than this past season...imo.

crimson_blood · January 9th, 2009, 12:03 PM

	Quote:	ihateorange365
	Since we will be playing one of the easiest schedules I have ever seen us have, we will go undefeated if we can beat Va Tech. We have SEVEN home games too.

While it’s true that most of our traditionally tougher games are in BDS, I think a lot of people will be surprised at how improved the SEC teams will be. There’s no such thing as an easy or light schedule in the SEC. Ole Miss and LSU will be very good. Arkansas and South Carolina will be much improved. I look for UT to be much better. The Barn may even win a few games. MSU will actually have an offense. Va Tech will not be another Clemson-type opponent to open up the season. Their defense will be tough as nails. In short, I don’t think our schedule in 2009 will be as “easy” as we think.

I think we win 9 games with a shot to win the West.

ihateorange365 · January 9th, 2009, 12:06 PM

	Quote:	MegaVars
	Imo...Us going undefeated next year would be more amazing than this past season. Of the only 9 seniors on the team we`re replacing our QB, both TE`s, All SEC Center, RG, DE, All American Safety, and an All American LT for early departure. You just can`t replace some of these players overnight. I look for some growing pains next year, especially in the O-line. We will still be in the situation where some freshmen are going to have to step up and fill some key spots. The chink in our armor this past season that I believe will effect us next season is that we did not have enough opportunities to put the back ups in to get some good PT and it showed when they were forced into action. Couple these factors in with some improved teams in the SEC next year, an undefeated season next year would be more of a major accomplishment than this past season...imo.

You hit the nail on the head here.

mlh · January 9th, 2009, 12:30 PM

If our OL develops then the Tide will roll in 09. However, a lot of things have to come together in order for a team to go undefeated. We were very lucky this year in that we had very few injuries. We are still lean enough on depth and experience that a couple of key injuries could have a huge impact on our record next year. All in all, I would be very pleased with 9 or 10 wins next year.

bamajag600 · January 9th, 2009, 08:38 PM

Before this season started, it was the overwhelming opinion that 2009 would be the break-out year (Saban's 3rd year). But now that we had the unexpected success of '08, it seems that some have been satisfied that the break-out was a year early and '10 will be the year we take the next big step.

fwiw; (which is nothing), Mark May has us at #4 in his way-too-early to have a pre-season ranking...ranking. Don't know if that is flattering or shocking??

81usaf92 · January 11th, 2009, 11:49 AM

Bama is already getting dismissed ,yet again , at taking the SEC and most people who dismiss them are saying that losing JPW and oline are the reasons. I can understand the oline debate but alabama really didn't really live off JPW but they could certanly die off him. I think if land randall and either McElroy becomes more mobile or Star becomes more accurate the o line problem will solve itself because Bama will arguably have the best recieving core in the nation at least the SEC. Being effective in the passing game will make Ingram more effective in the running game because defenses will be worried about not letting randall catch the home run ball ,julio getting the ball(need I say more), and hanks. I really think depending on what happens during the offseason dictates the rest of the season.

I think are known opponents are very beatable.

VA TECH- I think bama will win but i think va tech is a little better coached than clemson
ARKANSAS- I think arkie will be at best 3rd in the west and the fact that it in T town I say arkie is still a year away from being a serious threat.
USC- Spurrier doesn't have it anymore and I think no matter were this is played we win.
@ kentucky- it will be tough but I see bama.
@ Ole miss- this game will decide who has the inside track in the west and I think it will be another fist fight to the finish.
LSU and Tenn- I think we should win both at home because Les miles is a fading star and it is kiffin's first year.
MSU and Aubie- if we don't win these there is something wrong in the process.
FLORIDA- I really don't see anyone challenging them for the east except kentucky. I think Tebow stays but harvin goes and the fact their coordinator is gone gives us a good if not better chance at them than this year.
call it wishful thinking or realsitic but I still like were this thing is going.

BamaFossil · January 11th, 2009, 04:54 PM

	Quote:	Riverview Red
	Is Alabama "favored" against Va. Tech? Should we be? IMHO, the Tide will have a let down from this year's team; if for no other reason than because of the lose of John Parker Wilson. On the other hand it wouldn't surprise me if we had another great season. If we have the kind of effort we had against Clemson and Georgia we will be just fine. An effort similar to the Sugar Bowl would mean back to Shreveport.

I'll be surprised if Bama is favored for the opener against Va Tech. I believe I've read that they return all their O and D starters. Don't know about juniors declaring for the NFL... a cornerback maybe. I think Va Tech will be the toughest team Bama faces until Florida.

p'colabamaman · January 12th, 2009, 12:22 AM

	Quote:	Alasippi
	I think with our schedule that it's not totally unrealistic to think we may go undefeated in the regular season again. Va. Tech will be difficult, not so much because they're going to be so good, but because we ended with two losses and our confidence may be a little shaky at first. But if we get by that one, and improve as the season progresses we have a chance to win them all.

Got to disagree about the confidence factor. Brand new season, new start, everybody's head full of the possibilities. The confidence will be there. Just got to believe that CNS will make sure it's there.

But that first game, especially against a quality opponent like VT, is always a big hurdle to get through. But I expect Bama to come out again, like we did against Clemson, and show everybody that we are back and a force that will have to be dealt with.

BleedCrimson7 · January 12th, 2009, 03:32 AM

	Quote:	BamaFossil
	I'll be surprised if Bama is favored for the opener against Va Tech. I believe I've read that they return all their O and D starters. Don't know about juniors declaring for the NFL... a cornerback maybe. I think Va Tech will be the toughest team Bama faces until Florida.

VT loses their co-starter at QB, starting FB, and two starting OL on offense. On D, they lose one of their DE's, two of their starting LB's and their best DB. They also lose their kicker. They easily lose as much as we do. And we have more talent to begin with, and the class we are bringing in should be much better than theirs this year as well. Beamer is a great coach, but I'd say Saban is at the very least his equal. Seems alot of Bama fans are almost writing the VT game off as a loss which is nutts. Just looking at who's coming back, and who each team is brining in, etc...Bama has AT LEAST a 50/50 shot in this game, and likely a bit more. VT has an athletic QB, but his passing numbers are awful. Bama's front seven will shut down VT's running game, and if that QB can't get something going through the air--they are going to have a hard time scoring and thus a hard time winning.

capnfrog · January 13th, 2009, 01:27 AM

I think a 50/50 chance against VT, very very possible to lose to Ole Miss. We lose 3 games this year.

RT3413 · January 13th, 2009, 10:12 AM

To me, the first 2 games come down to the QB position and if we can step FORWARD in production or not. If we do, then we should come out on top.

In the end, I think we're a 9- or 10-win team with a very good chance to win the West if we beat 2 of Ole Miss, LSU and Auburn (don't count them out yet).

Getting back to Atlanta and into a BCS game seem to be highly achievable goals for our team next year.

Personally, I want to see our O-line gel, QB play to improve and have 1-2 new receivers step out as playmakers. On D, I think our biggest challenge is to find a way to not slip in productivity at safety and I like our chances to have the best LB corps in the nation.

2003TIDE · January 13th, 2009, 10:55 AM

All I'm going to say about VT is that Tyrod Taylor can't pass his way out of a wet paper bag. 2 TD's 7 INT on the year. He had 738 yds rushing for a 5 yd average and 7 TD's. All we have to do is shut down the run and make him pass. What was our strength this year??? Shutting down the run........