Alabama Crimson Tide Vs. Virginia Tech Preview
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Virginia Tech Hokies, The best hope to win the ACC and contend for a BCS bowl is Virginia Tech. The hokies are cutting right to the chase this season, traveling to Atlanta to take on Alabama right off the bat in week 1. If Virginia Tech can pull the upset and beat Alabama, It could mean a season of great things ahead. Va Tech was 7<SUP>th</SUP> in the nation last year in total defense.
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Thereās no excuse for the offense this season with all the key components back in Blacksburg, so the heat is on offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring and quarterback Tyrod Taylor. With Sean Glennon now out of the picture, the responsibility for the offense now rests squarely on Taylorās shoulders.
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Alabama Crimson Tide, You couldnāt run the ball against Alabama last season, and the Crimson Tide are primed to bring the same type of intense defense to the table once again. Nine starters return for Nick Saban to a defense that held opponents to only 74.1 yards on the ground, good for second in the nation. Alabama was no slouch against the pass either, and finished third overall in defense.
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Despite the dominant performance on defense, Crimson Tide backers were left with a sour taste in their mouths after the team started 12-0. Alabama was bounced by eventual national champion Florida in the sec title for their first loss off the season, and followed that up by falling to undefeated Utah in the Sugar Bowl. For the tide to avenge the culmination of last yearās profitable showing, junior quarterback Greg McElroy needs to give them an offense to go along with their impressive defense, if that happens, Alabama will be right there with Florida at the top of the conference. Alabama will need to beat Virginia Tech first, but still could make the national title game with a loss to Virginia Tech.
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One matchup that will be a key to the game, Alabamaās Terrence Cody vs. Virginia Techās Sergio Render, Cody is the anchor of the front seven, 6-5, 365 pounds. Cody is the best DT in the nation on the best front seven in the nation. It will be very hard to run on the tide even if you have one of the best guards in the nation. You still have the un-moveable front seven.
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The tide runs a 3-4 defense. Virginia Tech has had success running the ball against a 3-4 defense. Bamaās defense is a 3-4 in name only. They normally always move linebackers up to the line of scrimmage, Alabama has to future NFL players in Rolando McClain and Dantāa Hightower. McClain and Hightower do most of their damage while Mount Cody is being double and triple teamed. Virginia Tech has yet to see the type of personnel Alabama has on defense. The Hokies canāt let Alabamaās front seven dominate the line of scrimmage. If they do the tide wins pretty easy. LSU and Charles Scott were able to run on Bamaās dominant front seven. LSU coach Les Miles, for some reason abandoned the run.
Virginia Tech wonāt be able to run the ball up the middle against bamaās front seven. Might want to run out side. Then if you run outside you have the speed of the Alabama linebackers to deal with.
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For Virginia Tech, to even have a chance in this game they will have to establish the passing game, then the running game. If they can get the passing game going that will loosen up the bama defense and they wonāt stack the box. It should be very interesting Saban going up against Frank Beamer. Beamer is known for his special teams. Iām sure BAMA is very aware of this. Virginia Tech always tries to block a punt. Alabama is 10-1 all time against Virginia Tech.
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Alabama started out with another ACC team last year in Clemson. Alabama wasnāt ranked and Clemson had a dynamic duo at the RB position. Before the game it was assumed by most experts Clemson would just dominate the tide. Alabama would just show up and take a beating. After all this was only Sabanās 2<SUP>nd</SUP> year at Alabama. Nobody expected them to win. Nobody expected āfolk heroā Mount Cody, a giant surprise, and Nick Sabanās most important signee last year. Cody made a bigger impact than any other player. Clemson found out the hard way about Cody. Alabama killed Clemson and thatās how they got back on the college football map. That win basically cost Tommy Bowden is job. In a well publicized call to Nick Saban for advice during the season. Coaches will do that but not during the season. Clemson finds out about it and they fire him. Bama wonāt slip up on Virginia Tech, but they have so much talent on defense it shouldnāt matter.
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The key for Bama is the rebuilt offensive line and a new quarterback making his first ever start. Alabama will find out in spring practice about the offense. Should be a good game.
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Prediction: Alabama 27-14.
http://alabama-crimson-tide.blogspot.com
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> </o>Virginia Tech Hokies, The best hope to win the ACC and contend for a BCS bowl is Virginia Tech. The hokies are cutting right to the chase this season, traveling to Atlanta to take on Alabama right off the bat in week 1. If Virginia Tech can pull the upset and beat Alabama, It could mean a season of great things ahead. Va Tech was 7<SUP>th</SUP> in the nation last year in total defense.
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> </o>Thereās no excuse for the offense this season with all the key components back in Blacksburg, so the heat is on offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring and quarterback Tyrod Taylor. With Sean Glennon now out of the picture, the responsibility for the offense now rests squarely on Taylorās shoulders.
<o
> </o>Alabama Crimson Tide, You couldnāt run the ball against Alabama last season, and the Crimson Tide are primed to bring the same type of intense defense to the table once again. Nine starters return for Nick Saban to a defense that held opponents to only 74.1 yards on the ground, good for second in the nation. Alabama was no slouch against the pass either, and finished third overall in defense.
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> </o>Despite the dominant performance on defense, Crimson Tide backers were left with a sour taste in their mouths after the team started 12-0. Alabama was bounced by eventual national champion Florida in the sec title for their first loss off the season, and followed that up by falling to undefeated Utah in the Sugar Bowl. For the tide to avenge the culmination of last yearās profitable showing, junior quarterback Greg McElroy needs to give them an offense to go along with their impressive defense, if that happens, Alabama will be right there with Florida at the top of the conference. Alabama will need to beat Virginia Tech first, but still could make the national title game with a loss to Virginia Tech.
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> </o>One matchup that will be a key to the game, Alabamaās Terrence Cody vs. Virginia Techās Sergio Render, Cody is the anchor of the front seven, 6-5, 365 pounds. Cody is the best DT in the nation on the best front seven in the nation. It will be very hard to run on the tide even if you have one of the best guards in the nation. You still have the un-moveable front seven.
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> </o>The tide runs a 3-4 defense. Virginia Tech has had success running the ball against a 3-4 defense. Bamaās defense is a 3-4 in name only. They normally always move linebackers up to the line of scrimmage, Alabama has to future NFL players in Rolando McClain and Dantāa Hightower. McClain and Hightower do most of their damage while Mount Cody is being double and triple teamed. Virginia Tech has yet to see the type of personnel Alabama has on defense. The Hokies canāt let Alabamaās front seven dominate the line of scrimmage. If they do the tide wins pretty easy. LSU and Charles Scott were able to run on Bamaās dominant front seven. LSU coach Les Miles, for some reason abandoned the run.
Virginia Tech wonāt be able to run the ball up the middle against bamaās front seven. Might want to run out side. Then if you run outside you have the speed of the Alabama linebackers to deal with.
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> </o>For Virginia Tech, to even have a chance in this game they will have to establish the passing game, then the running game. If they can get the passing game going that will loosen up the bama defense and they wonāt stack the box. It should be very interesting Saban going up against Frank Beamer. Beamer is known for his special teams. Iām sure BAMA is very aware of this. Virginia Tech always tries to block a punt. Alabama is 10-1 all time against Virginia Tech.
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> </o>Alabama started out with another ACC team last year in Clemson. Alabama wasnāt ranked and Clemson had a dynamic duo at the RB position. Before the game it was assumed by most experts Clemson would just dominate the tide. Alabama would just show up and take a beating. After all this was only Sabanās 2<SUP>nd</SUP> year at Alabama. Nobody expected them to win. Nobody expected āfolk heroā Mount Cody, a giant surprise, and Nick Sabanās most important signee last year. Cody made a bigger impact than any other player. Clemson found out the hard way about Cody. Alabama killed Clemson and thatās how they got back on the college football map. That win basically cost Tommy Bowden is job. In a well publicized call to Nick Saban for advice during the season. Coaches will do that but not during the season. Clemson finds out about it and they fire him. Bama wonāt slip up on Virginia Tech, but they have so much talent on defense it shouldnāt matter.
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> </o>The key for Bama is the rebuilt offensive line and a new quarterback making his first ever start. Alabama will find out in spring practice about the offense. Should be a good game.
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> </o>Prediction: Alabama 27-14.
http://alabama-crimson-tide.blogspot.com
