Names deleted so hopefully the post remains here, if its not something the mod's want, I apologize in advance:
=================================================
"I wouldn’t sweat it. We all tuned ***** out (I know I did) but Saban told us after spring training that things were going to get worse before they got better. He said all along that the talent level and work ethic were not where they should be. Essentially, he inherited a bigger mess than anyone wanted to believe.
I think Saban knew all along he probably needed to get rid of half of the 85 scholarship players because they did not have he character to prepare and compete at the level we need. The problem is that this isn’t 1958 where you can bring in 90 players in a year. Compound that with the fact that the entire SEC is good now. There are no easy weeks. So he does all he can do in a year, runs off ***** and knows another 10-15 will be gone in the next several months. That’s a lot. To run off at any faster rate would scare recruits and would have meant we might have won one game this year. I’m disappointed but not surprised at where we are. *****, *****, *****, *****, and quite a few more are big problems on the team. Any other time and place and Saban would have run them off the first day. But we were simply too thin. He’s had to tolerate some lazy jerks this year. That ends after this February.
Next year we will be very young but I think you see the opposite of this year. Instead of starting strong and finishing weak, expect us to lose some early games (the fans will freak out) but get much stronger late in the year. Here’s the difference between this year and 2008. In 08’ …….
1) Players will understand the offense schemes next year
2) Players will understand the defensive schemes next year
3) The team will be physically stronger with a second full year of weight training
4) We will have 3 or more 300 lb defensive tackles who are division one material (Motley, Chapman, McCollough, maybe Luther Davis). Huge difference here in being able to stop the run.
5) We will have three defensive backs who are excellent: Rashad Johnson, Kareem Jackson, and either BJ Scott or Darius Hanks playing in the secondary. Both these guys are fast, workaholic winners
6) The O/L will be Smith, Crump, Vlachos, M Davis, Caldwell in 2008. That’s a good O/L. Vlachos set the team freshmen all time mark with a 465 lb bench press. Marlon Davis is even stronger. Caldwell and Crump are getting to where they have SEC level strength. We will be able to run the ball next year, count on it.
7) *****
There will be very little dead wood and it will be on the scout team.
9) The second year for guys like Saban, Urban Meyer, Stoops, etc is the big improvement year. They have their system in place.
10) Saban will have brought in 50 of his own players by fall 2008.
11) We have no freakishly great athletes on the team now. Andre Smith is the closest. We don’t have players like Knowshon Moreno or Matthew Stafford or Tebow that the opposing teams simply can’t match up with. Every team needs a couple of these guys. Next year BJ Scott and Julio fill that role. Even as freshmen, these guys will start and cause opposing defenses to change what they do. These are once in every 20 year type athletes and these two players are physically and mentally mature right now.
12) Zeke Knight will be all-sec next year. Javier Arenas is number 9 in the country in punt returns right now.
13) The SEC West actually gets weaker as we get better. Arkansas’ coach is gone. LSU, Auburn, and Ole Miss’ coaches are likely gone. All these teams will be adjusting next year. Not us.
So as you may have surmised, I’m bullish on next year. We still won’t have the same talent level as LSU, GA, Fla, Tenn, or Auburn but we’ll continuity, adequate strength and conditioning, and of course the best coach. So don’t get down on how bad we are right now. That’s to be expected.
Next year, we’ll be a different team, one that attacks. We’ll win the west. Roll Tide!"
=================================================
"I wouldn’t sweat it. We all tuned ***** out (I know I did) but Saban told us after spring training that things were going to get worse before they got better. He said all along that the talent level and work ethic were not where they should be. Essentially, he inherited a bigger mess than anyone wanted to believe.
I think Saban knew all along he probably needed to get rid of half of the 85 scholarship players because they did not have he character to prepare and compete at the level we need. The problem is that this isn’t 1958 where you can bring in 90 players in a year. Compound that with the fact that the entire SEC is good now. There are no easy weeks. So he does all he can do in a year, runs off ***** and knows another 10-15 will be gone in the next several months. That’s a lot. To run off at any faster rate would scare recruits and would have meant we might have won one game this year. I’m disappointed but not surprised at where we are. *****, *****, *****, *****, and quite a few more are big problems on the team. Any other time and place and Saban would have run them off the first day. But we were simply too thin. He’s had to tolerate some lazy jerks this year. That ends after this February.
Next year we will be very young but I think you see the opposite of this year. Instead of starting strong and finishing weak, expect us to lose some early games (the fans will freak out) but get much stronger late in the year. Here’s the difference between this year and 2008. In 08’ …….
1) Players will understand the offense schemes next year
2) Players will understand the defensive schemes next year
3) The team will be physically stronger with a second full year of weight training
4) We will have 3 or more 300 lb defensive tackles who are division one material (Motley, Chapman, McCollough, maybe Luther Davis). Huge difference here in being able to stop the run.
5) We will have three defensive backs who are excellent: Rashad Johnson, Kareem Jackson, and either BJ Scott or Darius Hanks playing in the secondary. Both these guys are fast, workaholic winners
6) The O/L will be Smith, Crump, Vlachos, M Davis, Caldwell in 2008. That’s a good O/L. Vlachos set the team freshmen all time mark with a 465 lb bench press. Marlon Davis is even stronger. Caldwell and Crump are getting to where they have SEC level strength. We will be able to run the ball next year, count on it.
7) *****
There will be very little dead wood and it will be on the scout team.
9) The second year for guys like Saban, Urban Meyer, Stoops, etc is the big improvement year. They have their system in place.
10) Saban will have brought in 50 of his own players by fall 2008.
11) We have no freakishly great athletes on the team now. Andre Smith is the closest. We don’t have players like Knowshon Moreno or Matthew Stafford or Tebow that the opposing teams simply can’t match up with. Every team needs a couple of these guys. Next year BJ Scott and Julio fill that role. Even as freshmen, these guys will start and cause opposing defenses to change what they do. These are once in every 20 year type athletes and these two players are physically and mentally mature right now.
12) Zeke Knight will be all-sec next year. Javier Arenas is number 9 in the country in punt returns right now.
13) The SEC West actually gets weaker as we get better. Arkansas’ coach is gone. LSU, Auburn, and Ole Miss’ coaches are likely gone. All these teams will be adjusting next year. Not us.
So as you may have surmised, I’m bullish on next year. We still won’t have the same talent level as LSU, GA, Fla, Tenn, or Auburn but we’ll continuity, adequate strength and conditioning, and of course the best coach. So don’t get down on how bad we are right now. That’s to be expected.
Next year, we’ll be a different team, one that attacks. We’ll win the west. Roll Tide!"