Some lingering questions and a couple of predictions as we enter the season...
-Can this team handle success better than the '24 squad? I think so, mentally they appear to be stronger. Team maturity is up overall too, which should help.
-Will they play better on the road? Again, I think so. Tomorrow at FSU will be a big test. The good thing is, even last year, they showed they can go into a tough environment and step on a good team when they throttled LSU in Baton Rouge. But those road trips to Nashville, Knoxville, and Norman are a bad taste that still linger. Part of it goes back to handling success, but there were other issues too, including the staff being unprepared in some cases. Hopefully, those issues were learned from and corrected. I will say, the defense traveled pretty well in '24 overall. I expect much the same this season. The offense needs to do their part and match or exceed that. The first 2 or 3 series tomorrow in Tallahassee might tell us a lot in terms of the attitude of this offense.
-Last year's team was up and down and then sorta deflated after the LSU game. Regardless how Bama plays tomorrow, can they do what Saban's better teams did... improve as the season goes on? Can they play their best football in November and roll it over into the playoffs? If so, watch out.
-Can the Special Teams find their groove in terms of punting and kicking? I honestly don't know. Reports up to this point have inconsistency written all over them. Last season there were some issues on special teams, but not from the actual kicking. This is by far my biggest concern going into the season. We'll just have to see how it plays out. My hope is Conor Talty nails his first couple of tries and his confidence and FG % stays sky high. I'm not as worried with punting, but it's still a concern.
-Can a first year starter at QB play well enough to get the team where they want to go? Whether he feels it or not, there's a lot of pressure on Ty Simpson going into this season. On the positive side, despite his lack of meaningful experience, he has all the tools, he's mature, he's physically and mentally ready (IMO), and he's been the de facto starting QB since the morning of January 1st (so he's been preparing as the starter for a while now, not just the last 2 weeks). Now, he still has to go out there on the field and do it, but he's surrounded by a strong cast. He doesn't have to be the offensive MVP every week. Grubb and this staff will put him in winning situations. I love the Mac Jones comparisons in many ways, and like Mac, I can see him getting comfortable and cutting it loose, which can lead to both big plays and bad decisions at times. That's ok, as long as he learns from them and I think he will. I'd ask for fans to be patient with him though, just as he was patient to even get this opportunity.
A couple of thoughts (predictions?)...
-If I've said it once, I've said it 500 times now.... I can't emphasize enough how big it is that Grubb is back on this staff. DeBoer commented the other night that this is the best coached QB room in CFB, and he's right... You've got Grubb, Sheridan (who isn't bad), and DeBoer... tat's one hell of a trio right there. And re: Grubb, there was a reason Saban offered him the OC job before he retired.
-I think this offense is going to run the ball and have more success on the ground that most anticipate.
-Much of the dynamic screen game and some of the pre snap motion that DeBoer likes to utilize was scrapped last year in an effort to play to Milroe's strengths. I expect those to be back in heavier doses going forward.
-I love how many guys in the 2 deep have significant game experience. Every starter on offense other than Ty Simpson (and the backup RB's), have at least 120 non-special teams snaps under their belt from last season. The same goes for every starter on defense (other than Jeremiah Beamon who may start in place of the injured Tim Keenan III). Folks, that is experience, and a lot of it.
-Even with all that aforementioned experience, there are still some younger players and newcomers that can and will help this team. Guys like Dijon Lee on defense.... he will play early and often in what is already a crowded and talented defensive backfield. Ivan Taylor at safety has been impressive and it'll be hard to keep him off the field. On the O-Line... Michael Carroll and Jackson Lloyd will get reps at some point, and both/either have a chance to make a move for more significant playing time as the season wears on. AK Dear could get some carries late in games, especially if there is another injury in the backfield. Lotzier Brooks and Derek Meadows at receiver, 2 more true freshman that will be hard to keep off the field, despite another talented and deep room of players. Marshall Pritchett and Kaleb Edwards at TE.... Pritchett specifically is going to be a stud in due time, but both are excellent players who made a lot of noise in fall camp.
-I'm expecting big things out of James Smith and Qua Russaw on defense this year. They showed flashes of their potential last season... another step in the right direction and either/both will be a force. This squad needs some disruptors up front for this defense to really fire on all cylinders... hopefully, those guys can provide that spark along with some of the vets like Overton and Latham. An emergence of Kelby Collins and/or Keon Keely would be a nice bonus too.
Lastly, Roll Tide!
-Can this team handle success better than the '24 squad? I think so, mentally they appear to be stronger. Team maturity is up overall too, which should help.
-Will they play better on the road? Again, I think so. Tomorrow at FSU will be a big test. The good thing is, even last year, they showed they can go into a tough environment and step on a good team when they throttled LSU in Baton Rouge. But those road trips to Nashville, Knoxville, and Norman are a bad taste that still linger. Part of it goes back to handling success, but there were other issues too, including the staff being unprepared in some cases. Hopefully, those issues were learned from and corrected. I will say, the defense traveled pretty well in '24 overall. I expect much the same this season. The offense needs to do their part and match or exceed that. The first 2 or 3 series tomorrow in Tallahassee might tell us a lot in terms of the attitude of this offense.
-Last year's team was up and down and then sorta deflated after the LSU game. Regardless how Bama plays tomorrow, can they do what Saban's better teams did... improve as the season goes on? Can they play their best football in November and roll it over into the playoffs? If so, watch out.
-Can the Special Teams find their groove in terms of punting and kicking? I honestly don't know. Reports up to this point have inconsistency written all over them. Last season there were some issues on special teams, but not from the actual kicking. This is by far my biggest concern going into the season. We'll just have to see how it plays out. My hope is Conor Talty nails his first couple of tries and his confidence and FG % stays sky high. I'm not as worried with punting, but it's still a concern.
-Can a first year starter at QB play well enough to get the team where they want to go? Whether he feels it or not, there's a lot of pressure on Ty Simpson going into this season. On the positive side, despite his lack of meaningful experience, he has all the tools, he's mature, he's physically and mentally ready (IMO), and he's been the de facto starting QB since the morning of January 1st (so he's been preparing as the starter for a while now, not just the last 2 weeks). Now, he still has to go out there on the field and do it, but he's surrounded by a strong cast. He doesn't have to be the offensive MVP every week. Grubb and this staff will put him in winning situations. I love the Mac Jones comparisons in many ways, and like Mac, I can see him getting comfortable and cutting it loose, which can lead to both big plays and bad decisions at times. That's ok, as long as he learns from them and I think he will. I'd ask for fans to be patient with him though, just as he was patient to even get this opportunity.
A couple of thoughts (predictions?)...
-If I've said it once, I've said it 500 times now.... I can't emphasize enough how big it is that Grubb is back on this staff. DeBoer commented the other night that this is the best coached QB room in CFB, and he's right... You've got Grubb, Sheridan (who isn't bad), and DeBoer... tat's one hell of a trio right there. And re: Grubb, there was a reason Saban offered him the OC job before he retired.
-I think this offense is going to run the ball and have more success on the ground that most anticipate.
-Much of the dynamic screen game and some of the pre snap motion that DeBoer likes to utilize was scrapped last year in an effort to play to Milroe's strengths. I expect those to be back in heavier doses going forward.
-I love how many guys in the 2 deep have significant game experience. Every starter on offense other than Ty Simpson (and the backup RB's), have at least 120 non-special teams snaps under their belt from last season. The same goes for every starter on defense (other than Jeremiah Beamon who may start in place of the injured Tim Keenan III). Folks, that is experience, and a lot of it.
-Even with all that aforementioned experience, there are still some younger players and newcomers that can and will help this team. Guys like Dijon Lee on defense.... he will play early and often in what is already a crowded and talented defensive backfield. Ivan Taylor at safety has been impressive and it'll be hard to keep him off the field. On the O-Line... Michael Carroll and Jackson Lloyd will get reps at some point, and both/either have a chance to make a move for more significant playing time as the season wears on. AK Dear could get some carries late in games, especially if there is another injury in the backfield. Lotzier Brooks and Derek Meadows at receiver, 2 more true freshman that will be hard to keep off the field, despite another talented and deep room of players. Marshall Pritchett and Kaleb Edwards at TE.... Pritchett specifically is going to be a stud in due time, but both are excellent players who made a lot of noise in fall camp.
-I'm expecting big things out of James Smith and Qua Russaw on defense this year. They showed flashes of their potential last season... another step in the right direction and either/both will be a force. This squad needs some disruptors up front for this defense to really fire on all cylinders... hopefully, those guys can provide that spark along with some of the vets like Overton and Latham. An emergence of Kelby Collins and/or Keon Keely would be a nice bonus too.
Lastly, Roll Tide!
