You really said that. Bama didn't make it last year. Those are the numbers against a team that lost to UCLA 42-12 in a bowl game at the end of the year. That was the Bama team that finished the year with two losses.
This year Bama's offense with Sims will become one dimensional, incapable of threatening deep. Teams will successfully stack the box taking away what they do well, run the ball.
Many of us saw Bama early last year and concluded they would lose two or three games. Had they played the SEC title game, three would have been correct. We were roundly criticized. With Sims at QB, I see the same scenario this year. The team has a different ailment, but the disease - if not cured - is fatal for championship hopes.
What a complete load of crap! The long ball isn't
THE determining factor of championship teams, so quit alluding to such nonsense. AJ was much better at the long ball, sure (lost 2 games last year as you noted), but it wasn't McElroy's strong suite until later in to 2010 (lost three games there too). Long ball's are a nice complement to winning football but not the biggest point. Do you know what is another talent for a QB, the ability for the QB to scramble & run... but no, forget that, it is of zero consequence. IF any 'Bama QB just plays ball control & good decision making, that is the
BIGGEST winning issue for QB's at 'Bama.
Another thing that folks keep saying that in order for 'Bama to win against high powered offense is another high powered offense (therefore, there is no way Sims can get it done). This too is complete horse crap! The best way to stop high powered offense is good defense, ball control offense (
no turnovers & great 3rd down conversions) & a dominating offensive line, that primarily runs the ball. The 2008 & 2009 Florida Gators were arguable one of the best offenses to play the game (they had dang good defense too w/ C Strong). What made the difference in the winning game was that the defense made the biggest stops & interestingly enough, the QB made some key scrambling runs! One, great throw to C Peek was the highlight of McElroys throws. Ultimately, the QB took care of the dang ball.
Oh, as a reminder, the only 'Bama team that went undefeated under CNS had a first year starter QB that just made good decisions & was critical at 3rd down conversions (be damned the long ball). This concept forces the entire team to do their job all the time, instead of relying on some hot handed gun-slinger. And AJ never went undefeated too, despite his long ball.