CHAMPS XVIII

i am a bammer · Aug 30, 2022

Kinda weird to turn it into a PR thing for the team

Tiffin · Aug 30, 2022

southlick said: ↑

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What happened here?

jplaYa · Aug 30, 2022

i am a bammer said: ↑

Kinda weird to turn it into a PR thing for the team
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I thought the same but it also sounds like for being shot twice, it basically couldn’t have ended up any better for him.

I have no idea how you take one through the knee and it miss everything but I’m really freaking glad for him

stric006 · Aug 30, 2022

i am a bammer said: ↑

Kinda weird to turn it into a PR thing for the team
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I saw it as showing what an awesome guy Brian is.

southlick · Aug 30, 2022

Tiffin said: ↑

What happened here?
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Just wasn't any good at tackle or guard.

Tiffin · Aug 30, 2022

southlick said: ↑

Just wasn't any good at tackle or guard.
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Kinda mind boggling for how solid he was for us

stric006 · Aug 30, 2022

Tiffin said: ↑

Kinda mind boggling for how solid he was for us
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Horrible with penalties. Which was a concern with us from time to time.

southlick · Aug 30, 2022

i am a bammer · Aug 30, 2022

Jobe was great, happy for him.

HtownTide · Aug 30, 2022

I though Leatherwood had played well for the Raiders last year? That seems a bit surprising

southlick · Aug 30, 2022

LaBryan Ray is right on the edge

southlick · Aug 30, 2022

southlick · Aug 30, 2022

southlick · Aug 30, 2022

southlick said: ↑

LaBryan Ray is right on the edge

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Whammy · Aug 30, 2022

Dude I’m watching the replay of the 2020 natty and I Shit you not it’s Jameson Williams who tackles Devonta Smith as a gunner on a punt in the 1st quarter. Herbstreit even calls him out as the fastest WR on the Buckeye team.

I had never heard that before

Whammy · Aug 30, 2022

That offense was so sick - Devonta then pound it with Najee. Waddle was hurt most of the year too

Whammy · Aug 30, 2022

Damn Jobe gets a PI while guarding Jamo in the red zone. He was a big part of this game, barely into 2nd quarter

southlick · Aug 30, 2022

southlick · Aug 30, 2022

The new Rhea

Joey Freshwater · Aug 30, 2022

southlick said: ↑

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Is this good? It seems good.

southlick · Aug 30, 2022

Alabama football truth or myth: 2022 schedule, WR corps, defense potential and more

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Happy depth chart day to those who celebrate. The Monday of Week 1 is traditionally when Alabama releases its initial depth chart, and no one was disappointed. There were a couple of revelations, too.

Utah State, Alabama’s opponent this week, struggled a bit in its Week 0 opener against Connecticut, winning but not looking like a team that can seriously threaten the Crimson Tide this Saturday. The perception of the game changed dramatically, as the line opened at -31 and moved to -41.5.

What should be expected of the Crimson Tide on Saturday night and beyond? Let’s dive into some narratives about the Crimson Tide and declare whether they’re truths or myths.

The schedule allows an easy path to a championship
Verdict: Myth

Prepare yourself for this refrain because it’s a popular one with Alabama and it will gain traction this week and through September. Detractors never willingly gave the Crimson Tide credit for opening the season in a neutral-site contest with an out-of-conference opponent, so I imagine those same people will have lots to say about the week’s home game against Utah State.

It’s the first time since 2011 that Alabama isn’t opening the season at a neutral-site venue against a Power 5 opponent. Instead, its marquee early-season game comes the following week in a road trip to Austin against Texas. Still, expect Alabama’s schedule to be a target this weekend. But if you actually examine the slate, it passes any reasonable expectation of a challenging schedule. For what it’s worth, which at this point is projections, Alabama’s strength of schedule ranks seventh in ESPN’s Football Power Index.

The month of September is going to be an easy one to throw stones at, with just one game that will satiate fans, as Utah State is followed by Texas, Louisiana Monroe and Vanderbilt. Buckle up for October, though. It’s not going to get much publicity because on the surface it might not look like much, but going to Arkansas, returning home for Texas A&M in one of college football’s games of the year and then going back on the road at Tennessee is no walk in the park. Arkansas is still building, but Sam Pittman’s Razorbacks gave Alabama everything it wanted and more last year. Texas A&M beat Alabama last year, and Tennessee has an offense that can catch fire at any time.

Then there’s a two-week stretch in November when Alabama goes to Baton Rouge to face LSU, followed immediately by a trip to Ole Miss. Alabama will surely be favored in all those games, but it’s the kind of schedule set-up that could produce a loss to any of those teams.

Then there’s the Iron Bowl, a rivalry that produces weird results, though the game being in Tuscaloosa guards against that to some extent.

So if someone hits you with Alabama’s schedule not being tough, don’t buy into it. It’s simply not true or a case of revisionist history if the Crimson Tide get through it unscathed.

The wide receivers aren’t what they’ve been in recent years
Verdict: Truth

With all apologies to Traeshon Holden, Jermaine Burton and Kobe Prentice, who are listed as the first-team wide receivers, this is not a receiving corps of Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle. It’s not even last year’s combination of John Metchie and Jameson Williams. There was bound to be some drop-off at some point because no program has ever produced that much first-round talent in consecutive draft classes.

It was simply unrealistic for Alabama to continue to recognize, recruit and develop talent at the rate it has in the past few years. The program hit on a big-time transfer last year in Williams from Ohio State, and it will hope to do the same with Burton from Georgia, though Louisville transfer Tyler Harrell begins the season behind Burton at X.

Now, Alabama doesn’t have that kind of talent with the same depth this year, but what it does have are receivers that are hungry to prove themselves mixed in with a veteran SEC receiver in Burton who has been through it and knows what’s required in this league.

“Obviously got some new faces,” quarterback Bryce Young said Monday while assessing the receivers.

One of those new faces, at least in terms of playing a major contributing role, is Holden. The 6-foot-3, 214-pound junior’s name has rung out through camp, and his time has arrived after he was named a starter at the Z ahead of Iron Bowl hero Ja’Corey Brooks.

“I’ve just seen steady growth,” Young said. “It hasn’t been his time the last few years, but not everyone’s seeing what’s going on throughout the week. But the last two years he’s been here, he’s been working day in and day out.”

Prentice is the one to really watch. The 5-foot-10 freshman from Calera (Ala.) came on out of seemingly nowhere in camp to earn a starting role. You don’t see that much at Alabama. Julio Jones did it as freshman, as did Amari Cooper, and then there was the ridiculous run of talent from 2017-18. Still, it’s something that should do more than raise an eyebrow. It should make you stand up and take notice.

There are two ways to look at it: Is Prentice just that good? Or has the wide receiving corps just been so good in recent years that now it’s particularly noticeable when a freshman comes in and earns a starting role? It’s not unreasonable to have an opinion that aligns with the fence, but ask yourself this question: Is Alabama devoid of offensive skill talent? That’s not likely.

There are lots of reasons to be optimistic about this year’s wide receivers, but the group is not expected to be the identity of the offense like it has been in recent seasons.

The offense will look the same in Year 2 under Bill O’Brien
Verdict: Myth

Nor should it. O’Brien is in his second season and has the advantage of working again with Young. Both should evolve a bit this year, based on both necessity and to avoid tendency detection.

Remember when Alabama had the ball near the Texas A&M goal line on multiple downs last season and threw the ball each time? Part of that was the play call and part of that was the run-pass option available to Young. Maybe the Aggies gave the offense looks that made passing the ball the obvious decision. What I do know is after that game Nick Saban said he’d like have seen his offense at least challenge the Aggies by running the ball in those spots.

This year, O’Brien and Young should feel more confident in running in that situation thanks to a stable of great running backs and an offensive line that is believed to be able to create more space in short-yardage situations. We won’t know until we have enough data from those situations, but the point remains: The offense will look different because of the personnel and experience this year.

That’s not saying the scheme is going to change. It’s not. Alabama is going to do what it’s been doing. It’s always in search of a balanced offense. It will also take what the defense gives it.

“When those big explosive plays are there, we want to do our best to make sure we take advantage of that,” Young said. “If it has to be a 2-, 3- or 4-yard run game, whatever it may be, short passes, whatever we need for us, it’s just about taking what the defense gives us and making sure that we’re balancing multiple.”

This isn’t going to be the Alabama offense of 2018 or 2020, when it hit big play after big play. At least that’s not what’s expected from this group. It’s not going to be a cloud of dust offense either, but the running game is a big facet of this team’s identity.

The defense is the best it’s been since 2017
Verdict: Truth

The 2017 defense ranked No. 1 in the country, which is the last time that feat was accomplished by an Alabama defense. The 2021 unit took a giant step toward dominance with a No. 7 ranking in total yards. But even that unit wasn’t dominant. There were definitely areas for improvement.

This group has the ability to be dominant. Edge rushers Will Anderson and Dallas Turner are the best in the country and should make opposing teams think twice about how many times they want to drop back to pass. Henry To’o To’o is a difference-maker in the middle of the defense, and Jordan Battle is the same in the secondary. There are others to watch too, including true freshman nose guard Jaheim Oatis, who Saban said Monday was tough to block. Oatis and DJ Dale should make it difficult to run the football. Jamil Burroughs brings pass-rush ability from the interior, and Justin Eboigbe and Byron Young are plenty experienced too.

The thing to watch is how the secondary shakes out. Injuries limited Eli Ricks and Khyree Jackson in camp, allowing Terrion Arnold to enter the picture. The redshirt freshman has earned the coaching staff’s respect and made it possible that Alabama’s starting cornerbacks could be a pair of Class of 2021 recruits in Arnold and Kool-Aid McKinstry.

This defense should create plenty of chaos due to the pressure it can put on quarterbacks. Chaos usually leads to lots of negative plays for the opponents. From sacks to forced fumbles to turnovers, this defense could be shades of 2016, which was a unit that forced more chaos than any other in the Saban era.

It’s not a perfect unit. There is experience to be gained, especially if Arnold and McKinstry are the starting corners. The defensive line doesn’t have a Jonathan Allen or Quinnen Williams. But the defense does have top-end talent like Anderson, To’o To’o and Battle. It has a rotation on the defensive line and either Jaylen Moody or Deontae Lawson (and in the future, Jihaad Campbell) manning the spot next to To’o To’o.

Pete Golding can let the dogs loose this year, and that could plenty chaotic for opponents.

Alabama’s offensive line will determine the outcome of the season
Verdict: Truth

This is the biggest truth of them all. I’m not sure there’s anyone out there who predicted that Kendall Randolph would hold onto a starting job he held during the spring. At that time, Tyler Steen hadn’t yet transferred from Vanderbilt and three interior offensive linemen were held out for various injuries/rehabs. Even then, Randolph was mainly at tackle, where’d he also been listed on the depth chart alongside the goal line tight end role he assumed. But now he’s the first-team left guard.

Javion Cohen was the starting left guard a season ago and he’s back this season, but now he’s with the second team. Cohen said he checked into a health facility during the offseason and has been public about his mental health. Randolph holding off Cohen is something to watch throughout the season.

Steen arrived and is the starting left tackle, with Darrian Dalcourt at center, Emil Ekiyor at right guard and JC Latham at right tackle. That’s your starting five for Saturday as long as the players stay healthy during practice this week.

Most eyes will be on Steen and Latham. Those are the ones protecting Bryce Young from edge rushers. It was an area late in the season (see: Auburn and Georgia in the CFP) that stunted the production of the Crimson Tide offense. But don’t forget to watch how much push the interior offensive line can get. That could be the identity of the offense if the big guys give Jahmyr Gibbs holes to run through. If they can’t, it could be an issue, one that could prevent the realization of this season’s ultimate goal: championships.

That’s the capability of this team, and as long as the starting five on the offensive line keep Young upright and Gibbs and company moving ahead, this team has everything else it needs.
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Joey Freshwater · Aug 30, 2022

Add a little weight and this kid could actually end up being a big time player for us.

Clown Baby · Aug 30, 2022

Suttles is such a dipshit. “The wide receivers won’t have the depth they did last year.” Wut. Everything went to shit when Jamo and Metchie went down and we’ve finally built some really good depth at the position.

ChopRoll42 · Aug 30, 2022

Any Alabama hooper have a good hoopmixtape besides Jake pope?

DDB · Aug 31, 2022

It’s game week and this thread is dead as hell, I’m demanding more.

i am a bammer · Aug 31, 2022

Who are you most excited to watch that didn't start last year? I'm dying to see Gibbs and getting pretty hyped over Prentice. Pretty curious to see how good Terrion Arnold looks too.

Stone Cold Steve Austin · Aug 31, 2022

i am a bammer said: ↑

Who are you most excited to watch that didn't start last year? I'm dying to see Gibbs and getting pretty hyped over Prentice. Pretty curious to see how good Terrion Arnold looks too.
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DBs and Steen

Stone Cold Steve Austin · Aug 31, 2022

Roydell

i am a bammer · Aug 31, 2022

Roy's Boys about to eat

Whammy · Aug 31, 2022

i am a bammer said: ↑

Who are you most excited to watch that didn't start last year? I'm dying to see Gibbs and getting pretty hyped over Prentice. Pretty curious to see how good Terrion Arnold looks too.
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Steen, Gibbs, Oatis

Snakes · Aug 31, 2022

we aren't going to know much about steen until the texas game. he's gonna look like Neal against Utah state. I'm excited about seeing Bryce's chemistry with Holden, Prentice, Brooks, etc.

Menelaus · Aug 31, 2022

Big Jah and Tim Smith on the DL

Owsley · Aug 31, 2022

I feel like we already know plenty about Steen considering he’s a multiple year starter in the league, albeit for Vandy.

Holden and Prentice on offense and Arnold and Oatis on defense for me.

DDB · Aug 31, 2022

I hope y’all aren’t expecting to be blown away by Steen, he will be serviceable but elite he’s not.

DDB · Aug 31, 2022

Tim Smith, Arnold, Ricks, and Anderson, Turner, and Braswell on the field at the same time.

Clown Baby · Aug 31, 2022

DDB said: ↑

I hope y’all aren’t expecting to be blown away by Steen, he will be serviceable but elite he’s not.
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Im gonna get my hopes way up

Snakes · Aug 31, 2022

DDB said: ↑

I hope y’all aren’t expecting to be blown away by Steen, he will be serviceable but elite he’s not.
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good thing we have a future Outland trophy winner waiting in the wings behind him.

Owsley · Aug 31, 2022

DDB said: ↑

I hope y’all aren’t expecting to be blown away by Steen, he will be serviceable but elite he’s not.
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I don’t think anyone is expecting him to come in and be a world beater. How good he is this year likely says more about Wolford and our interior OL than it does Steen.

Phil Connors · Aug 31, 2022

Daughter doing campus tour Friday. Possibly enrolling in the fall.

Got free tickets for Saturday. Extra long weekend.

i am a bammer · Aug 31, 2022

Snakes said: ↑

good thing we have a future Outland trophy winner waiting in the wings behind him.
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Rod and Tod Oscarmeyer

JohnLocke · Aug 31, 2022

southlick · Aug 31, 2022

southlick · Aug 31, 2022

gus_chiggins · Aug 31, 2022

Aaron Anderson for me. Also Oatis because of the clear waddle vibes

Steen also has obvious waddle vibes imo

southlick · Aug 31, 2022

southlick · Aug 31, 2022

i am a bammer · Aug 31, 2022

I think Steen is the person I'm least excited to see

junior5 · Aug 31, 2022

i am a bammer said: ↑

I think Steen is the person I'm least excited to see
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been waiting all offseason to see Kendall Randolph

southlick · Aug 31, 2022

Savion still hanging around.

Whammy · Aug 31, 2022

JohnLocke said: ↑

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Talk to me babaaayyyyyy

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