The 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide: On to the Next One?

Let’s get this out of the way now: Alabama’s defense is going to be filthy good this year. This, and a favorable schedule, account for the Tide’s #2 preseason ranking in the US Today Coach’s Poll. After last year’s learning experiences for some very young players, particularly the secondary, and a slower than expected return to form by Linebacker Dont’a Hightower, the Crimson Tide is returning 10 experienced starters on a defense that looks to be the best not just in the SEC, but the country. Buy the hype on this side of the ball, because it’s worth every penny. This group is going to be stingier than a Tea Party Enthusiast walking by a homeless guy.

On offense, it’s going to be much more of a mixed bag. Sure, you have returning third year running back Trent Richardson, who is going to be better and more experienced than he has in the last two years. Think about that for a minute. The guy was a beast as a true Freshman, and had some fans saying he was giving Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram a run for his money in 2009. Richardson was solid last year, but again waited in Ingram’s shadow to take the reigns as the feature back. I don’t expect him to waste the opportunity in 2011. Behind Richardson, depth is a little less stable. Number two back Eddie Lacy has had well documented troubles holding onto the ball and is already dinged up with a minor pectoral injury. Third in line, the much heralded Dee Hart, is already out due to a season ending knee injury, leaving either incoming Freshman Jalston Fowler or possibly Redshirt Freshman Blake Sims as a third option. An injury to Richardson could be catastrophic to Alabama’s offensive production.

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The quarterback situation doesn’t bode as well. With an undecided competition between Redshirt Sophomore AJ McCarron (who actually believes that the United States Government is run by aliens. Seriously. How awesome is that?) and Redshirt Freshman Phillip Sims, there is no stability or significant experience at quarterback. Both QBs have strong potential to be very good under center, but the lack of experience is a concern, and first year quarterbacks don’t typically fare well in the SEC. Whoever wins the starting job will be helped by an offensive line returning four starters, including Center William Vlachos, and Right Guard/Left Tackle Barrett Jones. The fact that these guys have significant game experience is going to help out the QB tremendously, no matter which line position they end up on.

With star Wide Receiver Julio Jones heading out early to Atlanta Falcons, Alabama is left without a proven deep threat receiver. Seniors Marquis Maze and Darius Hanks are both proven receivers, but benefited significantly from the constant defensive double teams that Julio commanded. It will be interesting to see whether Maze or Hanks steps up, or whether JuCo transfer Duron Carter (son of former NFL Receiver Cris Carter) can fill in the gap.

Alabama’s schedule is about as favorable as you can get in the SEC. Two of their three toughest games, Arkansas on Sept 24th and LSU on Nov 5th, are at home in Bryant Denny Stadium, while they face Auburn at Jordan Hare on Nov 26th. The only other potential hiccups on the schedule are a visit to Florida on Oct 1st and a visit to Mississippi State on Nov 12th. I’m completely discounting Penn. State, Vandy, Ole Miss, and Tennessee because they suck. At worst, I see the Crimson Tide going 10-2 on the season. At best, we could have the sixth National Championship in a row from the SEC, and the third in a row from the state of Alabama.