Reality Check: Your pre-season predictions??

[2003TIDE]

Everyone is in meltdown mode after yesterday's loss. The team is currently in line with my pre-season predictions ( 7-8 wins and a bowl game).

I think everyone should take a deep breath and ask if this team is what you expected. I think most of the upset folks here will be surprised that their answer is "yes."

 

[CrimsonCable]

Truthfully, I expected to beat MSU. And I think the hard feelings about yesterday aren't so much that we lost, but how we lost. Seeing your teams weaknesses exposed like that and practically giving the game away is naturally cause for concern. Knowing that we don't have other viable options for some of the weaknesses on the offensive line and offensive backfield is depressing. Still, the future is bright. Things won't improve this season, but a couple of recruiting classes and a couple years of sharp physical training will solve a lot of problems.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

It's how we lost that sent me into beating my wife, setting my cars on fire and kicking my dog over our six foot privacy fence. After I did that I was still upset.

 

[rpeastep]

We haven't played a game yet that we weren't capable of winning at the time we played it.

 

[2003TIDE]

Pre-season I thought we'd beat Miss St. After they beat Auburn I wasn't sure. I was upset b/c I knew that all of Miss State's wins against SEC teams this year have been b/c of the other team turning the ball over. What did we do? We turned the ball over.

On the positive side of things (I think I'll stay on that side instead of drowning myself in pessimistic sorrows b/c of things out of my control):

1. We still have a chance of winning out and getting 8 wins. What was our record last year?
2. Our defense has surprised everyone and can only get better next year
3. Our team hasn't quit during a game like they did last year.
4. We're going to a bowl. I don't really care about the bowl itself, but we'll get extra practice time. That should help next year out.
5. Has anyone looked at our recruiting class?

 

[RedWave]

All along, I figured us to beat 2 out of our toughest 6 (Ark, FSU, UGA, UT, LSU, Aub) and win the rest. We did just that. I did not want to be negative and add in the possible surprise loss, like what we had yesterday to MSU, so I had us at 8 wins. Now, we need to beat Auburn to get there.

 

[Nash-Bama]

I predicted an 8-4 season, just didn't include a loss to Miss. State.

My husband and I have decided to give up football and take up drinking.... Oh wait, we already do that.... any other suggestions?:conf2:

 

[teamplayer]

Truthfully, I expected to beat MSU. And I think the hard feelings about yesterday aren't so much that we lost, but how we lost. Seeing your teams weaknesses exposed like that and practically giving the game away is naturally cause for concern. Knowing that we don't have other viable options for some of the weaknesses on the offensive line and offensive backfield is depressing. Still, the future is bright. Things won't improve this season, but a couple of recruiting classes and a couple years of sharp physical training will solve a lot of problems.

I agree that it will take a couple of years. We should be a little better next year, but we will still have a problem with controlling the line of scrimmage. We have a very average QB, yet we are throwing the ball 40+ times a game because we can't seem to run it effectively. In the SEC you must be able to run the ball and stop the other team from running the ball to win consistently. We need to be tougher on the o-line and on defense. I think another off-season of tough conditioning and the addition of some talent will help, but it will probably be 2009 before we start to see our guys really controlling the line of scrimmage. I do believe that Saban and his staff will get us there. The tough part is being patient because we have been losing for too long.

The Dubose and Shula hirings were poor and have hurt us quite a bit, but I think Saban can get it done if our moronic fans don't drive him crazy and cause him to leave. Let's be realistic and support our university and everyone who represents it even though some pills are tough to swallow. I know five in a row to LSU, two in a row to MSU, and probably six in a row to AU is very tough to swallow for me. However, it will be really sweet when we take those streaks down. Roll Tide.

 

[FortyYearFan]

I had us about where we are in terms of wins and losses. One more win and I'd be happy at this point; one more loss and I'd be very unhappy.

I'm pleased that we've been competitive in every game, and displeased that we are still unable to close the door on wins. These "down to the last minute" games are killers.

I figure we're a coupla years away, but the future looks pretty good.

 

[Probius]

That was a tough loss and hurt badly. But mark my words now, we will still beat Auburn.

 

[MegaVars]

I predicted we would go 0 fer 12. Now, I`m pleasantly surprised.

 

[bamaga]

Everyone is in meltdown mode after yesterday's loss. The team is currently in line with my pre-season predictions ( 7-8 wins and a bowl game).

I think everyone should take a deep breath and ask if this team is what you expected. I think most of the upset folks here will be surprised that their answer is "yes."

Not me,

I didn't expect to lose to msu this year, sorry, can't bring myself to say that. this team is nothing like I expected. I expected to make a critical stop at times, have a running game when needed, and better qb play from a returning starter. I expected a team that was at least 'sound', this team is up and down, not what I expected at all!

 

[derek4tide]

I predicted 8 wins. I didn't expect to lose to msu, but I was concerned going in. Just like I was before fsu, lsu, and uga. I hate that feeling.....I have it now about the barn. However, with the addition of Coffee and Caldwell, I am feeling more confident.

 

[trenda]

I figured in the 7-8 win range, nine would be gravy.

The main thing I looked for was to see improvement from the beginning of the season to the end.

With the exception of the FSU and MSU games, I feel like we've seen it in some form or fashion in every game this year.

 

[2003TIDE]

Not me,

I didn't expect to lose to msu this year, sorry, can't bring myself to say that. this team is nothing like I expected. I expected to make a critical stop at times, have a running game when needed, and better qb play from a returning starter. I expected a team that was at least 'sound', this team is up and down, not what I expected at all!

 

[BAMAHD]

8-4 With a win over MSU. We may have lost to state but im sticking with 8-4

 

[deliveryman35]

7-5 was my preseason prognostication and we're in line to finish that way, barring an upset. However, I predicted we would lose to Tennessee and beat State, so I have not been right in all of my individual game picks.

 

[deliveryman35]

I agree that it will take a couple of years. We should be a little better next year, but we will still have a problem with controlling the line of scrimmage. We have a very average QB, yet we are throwing the ball 40+ times a game because we can't seem to run it effectively. In the SEC you must be able to run the ball and stop the other team from running the ball to win consistently. We need to be tougher on the o-line and on defense. I think another off-season of tough conditioning and the addition of some talent will help, but it will probably be 2009 before we start to see our guys really controlling the line of scrimmage. I do believe that Saban and his staff will get us there. The tough part is being patient because we have been losing for too long.

The Dubose and Shula hirings were poor and have hurt us quite a bit, but I think Saban can get it done if our moronic fans don't drive him crazy and cause him to leave. Let's be realistic and support our university and everyone who represents it even though some pills are tough to swallow. I know five in a row to LSU, two in a row to MSU, and probably six in a row to AU is very tough to swallow for me. However, it will be really sweet when we take those streaks down. Roll Tide.

Very accurate post, in my opinion. The comments about our O-line and inability to run the ball are especially true. Right at the start of the season, Terry Grant looked like a world-beater, seemingly on his way to a 1000 yd season, but since the Vandy game I haven't even seen his name or face on the back of a milk carton, and the only semblance of a running game we've been able to muster since then has been with Glen Coffee when he was available. We seem to have adequate size on the O-line, but for whatever reason the group that we have just cannot seem to get the job done--it's puzzling to say the least and the only conclusion that I can come to is we simply don't have much d-1 talent there--coaching was definitely an issue the past four years with Bob Connelly, but that no longer applies. It would be interesting to see where we rank in rushing in the SEC--I would venture to say it is somewhere near the bottom. And as has been pointed out, in the sec you generally will only go as far as a good running game can take you. If you don't have one, then you're out of business.

 

[tru2thaduce]

I said 8-5 but that included the bowl game.

 

[Jack Bourbon]

What did the original thread say? It was more in the 8-9-10 range rather than the 7-8-9 range, wasn't it? LIARS!!!!