Re: Predict Auburn's initial offesive strategy and Rank Bama teams 08-12 before Iron
2008 was, without a doubt, the least talented "contributing roster" after that throwaway year one season (2007). It really got exposed when we faced more coherent teams in the last two games. Alabama just had the right mix of guys who bought in and some luck with catching some downward turning programs on the schedule. I think over half the coaches we played got fired before the end of 2008. Still, it was a huge factor in legitimatizing what Saban could build here. If anyone doubted that Alabama couldn't be fixed even with Saban (which was some of the talk especially after the collapse in 2007), it was probably quieted in that season.
With that said, my list:
1. 2011
2. 2009
3. 2010
4. 2012
5. 2008
I think the 2010 team was a bit better than this year's team but it only matters if Alabama is better than any team in 2012. In fact, I think injuries probably affected the 2010 even more than this year's depth chart. We have a lot of complementary players get dinged up this year. It felt like all the major contributors had a dinged up knee, arm, foot, or something at some point in 2010. Upshaw and Dareus really didn't get it together until late in the season. Ingram was hurt early and probably not 100% during the regular season. Richardson progressively got more hurt throughout the season. Barrett Jones missed some time too. Barron's injury probably helped stem the Cam Newton comeback.
2008 was, without a doubt, the least talented "contributing roster" after that throwaway year one season (2007). It really got exposed when we faced more coherent teams in the last two games. Alabama just had the right mix of guys who bought in and some luck with catching some downward turning programs on the schedule. I think over half the coaches we played got fired before the end of 2008. Still, it was a huge factor in legitimatizing what Saban could build here. If anyone doubted that Alabama couldn't be fixed even with Saban (which was some of the talk especially after the collapse in 2007), it was probably quieted in that season.
With that said, my list:
1. 2011
2. 2009
3. 2010
4. 2012
5. 2008
I think the 2010 team was a bit better than this year's team but it only matters if Alabama is better than any team in 2012. In fact, I think injuries probably affected the 2010 even more than this year's depth chart. We have a lot of complementary players get dinged up this year. It felt like all the major contributors had a dinged up knee, arm, foot, or something at some point in 2010. Upshaw and Dareus really didn't get it together until late in the season. Ingram was hurt early and probably not 100% during the regular season. Richardson progressively got more hurt throughout the season. Barrett Jones missed some time too. Barron's injury probably helped stem the Cam Newton comeback.