But you have to look beneath the numbers (just playing devil's advocate here to arrive at a conclusion).
1) The 2009 schedule was MUCH tougher (#2 in difficulty) - and that team went unbeaten.
2) Despite the tougher schedule, they basically allowed one ppg more
3) One can easily argue that because of the easier schedule:
a) we ran the ball more to run out the clock and not run up the scores
b) other teams were passing in desperation to get back into the game (that would explain both the better run and worse pass numbers on the 2012 D).
4) The O-line this year was MUCH more experienced than that year.
5) McElroy was a rookie QB while McCarron came into the year having already won a championship.
The 2012 offense is better.....but against easier competition.
I agree with many of the points here:
My quick synopsis of the 2 teams.
Offense: Advantage 2012
Quarterback: AJ is head and shoulders a better quarterback than GMac. He has a much stronger arm and the offense is able to do some things they could not with GMac at the helm. Take nothing away from Greg, he was a great leader and game manager, but the offense was limited with him at the QB position.
Advantage: 2012
Runningback: This will surprise a few people but I feel the tandem of Lacy (when healthy) and Yeldon are equal to the duo of Richardson and MI. The reason for this, is Lacy and Yeldon give Alabama two different type of backs, on the other hand, MI and Richardson were very similar backs in a lot of ways. I am also in the camp that believes that Yeldon has a chance to go down as one of the greatest backs in Alabama football history.
Advantage: Push
O-line: This is not even worth debating.
Advantage: 2012
Wide Receiver: Julio is the big name that stands out for most people on the 2009 club. As we all know, he is one of the greatest physical freaks to ever play the wide receiver position. Yet we sometimes forget that Julio's production in 2009 was not heisman'esque. This year Alabama brings a much younger receiving corps to the stadium, but one that is much more polished and has great "ball hawking" ability, particularly A. Cooper. I am a huge J. Jones fan, and he has come along ways since the 2009 season (just watch him this weekend eat up the Seahawks if you don't believe me!) but we are comparing him and their receiving corps from 2009. I think the advantage would go to the 2012 group but unfortunately injuries (Black, White, Norwood, etc.) ate up the group. Coopers is the reason they still get the credit that they deserve.
Advantage: Push
Defense: Advantage: 2009
Linebackers:This years group of linebackers was a deep and diverse group made up of veterans (Johnson and Mosley) and young'uns (DePriest and Hubbard). This group played well together but sometimes had problems against the pass. The 2009 linebacking corps was made up of McClain, Reamer, Anders, Hightower (injured early in the season against Arky), and Harris. McClain was the signal caller of the defense and rarely if ever had the Alabama D in a bad position. This defense was notorious for checking 1-3 times pre-snap confusing the offense and getting the exact matchup/scenario that would disrupt the offensive play. No disrespect to this years group of linebackers, but if Hightower stayed healthy in 2009, this may have been as good of a group of backers Alabama has ever had.
Advantage: 2009
Defensive Line: Jessie Williams led the d-line at NG this season for the Tide. He is the strongest player in Alabama history and was seen on almost a daily basis in the gym for anywhere to 8-10 hours! No disrespect to Mr. Williams, but his strength did not always translate to domination in the A Gap, at least not to the extent of the next individual I will be discussing. In 2009, Alabama was led by a behemoth of a NG who had a very accommodating nickname, Mount Cody! TC dominated offenses and controlled the line of scrimmage with his great size, quick ball "get off", and quick hands and feet. He also saved Alabama heartache by blocking a field goal against Tenn. as time expired (and no Gary Danielson, his helmet coming off after the play should not have cost Alabama the ball game idiot...I digress). The '09 group also featured Deaderick, Dareus (I bet Texas wants that screen back and the football he shotputted into the Pacific Ocean), Davis, Washington, and Chapman. This years group featured Dial, Stinson, Pagan, Square, and Ivory. Both of these D-lines rated as well as anyone in the country, but the '09 group IMO controlled the line of scrimmage a tad bit better.
Advantage: 2009
Defensive backs: Similar to the O-line discussion, nothing here to even play devil's advocate about. 2009 in a runaway.
Advantage: 2009
In conclusion I feel it is very difficult to say who was the better team. They both play similar styles of ball and they both have strengths and weaknesses that each team would have exploited. The only truth that can come from an analysis of the two teams is this, 2009 had the more dominant defense and 2012 had the more explosive offense. If somehow those 2 teams could have combined their 2009 Defense with the 2012 Offense...hell they might have won a few ballgames. :wink: