Alabama Football: 2008 vs. 2009

[studmlb55]

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I think we can all agree that we feel more comfortable this year being in the spotlight and being at or near the top of the polls. I would also argue, that I believe, most of us have higher expectations for this year's team than last years.

My question is: Are we really better this year, or are we simply just more comfortable with this year's team, due to the success of last year's team?

Here is a very simplistic breakdown of Alabama football 2008 vs. Alabama football 2009:

Quarterback: Gmac has a much better ability to throw the deep ball than JPW. This has opened up our running game a bit, keeping defenses from crowding the line of scrimmage and bringing help with their safeties. JPW did a little better job of finding his receivers underneath with accurate throws, but not that much better. Push

Running Back: This years group has been great. MI is running the ball as well as we have had anyone do it in a long time, possibly ever. However, MI was apart of last year's stable of running backs, and GC was no slouch. With that being said, I have to give a more mature, better conditioned, MI the nod, with his young prodigy TR, over last year's combo of GC and MI. ADV: 2009

Offensive Line: I don't think there is any doubt that last year's offensive line carried our football team on its back. AS may be the best left tackle we have ever seen at the University of Alabama, he simply dominated anybody and everybody who was put in front of him. AC was another piece of our OL that was solid, week to week at center. This year's group has gelled nicely with JC taking over at LT and DD playing the RT solidly. However, I have to say, one of the reasons we have struggled this year in the red zone, is because our offensive line is not a dominant, "push you back, out of my way" type of line, unlike last years. ADV: 2008

Wide Receiver/Tight End: In 2008, there was no doubt who our go-to-guy was, JJ. We did a great job of dispersing the ball to NW at tigh end throughout the year also. If you take away these 2 guys production, our passing game was less than stellar in 2008. This year, I see an Alabama attack that is much more well rounded. GMac is dispersing the ball around nicely, giving defenses fits (they are not able to focus on "locking" down 1 receiver). JJ has played well this season, his stats are down from last year, but he has done a great job of blocking down the field for us, and running sharp routes. I also give JJ alot of credit for being a leader for our other young receivers, and helping them pick their game up this year. CP at tight end has been a God-send this year, giving us a big target in the red zone, when healthy. The biggest and best suprise this year has been MM at wideout. His speed and elusiveness has given us a homerun-threat, something that was much needed, in this group. ADV. 2009

Defensive Line: This years defensive line has been stellar. The same could be said for 2008's. We haven't faced a team in 2 years that has been able to run the ball at will on our front 4...pretty amazing to think about. This year though, we have seen a TC that has shown he is more agile and in better condition, due to his hardwork and determination in the offseason to lose weight. We have also seen the emergence of M. Darius, who is a complete freak up front. BD at the end is also a great run stopper, and can pin his ears back and come when needed. We have most of the core back on this year's front four, but we see a better experienced, more conditioned, stronger group. ADV. 2009

Linebacker: Last year's group was led by the two-headed monster of RM and DH. Everyone was excited to see this group play this year, as they were proving to be maybe the best 1-2 linebacker combo. in the country in 2009. In 2008, many of us were worried about our LB's, and most of us did not think DH would see the time of day on the field, you could say we were pleasantly suprised. 2009's version of LB's have proven to be much more equipped to defend the pass than 2008, however they have been equally stingy against the run. RM has continued to show leadership skills and developed into one of the true "good guys" in college football. Without DH's injury this year, without a doubt this year's linebacking crew would have been head and shoulders better than last years, unfortunately he is. ADV. Push

Cornerbacks/Safeties: Last year's defensive backfield was outstanding. You could argue that this group single handily defeated LSU in BR in 2008. RJ at safety was a true leader and a extremely knowledgeable player, who seemed to always be in the right place, either by scheme or instinct. JA has bulked up nicely and has become a lock down type corner. His play in 2008 was great, but no one can argue, the 2009 version of JA is an upgrade. The biggest suprise for Alabama this year has been the play of MJ at corner. He has continually gotten better as the season has progressed, and has shown a knack for playing the ball while it is in the air. (See Miss. St. 2009) Both of these groups have played extremely well for Alabama, and I can't deviate as to which team I find more prolific, hence... ADV Push



Your thoughts...

[RedStar]

Interesting thoughts. I had a conversation with a few guys at my office who offered similar insight. A common topic has been how are the top teams this year, compared to the top teams last year?

08 UF > 09 UF
08 Texas > 09 Texas
08 USC > 09 USC
08 Oklahoma > 09 Oklahoma
08 Ohio State > 09 Ohio State
08 Georgia > 09 Georgia
08 Penn State > 09 Penn State

Very few of the top teams are actually better this year.
LSU 09 > LSU 08
Bama 09 > Bama 08

This is why I think we should be odds on favorite to win the national title. It's why so many people think this season has been a bust so far. Most of the top teams just haven't looked good.

As for the breakdown:

QB JPW was a little more seasoned, and had a little more moxy, but I think our offensive is leaps and bounds above what it was last year. We still have trouble scoring in the redzone, but we've put up between 350-500 yards of offense in every game except one. But a push is a pretty safe estimate. Push

The RB breakdown is dead on. Mark and Trent form a better duo than Glen and Mark. Half of Ingram's 1200+ yards have come after contact. That's rare for an elite high school back, much less a Heisman contender. 2009

OL To me it depends on what we're talking about. Run blocking? 2008. Pass blocking? 2009. We've been a little streaky in both areas. Overall, I think Andre makes 2008 the better OL. 2008

Our DL this year seems to be a perfect blend of pass rushers/run stopers. Dareus could end up being the best DE we've had in a decade and Cody and Deaderick eat RB's alive. If for no other reason alone I'd give 2009 the odd simply because Deaderick was shot a few days before the season opener and still played. What a beast. 2009

WR/TE I wish McCoy would step up a little more like he did early in the season, I think that would push this one completely in 2009's favor. But 2009 still gets my vote despite an inexlposive Julio. Part of the WR problem last year was the lack of read progression's from JPW, part of it was a lack of experienced talent. Either way, we're much better here this year. 2009

LB Anders/Reamer have been two of the better surpises on the team this year. Losing Hightower hurt, but a strange thing happened along the way. Ro has taken his game to another level during DH's absence. I said after the VT game that Hightower would end up being the better LB of the two. And through 3 1/2 games I think he was arguably more valuable than Ro. Ro dominates 1 position, DH was on the verge of dominating 3. But once Hightower went down, Ro morphed into someone unfamiliar. Athletes are always being compared to the guys who played before them. Not so with Ro. He's not the second coming of Lawrence Taylor or Derrick Thomas. He's the first Rolando McClain. He's an original. 2009

DB This is an interesting battle. At first thought RJ immediately makes you think 2008 should get the nod, but Barron's play has only been a notch below what RJ brought to the field. With the ball in his hands, Barron looks like the explosive offensive player he used to be. Marquis Johnson is better than a year ago, as are Javy and Kareem, and Green looks like a seasoned vet out there. Even with the loss of RJ, which I thought would be huge, I think we've actually improved in this area. 2009

ST/K It's been an up and down year for special teams. Tiffin/Fitzgerald have looked like All-American/All-SEC candidates. But our kick coverage has been pitiful at times. This is probably the only area where the 2009 team really takes a backseat to the 2008 team. Javy has been bottled up for most of the season because no one will kick to him. 2008

If we play to our potential, I see us beating UF by 7 in the SECCG and Texas by 10 in the BCSNCG. That is a BIG if. We have only played to our potential 1 or 2 games this year. But the same can be said for most college football teams in 2009.

[BLAKE55]

I agree with most of what you said. However, I would disagree regarding OL and the defensive secondary.

The OL last year had 2 All-Americans and they were absolutely solid. However, the OL this year seems to play as a unit rather than as 3-4 really good lineman and 1-2 lineman that don't let you down too often. The OL is designed, more so than any other position on the field, to be played as a unit. Additionally I know the offensive production is up this year from last year. Some of that is improved QB play and a more mature Ingram. Some of that success is due to the OL and I personally would say this UNIT is better than the unit last year.

The defensive secondary kept me up at nights prior to the season starting...and if I am honest it has several times during the season. However, Mark Barron is playing at least as well as RJ did...not to mention a more mature and better Javy and Woodall. I reserve special mention for KJ and MJ because those 2 were the most likely people to make me use profanity in front of my kids last year and early during this season. However, much to my relief, these two have come on strong and I would take the 2009 version of this team over 2008 any day.

Again, nice thoughts.

[BamaBeta]

I think you are dead on except about the linebackers. The linebackers this year have been more productive than last year, even with the absence of Hightower. Having said that, I think 2009 is only slightly better than 2008. If Hightower were still playing, much bigger difference.

[studmlb55]

	Quote:	BamaBeta
	I think you are dead on except about the linebackers. The linebackers this year have been more productive than last year, even with the absence of Hightower. Having said that, I think 2009 is only slightly better than 2008. If Hightower were still playing, much bigger difference.

Yea that one was tough for me...If I was forced to give a nod to one, it would be this years group. I think Reamer has played exceptionally well and has shown a great nose for the ball...I just didn't see enough of a gap to give an advantage...