🏈 How many losses do you see now?

[It Takes Eleven]

I don't make 7 million dollars a year to make these decisions.............having said that. My hope is that if we are eliminated from SECCG competition, that we start playing the younger guys extensively and finish working out some growing pains. Think of it sort of like LSU is this year. They will be a force the next few years. If we are not going to be able to contend this season, then I hope we prepare for the future.

I hate the strategic decision of playing the younger players over the older guys for their future development. If you've ever put your time in to be the best player, or had your own kid or watched another kid make the sacrifice to be a contending player, the decision to play the youngster is a bitter pill. I've also seen teammates of my boys quit at the start of the season because a younger player got the nod ahead of him. Both decisions are short sighted. In the playing the younger kid scenario, the older kid invariably replaces the younger kid down the stretch. In the quitting early scenario, injuries and poor play would've had those older boys playing by week 3.

Stay the course. Do nothing rash. This Alabama team is far from a reclamation project with the only good outcome for it to become an extension of spring training, to develop the youngsters. Our offense was never as good as it was touted following Florida, and it will be better again than it has been the last two weeks.

RTR,

Tim

 

[UAgrad93]

Agreed Tim! I've always felt that you play the younger guys when a rash of injuries or defections have called for it, or once all has been lost on a season, like no bowl eligibity or playoffs are available. All goals are still out there for this team, so throwing the young ones into the fire isn't the best plan.

 

[We All Bleed Crimson]

I think the potential to win out is very real. Potential and reality, however, are not always the same thing. I've been saying for a long time the the OL is a problem, I still say that it is. Mental errors can cost us a game that we should easily win. I think the MSU game is the biggest challenge left on the schedule and if we play to our potential, will still be a tough game.... anything less and that game is a loss. If we waltz into the iron bowl, that will be a loss. We need to be hitting on all cylinders at this point in the season but we're not and that is a concern.

 

[bama alum]

I think the potential to win out is very real. Potential and reality, however, are not always the same thing. I've been saying for a long time the the OL is a problem, I still say that it is. Mental errors can cost us a game that we should easily win. I think the MSU game is the biggest challenge left on the schedule and if we play to our potential, will still be a tough game.... anything less and that game is a loss. If we waltz into the iron bowl, that will be a loss. We need to be hitting on all cylinders at this point in the season but we're not and that is a concern.

This, this, and this!

 

[RollllTide!]

The why did you add to it if it's a "terrible" post? I would call it reality not negative, thank you very much.

Yes I added it because everyone likes to watch a train wreck. It still is but we can get better. All is not lost

 

[jlabit]

Looking at each game:
Texas A & M--A & M defense is weak. We are at home. We can match score for score against them. See this as a possible shootout. They do not have Arkansas or Ole Miss' defensive line. A win.
Tennessee--Hopefully will have Kelly back by this one. Don't see this one as a close one. A win.
LSU--LSU has some major problems, although they will be up for us. I see this one as a tougher game than Tennessee. A win.
Miss State--This team has it all. Will probably be our toughest game. They want to beat us more than anyone because of our history. It is winnable but will be tough. A loss.
Western Carolina--Not in the same category. Easy win.
Auburn--Auburn has some problems this year. This will be a close game. But if we can shake the injury jinx that is currently biting us, we will win this one. Payback for last year will be a prime motivator for this one.

We have the talent to win them all. If we can get some better luck with injuries, and fix some problems with the offensive line and special teams, we can make the playoffs. Right now, the fix seems to be real slow coming, and I believe it will take coaching changes to make it happen. In any event, this has always been and will always be my team. RTR!!!!

 

[rammerjammer]

Tim and UA93....I agree. I bolded my caveat of IF.

Having said that, and I'm not around the team everyday. It seems from the outside looking in, that some of our leaders (older guys) are not as hungry as they should be. That is my mindset for saying it. Let the younger guys that want to play get in there and play.......providing that there is no chance of making the playoff or winning the SEC.

 

[UAgrad93]

I think to @rammerjammer, you have to look at a few things with these young ones. Are they physically ready? Mentally ready? Do you burn a year that could be spent better preparing them in the before mentioned areas or throw them to the fire? I think that is why we see so many of these 4-5* guys get redshirted because these very questions.