The task has fallen upon me to write the first post in the new Crimson and White Roundtable, a job I do not take lightly. No light taking here my friends!
Now, this is Todd from Roll Bama Roll’s brain child, so let’s go over the new rules:
- In order to avoid all the confusion of “who’s hosting next week? / I haven’t gotten any responses and it’s thursday night!” like the last few attempts, we’re moving to a format where one central blogger posts a set of questions each monday (or whenever is good for you I suppose) on their respective blogs supplied by a rotating blogger “host” and let everyone respond on their own during the week.
- Whoever is hosting that week can then do a roundup on friday of answers they liked or considered thought provoking and maybe get in a last word of their own.
- Unlike last time, it is open to any and all ‘Bama bloggers so long as they e-mail their response post to the host site so they know it exists and can link back to it in the roundup.
Since I am the first to post, I will provide everyone with a set of questions for everyone to answer on their own sites. Here are the questions without my answers in the way so you can easily cut and paste.
1) Will the new offense and Offensive Coordinator be a positive change for John Parker Wilson? If so, how much? If not, what concerns you?
2) We’ve all felt the excitement of landing this studly freshmen class on signing day, but what expectations should we have once they all land in Tuscaloosa?
3) What were your initial thoughts of the somewhat split job of Defensive Coordinator? Have they changed since then, or are they still the same?
4) In your eyes, who needs to step up the most in a position of depth concern?
5) We’ve all heard the talk of this possibly being Mal Moore’s last season as Athletic Director. What will his legacy be when it is all said and done?
6) Other than Georgia, what non-Alabama SEC team impresses you the most? (because everyone would normally answer UGA)
So there you have it, easy and simple right? Right!
1) Will the new offense and Offensive Coordinator be a positive change for John Parker Wilson? If so, how much? If not, what concerns you?
Well, even though my question says “new offense”, Coach Saban has gone on record that they’ve only changed about 30 % of what we ran last year, so I don’t imagine it will be an the most difficult challenge for JPW this season. So yes, I do think it will help him improve since the play caller behind it seems to be an improvement over Major Applewhite.
This new style is a less risk, more spread out version of what we ran last year. It isn’t a full out systematic spread change like Auburn it running, but it is a spread when it all boils down. John Parker has his up and down moments, and when he tries to do too much it usually backfires big time. With this “less risk” stuff, he shouldn’t have to try to be Super Man in order for Alabama to win a game.
2) We’ve all felt the excitement of landing this studly freshmen class on signing day, but what expectations should we have once they all land in Tuscaloosa?
I admit, this could be a loaded question given there is so much still to be determined with the depth chart and who is actually going to be wearing Crimson come September. Still, we all understand one simple fact: There will be plenty of freshmen starting for Alabama in 2008.
Honestly, I expect an inverse of last season with a shaky start and a strong finish to the season (no, I’m not predicting any ULM style loss). Why? Because we start off with a tough foe, followed by two games for the new players to adjust an figure out what is what in Tulane and W. Kentucky. After that we’ll have a set back or two, but I think we’ll have that moment in the season where stuff starts to click, and we finally see some real improvement.
3) What were your initial thoughts of the somewhat split job of Defensive Coordinator? Have they changed since then, or are they still the same?
This move seemed strange to me at first, but after having thought about it and hearing what others have to say, it seems clear to me that Saban did this to keep Kirby Smart and leave Alabama with a set DC if Kevin Steele ever decides to leave in the next year or two.
To be honest, I don’t see much else changing other than job title. Sure, Smart will have more of a Secondary focus will coaching up the individual units with Steele calling the plays and focusing on creating new plays, but not much should really change in the end. We’ve got some inexperience on defense, so I hope whatever they decide to do works and works quickly.
4) In your eyes, who needs to step up the most in a position of depth concern?
Were should one start? How about at the Linebacker position, where we really need somebody to step up next to Rolando McClain as soon as humanly possible. Outside of any new recruit, our options look to be Chavis Williams, Jimmy Johns, Corey Reamer, Brandon Fanney, and more. Johns might need a redshirt, so I’m hope one of the other three listed will step up and become a force on the D-side of the ball. Heck, McClain might end up having to play Outside, which should be interesting to watch.
5) We’ve all heard the talk of this possibly being Mal Moore’s last season as Athletic Director. What will his legacy be when it is all said and done?
For the glass half-full types, I imagine his biggest contribution will be the new facilities and the massive amount of money he brought into the program. For the glass half-empty fans, it’ll be a list of bungles and bad coaching moves that have held this program back over the years.
Still, I think Mal Moore has done more good than anybody may say right now, because let’s face it, he’s been the only guy to trudge through the mess this program used to be (and still is in some aspects), never once stepping to the side and pointing the finger of blame on anyone else. He is his own man, and has been able to assume more positive control over this program than the guy before him.
6) Other than Georgia, what non-Alabama SEC team impresses you the most? (because everyone would normally answer UGA)
I’d have to go with Florida if you held a gun to my head. I think Urban Meyer has plenty of toys down there on offense for him to hopefully keep the physical pressure off of Tim Tebow. With that new Running Back they got from USC last season, they will hopefully have somebody there to compliment Tebow and Harvin come game day.
Their defense was young last season, so I’m expecting some improvement from them after that Michigan loss in the Capital One Bowl (Gator fans are probably hoping that Secondary improves the most).
Plus, let’s not forget that Tim Tebow is a very talented player. Sure, he gets way too much attention, and has a somewhat goofy personality, but the guy is a great player that everyone else in the country would love to have wearing their team colors.
