🏈 Grading the Tide at mid-term: As good as No. 1 Alabama is, there still is room for improvement

[BAMANEWSBOT]

The defense unquestionably deserves an "A." The rest of the team isn't quite on that highest level ... yet.

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – The problem with opening a season in midseason form, as Alabama did in a 41-14 victory over Michigan, is that expectations become unrealistic.

What form should the Crimson Tide be in at midseason?

Six games are behind the nation’s No. 1 team. Six regular-season games are ahead. How much better can the Tide be?

This should scare future opponents: There still is room for improvement.

Not much on defense. A little on special teams. A little more on offense.

Even the best coach and coaching staff in college football can improve, as Nick Saban would be the first to admit.

What grades would Saban give his units so far?

“I don't really grade them,” he said Monday, predictably. “I just focus on things we need to do better.”

Read More Here...

 

[TerryP]

I read over this and there isn't a big disagreement with how we're graded out. I have to weigh that against seeing better unit performances over the past several years and keeping in mind what I'm comparing it against.

One thing I caught yesterday was a comment Danielson made about the Tide. In a description of the team he said the Tide could beat you in two ways on defense: stopping the run or by attacking the quarterback. On offense he said it was two-fold as well: rushing or spreading a team out with the passing attack.

That defines a complete football team.

Yet, here we are looking at what we've seen and we find find areas to improve easily in every facet.

 

[UAgrad93]

I like the idea of needed improvement. Don't let these guys ever be satisfied!! Complacency yields The Barn!!

 

[planomateo]

^^ Agree, I don't want a perfect game until the last game of the season

 

[XXL TideFan]

I miss Fowler running the ball late in the game

 

[TerryP]

I like the idea of needed improvement. Don't let these guys ever be satisfied!! Complacency yields The Barn!!

That's one of the keys we discussed before game one: this team needs to be improving—and striving to do so—each week.