Photo by Alex Parker, TexAgs
Texas A&M Football
Another reloading in store in Tuscaloosa
If it were almost any other college football program but Alabama, the data would be cause for alarm.
Gone is quarterback A.J. McCarron, who directed the Tide to a pair of national championships. That dominant offensive line of two seasons ago is now completely gone. The defense lost seven starters, including five that were taken in the NFL Draft. Two of those — LB C.J. Mosley and S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix — were first-round selections.
But this is coach Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide, a program whose last four recruiting classes were ranked first in the nation by various services. Alabama is more likely to take a step forward than a step back.
TexAgs
Nick Saban's program reloads with an almost automated ease and there's no reason it shouldn't do the same in 2014.
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Saban\u0027s program reloads with an almost automated ease and
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2014.","MediaItemID":35505}
Of course, last year the Crimson Tide came up short of its quest to post three straight national titles, but Bama projects to be a major factor in the championship race again this year. Alabama’s running backs are as good as any in the nation. The receiving corps is rife with big-play threats, especially Amari Cooper. The defense may not be as stingy as usual, but it won’t be weak, either.
The Tide also faces a less-than-challenging schedule outside of the SEC West Division grind. So, if an effective quarterback emerges the Tide could very well contend for its fourth national title in six seasons.
Actually, 'Bama might be good enough with a merely adequate quarterback.
2013 record: 11-2
Returning starters:
Position of concern: The Tide projects to replace McCarron, who presided over 36 victories and two national championships, with someone with minimal experience who wasn’t on the spring roster.
Most observers predict Jacob Coker, a transfer from Florida State due to arrive in the summer, as McCarron’s successor. But Coker’s reputation appears to be based on the fact that he backed up Heisman winner Jameis Winston. Coker has thrown 41 passes in his career and completed 21. The other most likely option is senior Blake Sims, who threw 29 passes in mop-up duty last season and struggled in the spring game.
Time is now: Sophomore DE A’Shawn Robinson posted 5.5 sacks as a true freshman, but he’s needed to make an even bigger contribution in 2014. The Tide doesn’t appear as intimidating in the front seven as it has been in recent years and needs Robinson to surface as a difference-maker.
Emerging newcomer: Alabama’s cornerback play was mediocre in 2013, but figures to improve immediately with the arrival of freshman Tony Brown. Brown, a Beaumont native, has great speed and good size. He was rated one of the nation’s top corners in the 2014 class and could be the best on the Alabama roster. It won’t come as a surprise if he starts right away.
However, the final month of the season will provide a tough test with games at LSU and against Mississippi State and Auburn.
2014 schedule:
Gone is quarterback A.J. McCarron, who directed the Tide to a pair of national championships. That dominant offensive line of two seasons ago is now completely gone. The defense lost seven starters, including five that were taken in the NFL Draft. Two of those — LB C.J. Mosley and S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix — were first-round selections.
But this is coach Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide, a program whose last four recruiting classes were ranked first in the nation by various services. Alabama is more likely to take a step forward than a step back.
TexAgs
Nick Saban's program reloads with an almost automated ease and there's no reason it shouldn't do the same in 2014.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"right","Size":"large","Caption":"Nick
Saban\u0027s program reloads with an almost automated ease and
there\u0027s no reason it shouldn\u0027t do the same in
2014.","MediaItemID":35505}
The Tide also faces a less-than-challenging schedule outside of the SEC West Division grind. So, if an effective quarterback emerges the Tide could very well contend for its fourth national title in six seasons.
Actually, 'Bama might be good enough with a merely adequate quarterback.
Alabama Crimson Tide
Coach: Nick Saban2013 record: 11-2
Returning starters:
- Offense (7): RB T.J. Yeldon, WR Amari Cooper, WR Christion Jones, WR DeAndrew White, G Arie Kouandjio, C Ryan Kelly, T Austin Shepherd
- Defense (4): NG Brandon Ivory, LB Trey DePriest, SS Landon Collins, CB Cyrus Jones
- Special teams (1): PR/KR Christion Jones
Position of concern: The Tide projects to replace McCarron, who presided over 36 victories and two national championships, with someone with minimal experience who wasn’t on the spring roster.
Most observers predict Jacob Coker, a transfer from Florida State due to arrive in the summer, as McCarron’s successor. But Coker’s reputation appears to be based on the fact that he backed up Heisman winner Jameis Winston. Coker has thrown 41 passes in his career and completed 21. The other most likely option is senior Blake Sims, who threw 29 passes in mop-up duty last season and struggled in the spring game.
Time is now: Sophomore DE A’Shawn Robinson posted 5.5 sacks as a true freshman, but he’s needed to make an even bigger contribution in 2014. The Tide doesn’t appear as intimidating in the front seven as it has been in recent years and needs Robinson to surface as a difference-maker.
Emerging newcomer: Alabama’s cornerback play was mediocre in 2013, but figures to improve immediately with the arrival of freshman Tony Brown. Brown, a Beaumont native, has great speed and good size. He was rated one of the nation’s top corners in the 2014 class and could be the best on the Alabama roster. It won’t come as a surprise if he starts right away.
Schedule analysis
Expect another fast start for the Crimson Tide, which doesn’t face team that posted a winning record in 2013 until October 4 when they travel to Ole Miss. By then, Alabama’s quarterback issues may have been solved, new starters on defense will have settled in and the Tide will be ready to make a charge at another appearance in the SEC championship game.However, the final month of the season will provide a tough test with games at LSU and against Mississippi State and Auburn.
2014 schedule:
- Aug. 30 vs. West Virginia at Atlanta
- Sept. 6 vs. FAU
- Sept. 13 vs. Southern Miss
- Sept. 20 vs. Florida
- Oct. 4 at Ole Miss
- Oct. 11 at Arkansas
- Oct. 18 vs. Texas A&M
- Oct. 25 at Tennessee
- Nov. 8 at LSU
- Nov. 15 vs. Mississippi State
- Nov. 22 vs. Western Carolina
- Nov. 29 vs. Auburn
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