Was the season a success anyway?

[PA Tide Fan]

I know everybody is disappointed right now but how did we do compared to your preseason expectations? We did a little better than I expected. Preseason I had us going 10-2 regular season and getting to the playoff but didn't really expect us to actually win a playoff game. We have to face it that we will never come close to duplicating the Saban era due to the changing landscape in college football. I do think CKD needs to change his approach. I've seen enough this season to convince me that we have to start building a championship team by getting the players needed for dominant and physical line play on both sides of the ball and build the team around that. We need more Saban-style football and less razzle dazzle. Georgia always focuses on line play without having a lot of elite talent at the skill positions and they have continued success. We can't build a championship team by just having a good QB and elite receivers but just having an average at best OL.

 

[RdunawayTX]

I know everybody is disappointed right now but how did we do compared to your preseason expectations? We did a little better than I expected. Preseason I had us going 10-2 regular season and getting to the playoff but didn't really expect us to actually win a playoff game. We have to face it that we will never come close to duplicating the Saban era due to the changing landscape in college football. I do think CKD needs to change his approach. I've seen enough this season to convince me that we have to start building a championship team by getting the players needed for dominant and physical line play on both sides of the ball and build the team around that. We need more Saban-style football and less razzle dazzle. Georgia always focuses on line play without having a lot of elite talent at the skill positions and they have continued success. We can't build a championship by just having a good QB and elite receivers but just having an average OL.

I think we'd do well with even an average OL. The one we had this year was terribad.

 

[crimsonaudio]

Yes.

If Bama wants to be a team constantly firing coaches for not performing perfectly, great. Burn it to the ground.

If Bama wants to be a competitive team that wins a NC every few years in a world where any CFB team with cash can field a team able to win (buy) a NC, then this is where we are.

If #2 is the (realistic) goal, assuming CKD isn't the guy is silly at this point, imo.

 

[OconeeTide]

Yes and no.
10-2 with wins over Georgia, Tennesee, Auburn were very nice.
They exceeded my expectations after the FSU game, and second Ok game.
But it still felt like 2 steps forward 2 steps backward.
Not pulling Ty when it was clear he was injured is inexcusable.
The way our team quit in the rose bowl was bad.

 

[RdunawayTX]

Yes.

If Bama wants to be a team constantly firing coaches for not performing perfectly, great. Burn it to the ground.

If Bama wants to be a competitive team that wins a NC every few years in a world where any CFB team with cash can field a team able to win (buy) a NC, then this is where we are.

If #2 is the (realistic) goal, assuming CKD isn't the guy is silly at this point, imo.

See "Auburn" and "Florida" for coach cycling examples.

 

[denver]

Neither a success or failure...there were signs we had progressed with our 5 game murderers row wins...but there were also signs we hadn't improved and were fortunate to win. Add in the poor SECCG and this game and that takes away the positives. I think we are where we were at the start of the season. Still hoping this staff is the right one but now with more questions than answers after their first full season of their program

 

[Jack Bourbon]

No. Better than auburn but whoop dee fo

 

[81usaf92]

Yes based on what I knew before the season and after the FSU debacle. I think people need to realize how hard it is to win football games these days and stop thinking the SEC circle on crimson jerseys means a win over people without it.

I think this one will sting until we get a big win next year but I think ultimately we need to stop thinking in pre NIL and open transfer era. DeBoer will have some heat on him year 3 but I think we should be happy but not satisfied with the results of this season. I guarantee you if I told everyone here after opening weekend that we would beat UGA, Oklahoma, Tennessee, auburn, win a playoff game, play for a SECCG, and play for the Rose Bowl the overwhelming majority of yall would have taken it.

 

[spidermayin]

The fact that we made it to the playoff and won in the first round after the disaster FSU game was a success in my book. The IU beatdown was bad, but we were playing with house money at this point. I want to see a revamped OL next season and a new QB. I am not sold on Simpson.

 

[BamaMoon]

Yes. We improved. Let's improve again next year.

And just imagine how much better we could be with a "good" OL. What if we could figure out how to field a "great" one.

We milked 11 wins out of what could have easily been another 9-4 season with no postseason.

 

[81usaf92]

Yes.

If Bama wants to be a team constantly firing coaches for not performing perfectly, great. Burn it to the ground.

If Bama wants to be a competitive team that wins a NC every few years in a world where any CFB team with cash can field a team able to win (buy) a NC, then this is where we are.

If #2 is the (realistic) goal, assuming CKD isn't the guy is silly at this point, imo.

I have found out ever since I moved back to the state that Alabama fans are just as bad as Auburn fans when losing… the only difference is that the boosters and administrators at Auburn listen to the Karen’s calling for coaches heads. I’ve heard some of our fans calling for Saban’s head after loses.

 

[JustNeedMe81]

I know everybody is disappointed right now but how did we do compared to your preseason expectations? We did a little better than I expected. Preseason I had us going 10-2 regular season and getting to the playoff but didn't really expect us to actually win a playoff game. We have to face it that we will never come close to duplicating the Saban era due to the changing landscape in college football. I do think CKD needs to change his approach. I've seen enough this season to convince me that we have to start building a championship team by getting the players needed for dominant and physical line play on both sides of the ball and build the team around that. We need more Saban-style football and less razzle dazzle. Georgia always focuses on line play without having a lot of elite talent at the skill positions and they have continued success. We can't build a championship team by just having a good QB and elite receivers but just having an average at best OL.

To me, It's not a sucessful or failure... I like how the team didn't give up at some point during the season after FSU loss... But I'm concerned how the team played the last four weeks... I would say... I"m happy, but frustrated at same time.

 

[81usaf92]

To me, It's not a sucessful or failure... I like how the team didn't give up at some point during the season after FSU loss... But I'm concerned how the team played the last four weeks... I would say... I"m happy, but frustrated at same time.

Could be UCLA or PSU. Heck Auburn gave up after Georgia stopped them on the goal line

 

[gtgilbert]

had we played well, with toughness, discipline and effort throughout the game tonight and still gotten beat I'd have said this was a successful season.

The burr under my saddle is not that we're losing some games, but in how we lost them in the last couple of years. When we seem unprepared for what's coming our way, or unable to adapt to what is in front of us, that makes me think we are regressing instead of progressing, and that isn't success to me.

 

[BAMARICH]

had we played well, with toughness, discipline and effort throughout the game tonight and still gotten beat I'd have said this was a successful season.

The burr under my saddle is not that we're losing some games, but in how we lost them in the last couple of years. When we seem unprepared for what's coming our way, or unable to adapt to what is in front of us, that makes me think we are regressing instead of progressing, and that isn't success to me.

This is the issue. I would say “successful” had we competed in games against UGA and Indiana. However, for whatever reason we simply didn’t show up for those games - as well as FSU. I can understand FSU because it was the first game, but that shouldn’t have happened again.

Consistency and improvement… did we see that get better as the year went along? The answer is “no”… and because that’s the answer it wasn’t a successful season.

When I think about those two things, I go back to Saban’s tenure when I knew one of the guys who watched daily practices. One day during a week about halfway through the season I asked my guy “how do you think we’ll play Saturday?” His answer was “I don’t know, but I know we’re not going to have any penalties!” The week before, we’d had 10 penalties for over 100 yards losses. That Saturday, we had one penalty and had four or less the rest of the year.

Point is that they improved because it was emphasized. I’m not sure HOW it was, but Saban clearly got the issue corrected and the team improved. Today… are we a better football team than the group that took the field against FSU on August 30?

 

[smokies1]

had we played well, with toughness, discipline and effort throughout the game tonight and still gotten beat I'd have said this was a successful season.

The burr under my saddle is not that we're losing some games, but in how we lost them in the last couple of years. When we seem unprepared for what's coming our way, or unable to adapt to what is in front of us, that makes me think we are regressing instead of progressing, and that isn't success to me.

I feel the same, lots of frustrations with the season as a whole

QB play, about the only bright spot just went off the rails in the second half of the season, no rushing game at all, receivers dropping the ball and poor effort in blocking/getting open, offense and defense line getting pushed around, kicking was 50/50 at best at one point, sub par punting, sub par special teams decision making. Defense has played well enough all year, but seeing them quit today negated that

 

[sanjosecrimson]

The fact that we made it to the playoff and won in the first round after the disaster FSU game was a success in my book. The IU beatdown was bad, but we were playing with house money at this point. I want to see a revamped OL next season and a new QB. I am not sold on Simpson.

regarding Simpson, we have seen enough on his body of work. he should declare for the draft or transfer. the future of Alabama football will have a new QB under center. wish him the best and thank him for his time at the Capstone.

 

[sanjosecrimson]

Yes and no.
10-2 with wins over Georgia, Tennesee, Auburn were very nice.
They exceeded my expectations after the FSU game, and second Ok game.
But it still felt like 2 steps forward 2 steps backward.
Not pulling Ty when it was clear he was injured is inexcusable.
The way our team quit in the rose bowl was bad.

never ever leave out whipping LSU!!

 

[bamaga]

No 4 loss season is a success in the playoff/ portal era

 

[CharlestonUAAlum]

Just tired of looking like a Pac12 team trying to out-cute everyone when today we faced an actual honest-to-God football team that plays the game the way I miss Bama playing the game.