2007 Alabama Tide College Football Picks & Predictions


June 5, 2008 | Posted By Larry Cook

Nick Saban gets put to the test as the new head coach of the rich tradition which is Alabama football. He has put new hopes into the eyes of Alabama fans everywhere. He is the first $4 million-a-year coach that college football has ever seen. New offensive coordinator Major Applewhite ran a spread offense last year at Rice University that set a school record for points in a single season with 350. However, Alabama and 19-year NFL coach Joe Pendry has different ideas in running a run-first style of offense. Both offensive coaches should team up well in combining their systems for a dynamic Crimson Tide offense. Returning 9 starters on this side of the ball will definitely help.

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The offense has a strong base, which includes junior quarterback John Parker Wilson and all five offensive linemen returning. The line is anchored by a very talented sophomore in left tackle Andre Smith who will protect Parker as well as any tackle in the country. Alabama did lose star running back Kenneth Darby and a pair of fullbacks, but a plethora of talent in the backfield should step in and fill those shoes nicely. Jimmy Johns returns as the teams second-leading rusher. He will be fighting for starting duties with Glen Coffee, Roy Upchurch, Terry Grant and Ali Sharrief. D.J. Hall and Keith Brown return to lead the receiving corps. Hall had five consecutive 100-yard receiving games last season and set a school record with 1,056 receiving yards. He should pick up right where he left off in 2007.

A strong defense has been a constant of Alabama football through the years even in their worst seasons. This should continue with Nick Saban’s philosophy that defense wins games and Saban takes a hands-on approach to that side of the ball. Kevin Steele has the title of defensive coordinator, but the scheme is the same that Saban has run everywhere he’s been, and he has a staff that knows the system as well. The Crimson Tide return corners Simeon Castille and Eric Gray, defensive end Wallace Gilberry, and linebackers Prince Hall, Demarcus Waldrop and Matt Collins.

Because of a lack of depth on the defensive front, this defense will slide from a 4-3 to a 3-4 where Alabama will use their speed at the linebacker position to make plays. Saban’s teams have played a lot of five-man secondary which is referred to as a Nickel defense. They have more of a zone coverage than man-to-man which allows his defenses to be more of an aggressive front that pursues the quarterback. Saban has the luxury of one of the nation’s best corners in Castille, who has six interceptions last season and earned All-SEC honors.

Talent has never been a problem at Alabama, and now the program has a coach who knows how to win. Their +7 turnover margin from last season will be even better with Saban running things on the defensive side of the ball. Now Saban just has to instill the discipline that was lacking last year and teach the system he so strongly believes in. As long as players can buy in, Alabama football is in for many years of success starting with the 2007 season.

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