JessN: USC Preview: This may be Alabama’s toughest opening-day test yet

JessN · Aug 31, 2016

USC Preview: This may be Alabama’s toughest opening-day test yet
by Jess Nicholas
TideFans Editor-In-Chief
August 31st, 2016 02:13 AM

By Jess Nicholas TideFans.com Editor-In-Chief Aug. 31, 2016 In most of his seasons in Tuscaloosa, Nick Saban has preferred to schedule a quality opponent for Alabama’s first game of the season. This time, he may have outdone himself. There are tons of questions surrounding the Southern California program; the Trojans have what amounts to an […]

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Atl Joe · Aug 31, 2016

As always, thanks for the write-up, Jess.

colbysullivan · Aug 31, 2016

I'll take that score all day long. I think the game will be close in the first half but our depth will take over in the 2nd half, and we blow the scoreboard up in the 4th.

BamaMoon · Aug 31, 2016

I actually feel a little more confident about this game after reading this prediction. :BigA:

92tide · Aug 31, 2016

i hate to miss this game. it should be fun to watch

CrimsonForce · Aug 31, 2016

This is the best team, talent wise, that we've played in the opener. However, I'm not sure that USC has a system in place in order to harness that talent into results and productivity on the field..

LA4Bama · Aug 31, 2016

Great preview. Thank You!

Seems USC has really been bitten by injuries already.

ChattTide · Aug 31, 2016

I'll be honest and say I am worried about this game. As Jess pointed out, this will be one of the toughest opening opponents we will play. I have to be confident in the coaching staff and the players they will get the job done. That don't help the butterflies.

One more thing to remember is that this is a first game for both teams. Little things are going to creep up in this game that may not in the games to come such as false starts and the like. Alabama usually does a great job of hitting things in the first game. The second game is a different story

I'l take that final score any day of the week because it means Bama wins. Thanks, Jess!

Ed. I'd like to add one more thing as well that I mentioned in another post: Offense sells tickets. Defense wins championships.

Roll Tide!!
ChattTide

centerstar · Aug 31, 2016

I've come to really look forward Jess' analysis. Always great stuff!

ccc2259 · Aug 31, 2016

Thanks, Jess. I had the idea from other sources that USC's DB's and LB's were scary strong. Here's hoping your assessment is more accurate. Thanks for the hard work.

OakMtn4Bama · Aug 31, 2016

I am a little nervous but feel better after reading this. Jess is the best!

CoolBreeze · Aug 31, 2016

Good stuff, as always, thanks Jess. Trench warfare will decide this one. I think both O Lines will be more dominant than expected but our LB corps will shut down everything they throw at us. Gonna be a good one!

JBama_in_PCOLA · Aug 31, 2016

I'll take it. I don't think depth on the DL is of much concern for some reason. We have bodies there, they just need to learn the game Bama plays.

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4Q Basket Case · Aug 31, 2016

Noting Jess as the exception, I don't understand the love for the USCw OL flowing from most media types. They were flat-out bad at pass protection last year. And they were not distinguished at run production, despite being in a league dominated by spread offenses (Stanford being the exception).

Yeah, I know Bucket-step Bob Conley was their OL coach last year. But Neal Callaway and 8 months are going to erase a history of under-achievement, and do it against the best, deepest front seven in college football? Please.

It might happen in the sense that exceedingly few events have a probability of true zero. But there's no logical reason to believe it will.

I'm far more concerned about our mistake-prone QBs against that secondary.

PepsiTrojan · Sep 1, 2016

CrimsonForce said:
This is the best team, talent wise, that we've played in the opener. However, I'm not sure that USC has a system in place in order to harness that talent into results and productivity on the field..

This is probably the most accurate post I've read so far about USC. It's spot-on.

capnfrog · Sep 2, 2016

Penalties resulting in 1st downs for USC, QB mistakes and penalties resulting in 1st downs coming back could make it a long night for The Tide. Keeping the turnovers and penalties at a minimum will tell the story.

RollTideMustang · Sep 3, 2016

If this is the toughest then why is USC #20 instead #5? I believe when we played VT the FIRST time was our toughest...

B1GTide · Sep 3, 2016

This Alabama team is scary good. Tighten up the o-line play and you guys are going to just kill people.

kyallie · Sep 3, 2016

B1GTide said:
This Alabama team is scary good. Tighten up the o-line play and you guys are going to just kill people.

The D is scary good, the O is good, a work in progress.

JessN: USC Preview: This may be Alabama’s toughest opening-day test yet

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