Phil Steele talks Bama FB

[Crimson Hawk]

I think it's partly that we're a fan base that's been kicked around the last several years. The rest of it is that the HC is telling us that it's too soon to be talking championships, that we need to focus on the process instead. And we're split right down the middle between those who think he means what he's saying and others who think that he's just poor-mouthing. I'd say we're a very confused fan base at the moment...

What is it that CNS has said about the team..........that they have to learn, all over again, how to win? Maybe the same applies to the fan base..........!!
I like our chances this year, but then again, I NEVER take my Crimson colored glasses off!!

 

[beardensdaman44]

well we are starting to sound more positive around here. thats what i like to heaR! RTR

 

[TexasTideFan]

The same thing is happening this season and this D is a complete opposite of what they are used to running.

You are right, it's going to take some time for the players to get on the same page with Saban as far as terminology goes. I see the bigest hurdle coming for the DB's in that department since Saban seems to spend the most time with these guys and probably has them in his own little world. Luckily, that is the strongest and most experienced unit on the Defense with hopefully the fastest learners. As for the LB's and D-Line, there's a learning curve there as well, but for these guys, it's mostly find the football and make the tackle. I think once we get past the first few games where our guys can react without thinking, then we could see a pretty decent Defense.

As for this D being completely different, I saw several times at A-Day where we crept the Saban termed Jack Linebacker to the LOS with 5 DB's. That was Joe Kines 4-2-5 all the way. However, I think we will base out of the 3-4-4 but constantly creep one LB up so it looks like a 4-3 most of the time. Then, you can add Saban's off the wall Safety/Corner blitzes and this Defense is going to keep lots of QB's guessing where the pressure will come from.

 

[moorav]

watching a reply of Bama-Tenn during Stallings first year & the blocked FG with Doyle kicking to win giving us a 3-3 record. You can plainly see that, THAT defense was gonna be very special. Langum was freshman, Teague was young
That was some kind of athletes on that defense.

After watching that I realized that if Saban & Co put in a complicated or totally different offense we will not win as many as I thought. I think the defense can handle the learning curve better than the offense.

It obviously all boils down to fundamentals blocking, catching, tackling, kicking....etc but I beginning to worry that we may struggle this year

Like always I will expect us to win every game though

 

[RT1941]

Question? Do you guys think that of the players that remained on campus this summer, wouldn't they work daily on their play books as well as S&C? When they came out of spring practice, every defensive player talked about how "thick" the playbook is. I would think that the S&C coaches test these players regularly both in the classroom and on the field. They should be pretty familiar with the terminology by the time fall practice starts. I guess all I'm trying to say is that I hope the D players will have a better understanding of the schemes, etc. by the time fall practice starts. :BigA:

 

[TexasTideFan]

Question? Do you guys think that of the players that remained on campus this summer, wouldn't they work daily on their play books as well as S&C?

There's probably not alot of playbook review between the S&C Coaches and the players. It's pretty much all S&C right now, but there are probably a lot of informal meetings among the players going over their playbooks.

 

[Crimson Surfer]

Christmas in July ... the college football preview mags are out

All the mags have their merits. Sporting News is usually the best for design and prose. Street & Smith's still uses good writers and has greatly upgraded its look. Scout predicts game-by-game wins and losses. And, hey, Athlon always has a bunch of cheerleader pictures.

But Phil Steele owns the genre. How valuable is his book? I left mine on a plane during the 2006 season and nearly had a seizure when I discovered it was missing.

The 46-year-old uses a cookie-cutter layout for every team, and his writing will never be nominated for a Pulitzer. But he does author every two-page team preview himself, and he crams stats, facts and figures into every nook and cranny.

 

[Crimson Cat]

While I don't know if we'll win the West this year, I don't think we'll be as bad as some others/mostly rivals think we'll be. I think our offense will be fine and while the question marks on this team are mostly on the defensive side, the defense is in great hands with Coach Saban and Coach Steele. I'm thinking 8-4 or 9-3.

 

[Fishhead]

While I don't know if we'll win the West this year, I don't think we'll be as bad as some others/mostly rivals think we'll be. I think our offense will be fine and while the question marks on this team are mostly on the defensive side, the defense is in great hands with Coach Saban and Coach Steele. I'm thinking 8-4 or 9-3.

I would venture to guess that most of your rivals fans...as well as most Bama fans...would agree with that prediction. You guys were an eyelash away from winning a couple more last year, so no reason to expect anything less than 8-4, possibly 9-3 this season. But with your early schedule...no matter where the games are...and a whole new system being installed on both sides of the ball, September is a CRUCIAL month for Bama...as you all know. Getting through September unscathed would be a HUGE momentum builder...for team...and fan base. But come out of it with 2-3 losses, and the momentum swing from that might take a while to recover from.

 

[bayoutider]

I would venture to guess that most of your rivals fans...as well as most Bama fans...would agree with that prediction. You guys were an eyelash away from winning a couple more last year, so no reason to expect anything less than 8-4, possibly 9-3 this season. But with your early schedule...no matter where the games are...and a whole new system being installed on both sides of the ball, September is a CRUCIAL month for Bama...as you all know. Getting through September unscathed would be a HUGE momentum builder...for team...and fan base. But come out of it with 2-3 losses, and the momentum swing from that might take a while to recover from.

September is going to be a real test for Bama. If we should somehow come through September undefeated, God help the rest of our opponents.

 

[cmmiller711]

One things for sure. We're no longer a checkmark win for the likes of LSU, and UF. From now on we get everyones best shot, and it will take their absolute best to give them a chance to beat us. Alot of Bama fans talk about fear. They want AU, UT and others to "fear us". I'll just be glad to finally have respect again. Perennial respect. Not the kind of respect that comes late in the season after big wins (see 2005), but the kind of respect that comes year-round, no matter what the composition of the team is. Any sportswriter or fan can hate USC, LSU, or UF, but those teams DEMAND respect, all year round. Wake up and smell the turf.... bama's coming back... for good.

 

[Hoot30]

September is going to be a real test for Bama. If we should somehow come through September undefeated, God help the rest of our opponents.

Absolutely. Sports radio shows here in N'ville are saying that Vandy will have their best team in decades. Some are predicting a Vandy win over 'Bama. I think they'll be tough, but we should win.

 

[moorav]

September is going to be a real test for Bama. If we should somehow come through September undefeated, God help the rest of our opponents.

I really like having a Sept like that - go ahead and find out what we got. I hate those early podunk games where you really can't tell what we are made of. We'll find out early and I am confident that we'll be very competitve

 

[Tide Tales]

September is going to be a real test for Bama. If we should somehow come through September undefeated, God help the rest of our opponents.

Right again, Bayou......and not only is it a real test for the team but for the staff, also. The single most important fundamental key is: Do you believe? IMO. ...And when we get the answers we will know exactly
what we have in staff and team...again, IMO. Roll Tide!:BigA:

 

[bayoutider]

I still feel that if we go through September on the negative side of the wins and losses we will still have a pretty good season. I want and I know the coaches want to see a team that keeps learning and progressing as the season wears on. Coach Saban will change a lot of attitudes.

 

[GrayTide]

I still feel that if we go through September on the negative side of the wins and losses we will still have a pretty good season. I want and I know the coaches want to see a team that keeps learning and progressing as the season wears on. Coach Saban will change a lot of attitudes.

I think you are right about the rest of the season even with possibly a 2-3 record coming out of September. I honestly feel we can be 3-0 going into the UGA game and possibly be 3-2, at worst after the FSU game. The last 3 games in September is a pretty tough stretch.

 

[TidefaninVA]

September is going to be a real test for Bama. If we should somehow come through September undefeated, God help the rest of our opponents.

I agree 100%. While admittedly, it would be a major accomplishment to achieve that, the rest of the schedule lays out pretty nicely after that. Houston & Ole Miss for a bit of a break before Tenn at home. Then a bye week before facing LSU at home. Then Miss St and LA Monroe to rest up before traveling to Auburn.

No doubt,, an undefeated and probably top 10 ranked Bama after September could be hard to stop.

56 Days & Counting!

 

[Vertical]

I just about fell out of my chair when I heard him make that statement. I wonder just how dark that horse is in Phil's mind?

It's almost so black, it's like - how much more black could it be? And the answer is none - none more black.

 

[crimsonaudio]

Spinal Tap rules.

FWIW, Houston is no gimme.

 

[moorav]

I think if we can score more points that our opponents we have a really good chance this season. The problem we had last year was the other team finished the game with more points than we had. I am not a coach but IMHO the team that scores the most points comes away with a 'W'.

So it really comes down to scoring more points than the other team, if we can do that we will be OK.

dang I oughta write a magazine that was a preety good prognostabation