2008 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Predictions & Season Preview
The team at Info Plays gives you their 2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football predictions below. Nick Saban finished with an Independence Bowl victory over Colorado to finish above .500 and give this Crimson Tide squad some confidence heading into 2008. With a year under his belt, it will be interesting to see what Saban can do with this team considering he has a very tough road schedule ahead.
Offense:
Alabama has hired a new offensive coordinator for the third time in three seasons heading into 2008. Saban hired former Fresno State coordinator Jim McElwain to try and spark this offense. McElwein’s Bulldogs averaged 419.5 yards and 32.9 points per game last season so he has some solid credentials coming in. Alabama will be solid where it counts – at quarterback. Senior John Parker Wilson returns for his third year as a starter. Alabama also returns Outland Trophy Candidates in junior left tackle Andre Smith and senior center Antoine Caldwell to spearhead a very solid offensive line. Saban wants McElwein’s offense to feature more formation and fewer turnovers while getting the ball into the hands of several playmakers.
Four Alabama quarterbacks combined for 604 yards passing in the Spring Game, led by Wilson’s three touchdown passes. Two of Wilson’s TD tosses were short to tailback Terry Grant who turned them into long scores. Big-play receivers Keith Brown and DJ Hall are gone though, which makes Alabama’s tight ends and running backs as the apparent playmakers. Grant set freshman records with 180 carries for 891 yards last season. there is plenty of depth at running back as well with juniors Glen Coffee and Roy Upchurch, who combined for 782 yards last season. Two incoming freshman from the nation’s top recruiting class should make an immediate impact in receivers Julio Jones and Burton Scott.
Defense:
Seniors end Bobby Greenwood, junior end Brandon Deadrick and junior nose guard Lorenzo Washington offer a solid front three for the Crimson Tide. But depth is a big issue after these three studs up front. The same is the case at linebacker, where junior Prince Hall was suspended indefinitely during the spring. Senior Ezekial Knight is waiting to be medictally cleared to play. Sophomore Rolando McClain was a super freshman, but he is the only player left at linebacker with any real experience.
Jimmy Johns was a quarterback, turned tailback, turned linebacker and will get a chance to make an immediate impact on defense this season. Junior Cory Reamer and converted fullback Baron Huber will also be given a shot. Jerrell Harris is another potential impact player at linebacker as a true freshman. This group of linebackers will tell the story of how effective Alabama’s defense can be in 2008. The secondary is solid at safety with Rashad Johnson and Justin Woodall, but cornerback will be a bit of a mystery. The coaches will be looking at Javier Arenas, Lionel Mitchell and Marquis Johnson to see if they can be every-down guys at corner.
Alabama Crimson Tide predictions at Info Plays: 3rd in SEC West
This is still a bit of a rebuilding season for Alabama after last season’s late collapse, which was just as much to do with their off-field problems as their poor play. Better days are clearly ahead after Nick Saban snatched the Nation’s #1 recruiting class in the offseason. He should be able to eliminate the off-field issues with his demand and intensity as a head coach. Alabama may not be ready to win the West just yet, but they are definitely in store for better than a 7-6 record this season. We have Alabama finishing 3rd in the SEC West behind LSU and Auburn this season.
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