BAMANEWSBOT
Staff
Five days before the opener, AJ McCarron and friends looked like they already had their game faces on.
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Is it me, or were AJ McCarron, T.J. Yeldon, HaHa Clinton-Dix and friends getting ahead of themselves Monday?
Some of Alabamaās most important players and most valuable leaders seemed to be wearing their game faces, a full five days ahead of their season-opener against Virginia Tech.
To lighten the mood, I asked McCarron if anyone on the new-look offensive line had taken over the role of Barrett Jones as the guy most likely to believe he knows better than the quarterback.
The look on McCarronās face was one of righteous indignation.
āIāve been here five years,ā he said. āIf I donāt know this offense inside and out, somethingās wrong.ā
He said more, but it was a very serious answer to a not-so-serious question.
At least McCarron had a little fun on the subject of suggesting new fakes as the holder on field goals. He said he leaves that up to the coaches. That way, in case the fakes donāt work, they get the blame.
Yeldon looked like a man about to take a math test. He may be taking over Eddie Lacyās role as Batman at the running back position, but unlike Lacy, heās doing it without a constant smile on his face.
I asked Yeldon if he sets goals for the season. He said, āBe a better leader.ā I asked if he sets personal number goals but keeps them to himself. He said he doesnāt.
OK then.
Clinton-Dix may have been the most interesting man in the room. Asked to describe fellow safety Vinnie Sunseri, he didnāt hesitate.
āCrazy,ā he said. āHe goes balls to the wall all the time. Thatās a crazy dude right there.ā
If you went to Nick Sabanās first game-week press conference of the new season trying to get a handle on this Alabama teamās personality, you discovered a group of players ready to wipe the smile right off your face.
Saban himself flashed a bigger grin than McCarron, Yeldon or Clinton-Dix when he joked about putting out his annual depth chart just for us in the media.
āThe depth chartās for you,ā the coach said. āYou made me do a depth chart when I didnāt want to do one.ā
And if you believe that, youāre probably taking Virginia Tech straight up in the Georgia Dome.
One of the best things about an opening game, as Saban said, is watching a team try to establish its identity. Year after year, no teamās come out of the starting blocks quicker and sharper than his team.
Alabama hasnāt lost an opener under Saban and has barely been challenged. In fact, Virginia Techās game notes offered a silver lining for the Hokies in advance of the dark cloud headed their way.
Do you know the last non-conference team to lead Alabama in the fourth quarter? It was Virginia Tech in the 2009 season-opener in the Georgia Dome.
The Hokies led that game 17-16 entering the final 15 minutes. The Crimson Tide won the fourth quarter 18-7 and the game 34-24, then proceeded to run the rest of the table all the way to the national title.
That team shouldered expectations, but nothing like the consensus target this team wears as the preseason No. 1 and overwhelming favorite to three-peat.
āI aināt worried about expectations,ā McCarron said.
If the demeanor of him and his teammates Monday was any indication, thereās no need to worry about expectations or complacency or any other intangible that might clutter this teamās focus.
Unless you can be too serious too soon, Alabamaās more than ready for its close-up.
Read More Here...
Is it me, or were AJ McCarron, T.J. Yeldon, HaHa Clinton-Dix and friends getting ahead of themselves Monday?
Some of Alabamaās most important players and most valuable leaders seemed to be wearing their game faces, a full five days ahead of their season-opener against Virginia Tech.
To lighten the mood, I asked McCarron if anyone on the new-look offensive line had taken over the role of Barrett Jones as the guy most likely to believe he knows better than the quarterback.
The look on McCarronās face was one of righteous indignation.
āIāve been here five years,ā he said. āIf I donāt know this offense inside and out, somethingās wrong.ā
He said more, but it was a very serious answer to a not-so-serious question.
At least McCarron had a little fun on the subject of suggesting new fakes as the holder on field goals. He said he leaves that up to the coaches. That way, in case the fakes donāt work, they get the blame.
Yeldon looked like a man about to take a math test. He may be taking over Eddie Lacyās role as Batman at the running back position, but unlike Lacy, heās doing it without a constant smile on his face.
I asked Yeldon if he sets goals for the season. He said, āBe a better leader.ā I asked if he sets personal number goals but keeps them to himself. He said he doesnāt.
OK then.
Clinton-Dix may have been the most interesting man in the room. Asked to describe fellow safety Vinnie Sunseri, he didnāt hesitate.
āCrazy,ā he said. āHe goes balls to the wall all the time. Thatās a crazy dude right there.ā
If you went to Nick Sabanās first game-week press conference of the new season trying to get a handle on this Alabama teamās personality, you discovered a group of players ready to wipe the smile right off your face.
Saban himself flashed a bigger grin than McCarron, Yeldon or Clinton-Dix when he joked about putting out his annual depth chart just for us in the media.
āThe depth chartās for you,ā the coach said. āYou made me do a depth chart when I didnāt want to do one.ā
And if you believe that, youāre probably taking Virginia Tech straight up in the Georgia Dome.
One of the best things about an opening game, as Saban said, is watching a team try to establish its identity. Year after year, no teamās come out of the starting blocks quicker and sharper than his team.
Alabama hasnāt lost an opener under Saban and has barely been challenged. In fact, Virginia Techās game notes offered a silver lining for the Hokies in advance of the dark cloud headed their way.
Do you know the last non-conference team to lead Alabama in the fourth quarter? It was Virginia Tech in the 2009 season-opener in the Georgia Dome.
The Hokies led that game 17-16 entering the final 15 minutes. The Crimson Tide won the fourth quarter 18-7 and the game 34-24, then proceeded to run the rest of the table all the way to the national title.
That team shouldered expectations, but nothing like the consensus target this team wears as the preseason No. 1 and overwhelming favorite to three-peat.
āI aināt worried about expectations,ā McCarron said.
If the demeanor of him and his teammates Monday was any indication, thereās no need to worry about expectations or complacency or any other intangible that might clutter this teamās focus.
Unless you can be too serious too soon, Alabamaās more than ready for its close-up.
