Alabama Football: The State of the Crimson Tide Part 2

This fall, Alabama football faces a problematic crossroad. Win big, and everyone realizes the Tide is back. Stumble, and critics will say the end is here for the college football juggernaut.

Coming off of an uneventful 7-6 record, in the Alabama football, season opener against Clemson in 2008, Nick Saban set the tone for the direction of the program. The rugged, hard-nosed running game and sturdy, punishing defense were Alabama’s calling card.

The Alabama Factor and “the process”  have played out in front of millions as the Crimson Tide pummeled teams en route to five national titles in eleven years. The simple, yet strict standard set the path for college football supremacy.

Observing Alabama in last year’s championship game was the first time, I ever saw the Crimson Tide uncharacteristically unprepared for their opponent in Nick Saban’s eleven years as head coach. Sometimes it is just not their night like undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson falling at the hands of a run of the mill boxer in Buster Douglas in the biggest upset in sports history or underdog Villanova beating big, wicked Patrick Ewing and Georgetown in the 1985 NCAA Tournament.

For whatever reason, the Alabama Crimson Tide appeared docile.

Ill-equipped.

Tired.

Whether it was the smothering pressure of fighting to stay undefeated, complacency, internal strife among players or coaches running for the exits, it showed. Clemson earned their championship title. The contender did not even look as though it deserved to be on the same playing field with the Tigers.

Last season, the best quarterback in the nation resided in Tuscaloosa.

Sorry, Kyler Murray.

Returning to lead this year’s team is Tua Tagovailoa. The star quarterback played phenomenal all season, setting several offensive records, thrusting himself into deserved Heisman talks and Alabama GOAT status. The Maxwell Award winner’s two worst games of the season came versus Georgia (injured both ankles) and Clemson (defensive schemes confused him). Hopefully, the monumental setbacks have prepared Tagovailoa for an even stronger comeback.

The best receiver group in the nation catch passes from the deft lefty. Starting with the Biletnikoff Award winner Jerry Jeudy,  if he wasn’t breaking defenders’ ankles, Jeudy was sprinting past defensive backs for the score. Vastly underrated, Henry Ruggs brings rugged toughness and blazing wheels to the table. Devonta Smith can stretch out to get the ball. Jaylen Waddle broke into the lineup with his dazzling speed and ankle-breaking moves.

The 2012 offensive line whipped opponents until their ass quit. Running lanes were big enough for the USS Gerald Ford to flow through.  AJ McCarron’s uniform stayed clean.

Last season, there was a stark difference when Lester Cotton manned the left guard spot for Deonte Brown. Versus the tougher teams, there wasn’t much push in the running game. In 2019, a physical line with potential All-American Najee Harris toting the rock will allow extraordinary results.

An explosive offense is necessary because of defensive inexperience. Quinnen Williams, possibly the best player in the upcoming NFL draft, provided a nastiness reminiscent of the previous Alabama football champions. Raekwon Davis, Dylan Moses and Xavier McKinney return as veteran leaders on each level.

New defensive coordinator Pete Golding has his work cut out for him. Against Oklahoma and Clemson, the defense played like a middle of the pack Big 12 defense. Injuries, especially at linebacker, has provided difficulties for the Tide. Hopefully, the additions of defensive line coach Brian Baker, linebackers Sal Sunseri and defensive backs coach Charles Kelly can return the Tide to a box office defense instead of a matinée feature.

The cupboard in the Mal Moore Athletic Facility is not bare. There are five stars on top of five stars, chomping at the bit for some game action.

The sheer dominance of Alabama football throughout the decade is astounding. However, the Crimson Tide as the underdog makes it hungrier, nastier and potentially unbeatable. Let the national media shower Clemson with all the justified preseason hype and attention.

For the first game of the new season, Alabama squares off against ACC foe Duke in Atlanta. I feel for the Blue Devils and all teams attempting to block the Tide’s path to the National Championship. As long as Saban walks the sidelines, the Crimson Tide will mirror his overly, competitive mindset.

This post was the second in a four-part series by the Bama Hammer staff. Check out Part 1 here. Parts 3 and 4 will follow soon.