JessN: 2023 Previews: Alabama Crimson Tide

[JessN]

2023 Previews: Alabama Crimson Tide
by Jess Nicholas, TideFans.com Editor in Chief

Overview: Alabama finds itself in an unfamiliar spot under Nick Saban – playing catch-up to another program. Georgia has won back-to-back national titles and is the odds-on favorite to win a third straight. For Alabama to derail the Bulldogs, the Crimson Tide must first get back to the SEC Championship Game. If it is going to do that in 2023, it will likely be with defense and a re-commitment to a strong running game. In the spring, the offensive line appeared to be improved, but still a work in progress at spots. The running back group is stacked; the receiver unit, less so. All eyes, though, are on the quarterbacks, and there is currently no clear favorite.

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[BamaMoon]

2023 Previews: Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama finds itself in an unfamiliar spot under Nick Saban – playing catch-up to another program. Georgia has won back-to-back national titles and is the odds-on favorite to win a third straight. …

news.tidefans.com

Thanks Jess. Good summary.

I thought you might say a little more about the incoming freshman receivers, but I guess we'll have to wait and see if any can make an impact.

 

[STONECOLDSABAN]

I know this is a wpread happy world where wide receiver and QB are supposed to be king. But your ratings of the units have got me really hyped. Especially on defense.

 

[davefrat]

I don't necessarily disagree with any of the assessments, but that being said, if we only get average play from both the QB and WR positions, we'll be lucky to even make it to Atlanta, much less win the SEC and get to the playoffs.

 

[CrimsonEyeshade]

Jess, unlike previous years, you did not predict our season record. I'm hoping we run the table but thinking 10-2.

 

[OakMtn4Bama]

I now feel a tad more gloomy than I have been. Will be interesting to see how the "unknowns" come together.

 

[davefrat]

Jess, unlike previous years, you did not predict our season record. I'm hoping we run the table but thinking 10-2.

IF we are only average at QB and WR, 10-2 is probably a best-case scenario.

 

[CoolBreeze]

Good stuff as always boss. We got everyone just where we want them.

 

[CoolBreeze]

I don't necessarily disagree with any of the assessments, but that being said, if we only get average play from both the QB and WR positions, we'll be lucky to even make it to Atlanta, much less win the SEC and get to the playoffs.

It is all about balance. If we are mauling the run game and dbacks are crowding the LOS then all we need is a guy that can get the ball out on a slant or even wheel route and there is 6 on the board. This Tide Team is going to be a completely different animal this season and I suspect we will be one of the more physical units in the conference. We gonna be just fine.

 

[davefrat]

It is all about balance. If we are mauling the run game and dbacks are crowding the LOS then all we need is a guy that can get the ball out on a slant or even wheel route and there is 6 on the board. This Tide Team is going to be a completely different animal this season and I suspect we will be one of the more physical units in the conference. We gonna be just fine.

We can agree to disagree. When was the last time that a team with an average QB and average receivers won the SEC?

 

[STONECOLDSABAN]

We can agree to disagree. When was the last time that a team with an average QB and average receivers won the SEC?

I think average is more like "good" on Jess's scale then what we think of as average. Remember he also has "fair" on his scale with "poor" being at the bottom. Maybe I am reading too much into it.

 

[UAinAthens]

We can agree to disagree. When was the last time that a team with an average QB and average receivers won the SEC?

Last year

 

[CoolBreeze]

We can agree to disagree. When was the last time that a team with an average QB and average receivers won the SEC?

Perception is the problem here. We are going back to a different style of play with a ball control offense. We may not have the quality at the QB position we have had in recent years but we are also reverting back to a less QB centric system. Less dependency on one guy and more dependency on the unit, on the team. That is what we need and will hopefully pay off like it did for bowl cut and elf on the shelf the past couple of years.

 

[davefrat]

Last year

If "average" means the best TE combination in the country and a Heisman finalist QB, then I'll take it. IF that's what average really means.

 

[davefrat]

Perception is the problem here. We are going back to a different style of play with a ball control offense. We may not have the quality at the QB position we have had in recent years but we are also reverting back to a less QB centric system. Less dependency on one guy and more dependency on the unit, on the team. That is what we need and will hopefully pay off like it did for bowl cut and elf on the shelf the past couple of years.

IF the QB and WR are only average (meaning "good") then that means we'll basically be a ground and pound team that has to win running the ball and playing lights out defense.

It will be interesting to see if a team can still win championships with that kind of makeup.

 

[STONECOLDSABAN]

If "average" means the best TE combination

TE is a weird grey area for me when it comes to evaluating position units if they aren't giving their own category. They catch balls and they also block. So how much credit do you attribute a tight end to the wide receiver position? Amari Niblack looks like he could be a real weapon catching the ball but needs to work on blocking and bulking up. Locked on Bama believes we will run some 3 tight end sets in goal line situations. And Danny Lewis jr and Cj Dipree are blocking tight ends first but aren't exactly chopped liver in the catching game.

Obviously, no one is brock bowers

 

[CoolBreeze]

IF the QB and WR are only average (meaning "good") then that means we'll basically be a ground and pound team that has to win running the ball and playing lights out defense.

It will be interesting to see if a team can still win championships with that kind of makeup.

The AVG tag was issued by the big boss because those positions are the great unknowns. The QB and WR positions are littered with 5* talent and anyone who knows 18-21 year old kids knows that a light switch trigger can make up a huge gap from Spring training to kickoff in the Fall. Look, I'm a homer and dang proud of it but I still feel that this "TEAM" could be one of the best in UA history. We will see.

 

[davefrat]

TE is a weird grey area for me when it comes to evaluating position units if they aren't giving their own category. They catch balls and they also block. So how much credit do you attribute a tight end to the wide receiver position? Amari Niblack looks like he could be a real weapon catching the ball but needs to work on blocking and bulking up. Locked on Bama believes we will run some 3 tight end sets in goal line situations. And Danny Lewis jr and Cj Dipree are blocking tight ends first but aren't exactly chopped liver in the catching game.

Obviously, no one is brock bowers

If we'd had a decent TE in the national championship game a couple years ago we very well may have won.

Instead, we had noodle hands who had one foot in the portal and the other on a banana peel.

 

[davefrat]

The AVG tag was issued by the big boss because those positions are the great unknowns. The QB and WR positions are littered with 5* talent and anyone who knows 18-21 year old kids knows that a light switch trigger can make up a huge gap from Spring training to kickoff in the Fall. Look, I'm a homer and dang proud of it but I still feel that this "TEAM" could be one of the best in UA history. We will see.

I hope you're right.

 

[BhamToTexas]

IF the QB and WR are only average (meaning "good") then that means we'll basically be a ground and pound team that has to win running the ball and playing lights out defense.

It will be interesting to see if a team can still win championships with that kind of makeup.

2021?