Jacie
12/8/2008, 09:51 PM
. . . it's losing a pair of players who opt to enter the NFL draft as juniors. Because of their stellar play (which lead to the better than expected), it is obvious they have nothing else to prove at the college level and being linemen, neither of them have any real statistical reason to hang around.
The team that did better than anyone expected in 2008 is Alabama. The detergent in the bright orange box was considered a year away from being very good. Going 12-1 in 2008 means they are already there.
There are only 2 seniors on the defensive side of the depth chart and 6 on the offense (four on the 1st team).
Interestingly, they expect to be better next year when they replace senior quarterback, John Parker Wilson (yeah, he is one of those guys referred to by his first, middle and last name whenever he is mentioned), whose 40-23 TD/INT ratio is best described as workmanlike.
That new quarterback will operate behind a couple of new offensive linemen(center and guard), possibly one new tackle if junior Andre Smith leaves a year early, and both 1st and 2nd team tight ends. Nothing like breaking in a new QB and O-line at the same time to keep games exciting (read: nailbiters).
Bama's strength in 2008 was the defense, which recorded 2 shutouts and gave up an average of 13 ppg (including 31 to Florida in their only loss). With only 2 seniors on defense the tide are expected to be just as good in 2009. However, they may also lose junior NT Terrence Cody, who was backed up by 2 freshmen in 2008.
Bama should win the Sugar Bowl (sorry Utes, a 1-loss crimson tide won't fold like a 5-loss Pitt did) and be a preseason top 5 team next year, even if they lose a couple of juniors to the NFL. However, just as happened in 2008, the defense will be bama's strong suit in 2009, while the offense may once again struggle early on.
The team that did better than anyone expected in 2008 is Alabama. The detergent in the bright orange box was considered a year away from being very good. Going 12-1 in 2008 means they are already there.
There are only 2 seniors on the defensive side of the depth chart and 6 on the offense (four on the 1st team).
Interestingly, they expect to be better next year when they replace senior quarterback, John Parker Wilson (yeah, he is one of those guys referred to by his first, middle and last name whenever he is mentioned), whose 40-23 TD/INT ratio is best described as workmanlike.
That new quarterback will operate behind a couple of new offensive linemen(center and guard), possibly one new tackle if junior Andre Smith leaves a year early, and both 1st and 2nd team tight ends. Nothing like breaking in a new QB and O-line at the same time to keep games exciting (read: nailbiters).
Bama's strength in 2008 was the defense, which recorded 2 shutouts and gave up an average of 13 ppg (including 31 to Florida in their only loss). With only 2 seniors on defense the tide are expected to be just as good in 2009. However, they may also lose junior NT Terrence Cody, who was backed up by 2 freshmen in 2008.
Bama should win the Sugar Bowl (sorry Utes, a 1-loss crimson tide won't fold like a 5-loss Pitt did) and be a preseason top 5 team next year, even if they lose a couple of juniors to the NFL. However, just as happened in 2008, the defense will be bama's strong suit in 2009, while the offense may once again struggle early on.