Reasons for Optimism in 2004

[BamaBacker]

Let's try out the poll feature:

 

[Tideboys]

i said coaches get team ready for fall and spring becuas i know it was ok last year but iam just looking forward to demiolsh some people OH YEAH ROLL TIDE :biga2: :biga2:

 

[TideCity]

We will be amazed at how different the offense and defensse will look this year.

 

[CoolBreeze]

Nice Poll

I voted for the first category but really believe our success this season will be a combination of the first three. Perhaps, in the short term, the S&C will have a lesser impact than the first two and an easier schedule (in contrast to the most difficult in the nation like last year) will definitely help as well. But overall, there is just no substitute for having the same coaching staff in place for an entire year instead of only a couple of weeks before the season (cringe ). Looking back on that situation, it is hard to believe that we were as competitive as we were last season...new ballgame this year though! Let's Roll TIDE!! RTR!!! :biga2:

 

[Redwood Forrest]

I chose easier schedule but it was tough choices. I really hope we get the 'lucky bounces' this year as we have had them bounce the other way lately, IMO. :biga2:

 

[NashvilleTider]

I went with easier schedule also, but I could have also voted for the coaches having a full spring to prepare. I can't imagine the time crunch last year of: getting a staff up and running including hiring, recruiting, and developing a play book, meeting with boosters, raising money, etc.


The poll feature is really neat. Kudos to Brett and staff.

 

[Brtraker]

I voted for the first category as well, but I think a healthy Brodie will have a major impact also.

 

[ROLLER]

Not just the schedule...

...but the preparation will be easier for the coaches and the players. Last year the learning curve was so big. Not only that, but every week a different guy had to step in and do something they've never been ask to do. From Pennington to Terrence Jones to Dominic Lee to Danny Martz. So consistency was the biggest flaw last season.

So I would have to vote for number one to be a big factor. Yet, if the injury bug hits a again.....we may not have seen nothing yet.

 

[tftplisa]

Softer schedule

I voted for the schedule although all things surely are big factors. Having coaches in place and with an injury free season we could be 7-0 before UT. Ole Miss is a huge game in the 2nd spot. They don't have Eli, and it's early in the season for his replacement so I think we should win. If we can get some momentum early in the year and the receivers get confident.....we could have a fantastic year.
I'd love to see a big dose of Castille and Hudson to use the clock. It'd be nice for Brooks and Prothro to have some big returns to help out as well. At the end of last year Brandon Brooks looked awesome.

On defense the return of Todd Bates and Cornelius Wortham should be huge. We've got to pressure the QB!

I'm planning on going to the opener...driving from Cleveland, OH. Gotta see my Crimson Tide.

 

[ttownhondo]

All could be factors

I simply believe the Mental factor will be the most important. A player who has the knowledge of the system is a more confident player. Knowledge + repitition = confidence. A confident player is simply more aggresive. There is no hesitation as in a player who is not sure of what he is supposed to do in a given situation. We all know that on this level of football , the slightest hesitation can cause a defender to be out of the play, or an offensive player to miss timing on blocks, hand-offs and pass routes. I also feel that the quarterbacks and receivers will be more on the same page as far as "reads" are concerned. This also helps the line as I believe the Center makes the reads there. This team will be better, but they will still have to have that defining game where their back is against the wall and they fight through it and win. An example would be the MSU game in Frans first year. They were a different team after that. JMHO

 

[jdpas29]

Here are a few good reasons for optimism in 2004...

OFFENSE

QBs -----
1. Brodie Croyle - everyone knows he is as talented as they get for this position, but he''s yet to refine his skills to match a coach's offensive scheme. although i think he looked a little better under the passing schemes Coach Fran used, he will look better than he ever has this year. My only concern is whether or not the Lord will bless him with safety in the backfield. He's added bulk in the offseason, and my guess is that it's mostly in his lower body. He desperately needed to lower his center of gravity. Part of the reason those hits did so much damage to his body is that he was too top heavy. The more his legs and rear end weigh, the better the angle he will have against the ground when he falls.
Brodie played in a lot of pain last year, and i admire him for that. hell of a man, i say! A true Crimson Warrior. If Brodie hits even 30% of the long balls he's throwing, BAMA will be a hard team to stop... offensively. REMEBER THAT!!!

2. Spencer Pennington - When it comes to relatively inexperienced backups, I'll take this one over any in the country. Spencer is very accurate and is cool and calm in the game. He is a fighter... plain and simple. He has played on championship teams in high school and that's not a coincidence.

3. Marc Guillon - Marc hasn't played in a game for BAMA yet so i will hold the majority of my comments. All i will say is that he looked good in the A-Day game and appeared to be in good physical shape. He played A LOT of snaps in the A-Day game!


Running Backs - This group is as talented as any in the country.

4. Ray Hudson's YPC is probably right up there with any RB in the country. Truth be told.. he is probably the fastest RB in the history of BAMA RB's. His vision could improve a bit. I think he put it together last year and is going to come out in a blood thirsty rage in '04

5. Tim Castille - Tim is the best all-around ball player on the team. He can do it all and do it well. I'm excited about him and for him. He's going to do a lot of good for BAMA.

6. Ken Darby - We've seen his moves and speed. He is a RB to the core. That is the only position i would ever want to see him play. He's very natural with the ball and hard to get a hand on.


WR's - I will only mention one because there isn't much to go on as far as other receivers. AC is a question mark and most of the other guys are green... or close to it.

7. Tyrone Prothro - LOOK OUT!!!

OL - i'll go out on a line and say that this line is going to be fantastic. these guys are going to play as a unit.... i can feel it. Kyle Tatum is going to own the right end of the line.
BAMA will also have a plethora of good TEs. At least that's one position on the line where BAMA will be fresh in the 3rd and 4th quarter.
Look for a lot of "takin' it to the corner" running plays out of this squad.

The kickers are not a reason for optimism in '04. Sad but true.


DEFENSE coming later.....

 

[bamabake]

We will be amazed at how different the offense and defensse will look this year.

How do you know for sure? Schedule. Based on what I witnessed last year we couldnt possibly have more bad calls, more injuries any tougher a schedule
than we had. All that said it seems reasonable we will be "better". Leaves schedule. RTR

 

[Root4Bama]

My optimism is from.....

Being a FREAKIN Tide fan. Alabama has done it all and will do it again. The barn is still waiting to just be something other than a joke. My optimism lies in the fact that I got tickets to see the best football team on the face of the earth. (IMHO) :biga2:

 

[trenda]

Many people said/thought last year that, had Franchione stuck around, the '03 team could have won as many as 10 games. That speaks to the strength of staff continuity.

All of the above will obviously play a factor; but I personally think the biggest hurdle this team will face (coaches and players) is winning the close ones. They haven't done that yet with Shula as coach. Once he gets them over that hump - where they believe the can and will win if it's close - the road will get much smoother.

RTR

:biga2:

 

[jdpas29]

hmmmm

Many people said/thought last year that, had Franchione stuck around, the '03 team could have won as many as 10 games. That speaks to the strength of staff continuity.

All of the above will obviously play a factor; but I personally think the biggest hurdle this team will face (coaches and players) is winning the close ones. They haven't done that yet with Shula as coach. Once he gets them over that hump - where they believe the can and will win if it's close - the road will get much smoother.

RTR

:biga2:

Fran didn't have a QB capable of running his scheme at Alabama after TW left... another good reason for him to leave.

 

[IHateUT]

I voted for the easier schedule...before I voted against it.


I couldn't resist...I'm sorry. :biggrin:

 

[blindbuzzard]

The coaching will make the biggest difference. It was obvious last year that the players were very uncomfortable in what they were doing. Our execution of the offense looked slow and deliberate. That was from not being coached enough in the system. With a full offseason the players have an opportunity for the coaches to do what they are suppose to do and that is "coach" them, instead of learning their names.

The coaches also have the opportunity to come up with a gameplan, make adjustments to the existing system if they see that something they're doing needs to be tweeked or just thrown out all together. They didn't have that opportunity last year.

Last year was like when they have the college senior bowls, or blue gray game and a NFL coach comes in a week before the game and puts in a gameplan. That is exactly what it was like for our coaches and players last year.

We should see a big difference in speed of execution of the plays, timing of the players with each other and just the flow of our gameplan. But, if we don't then I think it is only right that somebody (Mike Shula) should have lot's of splainning to do. Nobody is asking for an SEC Title or NC, but I think the consensus vote is that everyone IS expecting to see improvement and signs that this program is moving in the right direction.

 

[XXL TideFan]

Preparation, preparation, preparation! Changes the mental aspect as well.