After the Arkansas game, and the way our defense so thoroughly dominated one of the best offenses in the country, alot of people are wanting to anoint the Tide as surefire National Championship contenders. And while we are definitely one of the top 5 teams in the country, and in my opinion one of the top 3 most likely to win it all, I think we should remember a few things
Last year, Alabama annihilated the Gators in Tuscaloosa, 31-6, and everyone immediately jumped on the bandwagon and said that Alabama AGAIN had the best team in the country.
Paul Finebaum was first in line to get on the bus. Reading
THIS is sure to piss off most Tide fans, in hindsight
We got WAY too far ahead of ourselves, and believed we were unstoppable. And while I still believe we were the most talented team in the country, we probably believed a little too much of the hype before we promptly went to Columbia, SC and got shown the door by the Gamecocks.
This is a similar situation. We are just coming off a beatdown of a top team, and we are going on the road to face the Gators this year. Alot of people, like myself, expect Alabama to win this game, and fairly easily. But let's not get ahead of ourselves, because Florida is a better team this year than last. Will Muschamp is in his first year as head coach, which usually would spell trouble for most teams, but offensive coordinator Charlie Weis is doing some things with that offense that I think are gonna pose more of a threat to opposing defenses this year than whatever it was that Florida was trying to pull of last year.
John Brantley is more comfortable in the pocket. Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey are being their usual explosive selves thus far, and are definitely a concern.
For most teams
The thing that people don't seem to realize is that the last two times Alabama played Florida, those two were on the field.
For a Florida perspective on how they have fared against Bama's D,
CLICK HERE
Everyone knows that Will Muschamp learned alot of what he knows from Nick Saban. Muschamp was Saban's defensive coordinator at LSU, as well as with the Miami Dolphins. So there is somewhat of a teacher-student dynamic at play here. Muschamp was asked about that this week.
You can see his hilarious response
HERE. Star Wars fans will dig the reference
Personally, I do think we will win this game, but I think there are alot of unknowns. The game is in Gainesville. And this time, we are the team with a first year starting quarterback. But I don't think those factors are all that huge. Alabama doesn't rely on the quarterback for much more than to just not screw up.
I think AJ McCarron is clearly more talented than Greg McElroy, and I think he will be a better player down the road, perhaps even an All America type talent. But this is his first real road test against a legitimate team with a very good defense that will get after his ass all night long.
I know that he played extremely well on the road at Penn State, but let's be honest, how many SEC teams do you think Penn State could beat? They were an extremely overmatched team 3 weeks ago.
I think AJ will do a good enough job against the Gators. I think he might make a mistake or two. I could see him throwing a pick against this D. But I think a few long runs from Richardson and Lacy, whether it is just straight running it, or even a screen, will do the job. I think AJ will make enough throws to score enough times to win the game.
It basically comes down to this:
I think Alabama is good enough, with Trent and Eddie, to score at least 3 touchdowns and a couple fields goals against Florida.
Do you think Florida, or anyone for that matter, can be counted on to do that against Bama's D? Seriously, these guys are trying to hurt people out there. That lick that Dre Kirkpatrick laid on the Arkansas reciever after he caught the pass coming across the middle was a thing of beauty. He went flying backwards on contact. Dre is 190 lbs and he hits like a 250 pound linebacker.
Here is a preview of what you should expect to see several times during this game
Speaking of 250 pound linebackers...
Dont'a Hightower, Nico Johnson, and Courtney Upshaw are the best combination of linebackers in the country. There is not a single member of our defense, starting or even second string, that is NOT a hard hitter or a sure tackler. When these guys hit you, you do one of two things. You either go down right away, or you fall backwards.
So I am not afraid of anyone's offense.
But they ALL should live in absolute waking fear of our boys
And to add to the disadvantage for Florida, two of their starting defensive linemen have been hurt in practice this week. Dominique Easley and Sharrif Floyd are banged up, and at least one may not play. Also, starting cornerback Jeremy Floyd will not play in this game, due to injury
Charlie Weis stated this week that he plans to throw the kitchen sink at Alabama's defense. Hopefully for the Gators, they can CATCH the kitchen sink when they throw it
Tim Tebow ain't walking through that door
Alabama 27
Florida 13
Oh, and just for laughs...
When Florida hit for a long touchdown pass on the first play of the game, I was down and out. It looked to me like we were in for the fight of our lives. But that was about all that Florida would do for the entire game. Alabama beat the hell out of Florida, 38-10 and left alot of people wondering who, if anyone, is going to beat Alabama this year. LSU? Possibly. But it truly appears as though that is the only remaining team on the schedule that can stop the Tide from going all the way to the National Championship.
