Has the Bama dynasty ever been this vulnerable under Saban?
Think back to November. They basically had a massacre of injuries to their LB core and that was the first time I noticed the sports media start to be critical of Bama's dominance. Then Auburn whacked them hard in Jordan-Hare. They got their sweet revenge against Clemson but then needed a miracle heave in overtime by a true freshman backup QB to beat the real SEC champions in the NC. Keep in mind Saban not only was undefeated against former assistants like Kirby Smart but had won every game by at least two touchdowns before then. Then they lose most of their defense including all of their elite secondary. Not to mention they only finished #5 in 247 sports recruiting class rankings. Mind you, I still think this year they are heading to the Playoff, but I'm not seeing this as vintage Bama dynasty anymore and can definitely bleed now. What say you?
August 17th, 2018 at 1:33 PM ^
Wut? Does anybody think Berkley Edwards will contribute either on kickoffs or some carries. Fastest back on the team and only 2 lbs lighter than Higdon
August 17th, 2018 at 1:47 PM ^
I really hope so. I’d much rather have him than DPJ or any other starter on punt/kick return duties, assuming he can catch the ball cleanly. Unless there’s a game changer like Peppers, having a starter back there seems reckless.
August 17th, 2018 at 2:03 PM ^
Ideally you have a return specialist, sure
Believe I heard Sam Webb say DPJ led the conference in return yards as a freshman (lotta punts forced, but still). He might end up really, really good at the thing.
August 17th, 2018 at 2:13 PM ^
DPJ is a game changer and 100% should be returning punts
August 17th, 2018 at 5:24 PM ^
Until they play a team like State and they try to purposely injure him. I like DPJ returning punts, but he is too valuable as a receiver to let him get clocked returning a punt. Stick Thomas back there who is an elite athlete and the third corner at a position with way more depth.
August 18th, 2018 at 1:14 AM ^
?? WTF were you guys watching last year.. DPJ is not a good kick returner, he is pretty terrible at it.
August 17th, 2018 at 2:22 PM ^
I’m on the other end of the spectrum, I like having starters at KR and PR. The way the rules are now there is less risk involved. I grew up watching Desmond, Derrick Alexander, Breaston etc., making plays on special teams.
August 17th, 2018 at 4:09 PM ^
Doesn’t he play for Minnesota?
August 17th, 2018 at 5:18 PM ^
He plays for us now. Grad transfer.
August 17th, 2018 at 5:42 PM ^
How did you get to Outer Bolivia? Why are you allowed to post?
August 17th, 2018 at 7:58 PM ^
I said sp8 sux. I would like to retract that and say, all our qbs sucked but little did I know at that time.
August 17th, 2018 at 8:31 PM ^
That post should be worth one hundred million mgopoints.
August 17th, 2018 at 1:36 PM ^
They had #1 class for like 8 years in a row until last year, they have 5 stars waiting in the wings, Georgia will be their toughest competition now to get out of sec because they can match talent level
August 17th, 2018 at 4:41 PM ^
Yeah, they're not going anywhere soon. That being said Saban is no spring chicken, and age hurts everyone. He's approaching JoePa territory with that extension.
August 17th, 2018 at 1:36 PM ^
There was nothing miraculous about them winning the game...the receiver was wide open. Any QB should be able to make that throw (except ours last year). It wasn't a "heave".
I wouldn't call a team coming off a national championship "vulnerable".
August 17th, 2018 at 1:46 PM ^
Honestly Smithers, I don't know why Alabama even bothers to show up. They barely even won!
August 17th, 2018 at 2:28 PM ^
Most teams would kill to be a "vulnerable" defending national champion stacked to the rafters with 5-star talent
August 17th, 2018 at 1:36 PM ^
Delete.
August 17th, 2018 at 1:37 PM ^
As long as Saban is there Bama will continue being good. But they'll have a tougher time of it because Georgia is hot new team in the conference and Alabama's recruiting hasn't been as strong since Smart left. And they way Smart is recruiting, Georgia can pull off a dynasty similar to Saban's at Alabama.
The question is if Smart is as good of a coach to achieve the same feat. And how much of these teams beating up on each other benefit other teams in the country (Michigan, Clemson, OSU, Florida St., USC, PSU, Washington, Texas)? They also have talent and can take advantage of this situation.
August 17th, 2018 at 1:37 PM ^
Lol wut
August 17th, 2018 at 1:37 PM ^
Alabama...vulnerable? Uhhhh......
Alabama isn't vulnerable until they stop winning championships.
August 17th, 2018 at 2:49 PM ^
Pssh, they haven't won a championship in, like, over 6 months.
Clearly not at dynasty level anymore. Slackers.
August 17th, 2018 at 1:38 PM ^
This might, projecting on Tua, be the best offense of the Saban era.
August 17th, 2018 at 1:38 PM ^
So because they don't have an apparently all-time great team and are merely a consensus pick to make the playoff with as good of a shot at another national championship as anyone their dynasty is vulnerable?
No, I don't agree. Saban is probably the greatest college football coach of all-time and he's still got that program humming along. To do what he's doing in the era of 85 scholarship rosters is absolutely insane.
August 17th, 2018 at 1:53 PM ^
"They might only be fantastic instead of magnificent" :D
August 17th, 2018 at 2:46 PM ^
That's Mr. Fantastic to you
August 17th, 2018 at 1:38 PM ^
As far as vulnerability goes, Earth has had some close calls with meteorites the last few years. I guess that's the closest the Alabama dynasty has come to ending.
August 17th, 2018 at 1:41 PM ^
This is a silly post, criticizing a team that just won an NC for the 1000th time in the last 1005 years (or whatever). That being said, I seriously doubt Saban can keep things running at this level too much longer. There are always outliers, and there's a chance he could be it, but odds are he will become less productive as he ages and the program will slip.
August 17th, 2018 at 2:00 PM ^
Clearly you are unaware of the pact he made with Satan. Saban is a machine that runs on Red Man chew and the knees of running backs. He will never die; he will never age. QED
August 17th, 2018 at 2:24 PM ^
There's no actual deal....Nick in fact IS Satan, nobody actually knows it because his last name was misspelled due to a typo.
August 17th, 2018 at 4:50 PM ^
You left out "Little Debbie Creme Filled Oatmeal Pies." He eats two every morning with his coffee at 4:30 AM. Right after he showers and masturbates.
August 17th, 2018 at 5:57 PM ^
People have been saying this for years, literally every time (usually once a year) Alabama loses a game.
https://www.seccountry.com/alabama/here-are-all-the-people-who-said-alabama-was-declining
It seems the only plausible rationale we have left is that Saban will eventually die.
August 17th, 2018 at 1:46 PM ^
i had a Friday lunch beer, but now im sad i didnt have what OP did
August 17th, 2018 at 2:52 PM ^
I don't know...powerful hallucinogens aren't great for your afternoon productivity...or the results of your sports betting...
August 17th, 2018 at 1:49 PM ^
Let's wait a few years before we talk about the decline of certain blue blood programs, shall we?
August 17th, 2018 at 1:49 PM ^
Quit drinking and go to bed. Alabama reloads every year. They are not "vulnerable" they are still the best team in college football and will continue to be as long as Saban is there.
Go Blue!!
August 17th, 2018 at 4:50 PM ^
Who have you been before on this site? I smell a rat.
August 17th, 2018 at 1:50 PM ^
Is this serious?
August 17th, 2018 at 1:50 PM ^
No, and even if they are “vulnerable,” it’s only by their own standards. They are still stocked with five star talent. Their backups are still five stars or extremely high, top-50 overall four stars.
Will they win it all this year? Don’t know. But they’re in the playoffs every year until they don’t make it.
August 17th, 2018 at 10:51 PM ^
That's kinda what I meant
August 17th, 2018 at 1:51 PM ^
My Bama-fan wife (born there, can't help it) will make some horrible Appalachia State jibe at me from time to time. I just point out to her that in the same year, Alabama lost to ULM, and Saban was the coach then, too.
So I think they were more vulnerable then than now, personally.
August 17th, 2018 at 1:55 PM ^
Last year they still won despite all that. That was the year to get them
August 17th, 2018 at 1:55 PM ^
Reaching like Jordan in Space Jam.
Unfortunately, Bama's as dominant as ever.
August 17th, 2018 at 1:58 PM ^
I think it really depends on the effects rising inflation pressures have on the overall value and size of the bags being delivered to recruits.
Obviously, they need to get bigger bags. Saban is aware of the problem and is already working to correct the issue and get Bama back on top of the recruiting rankings in short order.
August 17th, 2018 at 2:01 PM ^
I think this is a great question with some interesting points. I don't think 'Bama will crumble in the next 2-3 seasons, if only because of the stockpiled talent. But you're right about some vulnerabilities and worthy competition starting to show up.
Re: 2018, the thing about young talent is that it can be managed with the right schedule. The reason I think you're onto something is that the schedule starts with a very scary Louisville team. Against a young defense, I could see Petrino pulling off a close game. In the first couple of games, 'Bama will also face a talent-laden and better-managed Texas A&M squad in their first four games.The cupcakes are super-soft, but there are hard substantive games mixed in. Things could get very spicy very quickly.
August 17th, 2018 at 2:39 PM ^
Louisville lost Lamar Jackson and was mediocre with him--they're a middling ACC team this year at best. Alabama is going to stomp them. They'll stomp Texas A&M, too, though A&M might have a chance to be good.
Bama's major threats are Auburn and Georgia this year.