Alabama Football: Days from fall camp, where does 2017 Tide stand?
By Ronald Evans
Just days away from the start of fall camp, does Alabama football have all the ingredients for another national championship run?
Given recent Alabama football history, is the question posed above pertinent? Over the last eight seasons, Alabama football has been in the national championship game five times.
The college football norm is the Tide contending for a national championship. Alabama football is also the only program to have made the CFB Playoff final four every season.
Spans of eight years and three years are samples too small for statistical certainty. In football, as in life, there are no guarantees. As Nick Saban and financial advisors warn, past performance is no guarantee of future results.
About two months ago, we offered the Five Greatest Threats to a 2017 Championship. None of those threats have magically disappeared.
What does Nick think?
At the ESPN Car Wash, Nick Saban spoke about the young 2017 defense.
"“We’ve got a lot of holes to fill … I think the physical talent will be there … what I don’t see in this defensive team so far … to be a good defensive team you’ve got to start with hateful, man. You’ve got to be hateful.”"
Alabama Crimson Tide Football
For a defensive group to be collectively ‘hateful’, leaders are needed. Nick is looking for new ‘Alpha-Dogs’ to step up to replace Jonathan Allen, Ryan Anderson, Reuben Foster and others. Alabama football has several players with the physical attributes to fill those roles. Yet to be determined is who has the dominating physical presence and the leadership traits.
Coaches do not designate ‘Alpha leaders.’ Players acknowledge and choose to follow their leaders. New leaders evolve each spring and summer. Fall camp is the time for those leaders to distinguish themselves.
Insiders report weight room work, conditioning and 7v7 drills have produced great results. If so, much team chemistry has already been achieved. With a tough opener against FSU, the chemistry will be needed quickly.
Replacing seven NFL draft selections on defense would overwhelm many teams. There is little doubt Alabama football has the numbers to reload. Experience may be thin at some spots but talent abounds.
A tough, late-game loss in a national championship game is a powerful motivator. Saban knows he cannot name new ‘Alpha-dogs,’ but he will be looking intently for them throughout fall camp.
Next: 30 Great Tide Players who were 3-Star Recruits
Fall camp will begin on August 3 and will be a sprint to the opening kickoff. Check in with us often as we pass along new information every day.