🏈 I want to pose a question

[bamaledge]

After watching several games yesterday, i.e. aTm and ole sis, GA and Mizzou and several others that we have played and/or our past competition has played I am wondering if we are that good that we can rip Kentucky apart, when we finally got going, that other teams have struggled against them. Texas A&M barely survived a shoot out with Ole sis that we beat 25 to zip. Yesterday was a pretty damn fun day to watch college football. Oregon, UCLA and Bama all handled their opponents as expected. Clemson struggled with a pesky BC as did Baylor with K State and Louisville with Rutgers. Michigan was upended by a scrappy Penn State and Mizzou beat the shit out of GA. Stanford lost to the Utes. What my question to y'all is - Are we really that good? I know we are talented and we have most of the pieces and I also know that we have been inconsistent at time, but damn, if we get every one to actually be on the same page in the same book we could be unstoppable. Sure Baylor and Oregon look good, but we all know Defense wins championships and I don't know if either of them has the D to really stop anyone consistently. What I saw from Baylor's D yesterday wasn't bad but wasn't great either. Can we beat a talented LSU team. You all know that the rest of our SEC games will be tough, it's the best conference and we enjoy beating each other up. Can we go the rest of the season undefeated and make it to THE GAME?

 

[Crimson&WhiteGecko]

The season is running its course. I'm not sure that anyone in the top 10 has played a real good defense, besides LSU winning against UF. Offenses are dominant in the top 10 & a good defense will be real, long term solution to championships. LSU seems to be coming along but when they play anyone of decent offense caliber they got beat.

REGARDING 'Bama; if we win out, I think it will be one of CNS best coaching jobs. Anyone watching this team can see the multiple moving parts amoung the 1's & 2's. From the O-line to the other cornerbacks, WR's, we are moving a ton of guys through. This is due to developing depth but I think CNS is trying to find the best group of guys (despite injuries or suspensions). He is not being bashful about it either. I cannot recal CNS chaning out corners between 3 backs this much. I thought Jackson did good last week... where was he? Did I miss something?

 

[planomateo]

Eddie Jackson injured his ankle during the Ga State game and Sylve's been working his tail off to get on the field.

 

[silvermetalflake]

You answered your own question - "Are we really that good?" - when you wrote...

"I know we are talented and we have most of the pieces and I also know that we have been inconsistent at time, but damn, if we get every one to actually be on the same page in the same book we could be unstoppable."


Just to paraphrase and to add my own thoughts.

We have the skills, the players, and the (developing) ability without question despite how we have looked against the Rams and opening quarter against Kentucky. It's all about synchronization.

Some teams have that synchronicity out of the gate from Week 1 (Oregon), while other teams (Bama) have to nurture it throughout the season. But make no mistake about it, Bama HAS all the parts and the skills, it's just that we're still annoyingly stuck in the synchronization stage, so those growing pains are gonna lead to some lumps, bumps, and DOUBTS from the team and the fans. But to answer you question.... YES! We are that good at the core. Now, whether Bama as a team can synchronize that core by the time Les Miles sashays into town Nov.9th. is something only they can answer. But Lou Holtz said it best this weekend when he said that good teams, whether they seem good one weekend and mediocre the next always, seem to come together and play better when they're matched against opponents of similar ability in big games.

 

[RollTideRandy]

We do have a good team this season, but like I said yesterday in the game thread, I think our ability to win championships this season has more to do with our favorable schedule than whether or not we are better than everyone else. I think one of the highest paid coaching staffs in the county should be able to put this team in a position to be successful even if we are not THE BEST team. We only have two top 15 teams on our schedule and both games follow bye weeks. LSU may have a better team, but they play Georgia and Florida from the East and Bama plays Kentucky and Tennessee. Throw in that the game is in Tuscaloosa and Bama should find a way to win a game between two pretty evenly matched teams.


The next challenge will come in the SEC championship game which could pose a bit of a challenge because Auburn’s offense is showing improvement every week and they a proving to be a team that can’t be overlooked or taken lightly. Following that week, we only have one week to get ready for a showdown in Atlanta. However, it’s starting to look like the East Champ will be pretty banged up no matter who the opponent is. Florida and Missouri have both lost their starting QBs and Conner Shaw is playing but he had been banged up this season. Not to mention what ailment Clowney will invent to keep him out of this game. Finally, UGA’s injuries at the skill positions have been well documented. Regardless of the opponent, Bama doesn’t have to put the best team in the country on the field to win that game. We’re lucky aTm and LSU are in the West because a rematch could be a much tougher test.


Wins over LSU and the East Champ get us to the BCS championship, where we have four weeks to prepare. Our coaching staff have shown with that much time to prepare, they can beat almost anyone in the country. Oregon, Clemson, Ohio State, it doesn’t matter. I’m pretty certain WE WILL be the best team in the country on January 6, even if we are not there right now. So I really like our chances, but more so because our schedule lines up perfectly for us and not so much how we are playing right now.

 

[planomateo]

From last night...

"I think we're a better team now than we were," Saban said. "I think we're making improvement, but I still think there are things we need to continue to work on so we get better each week."

 

[TheChief]

Answer: YES