Tide Tidbits – July 27, 2009

Saban says linebackers ‘can’t be satisfied’
Entering the 2008 season, the biggest question mark on the Alabama defense was in the middle, where only one starter returned at linebacker for coach Nick Saban’s 3-4 defense. Gone were three starters — Keith Saunders and Darren Mustin to graduation and Zeke Knight to a medical hardship — and left to fill the holes were players without much experience. Of course, the Crimson Tide went 12-2 and achieved a No. 1 national ranking during the season, largely based on the play of its defense — particularly those linebackers. This season, the goal is not simply to maintain that level of play, but to expand on it.

PRESEASON TOP 25: No. 5 Alabama
Alabama has just four starters returning to an offense that averaged 30.1 points per game and 355.8 yards per game. One of the biggest losses is QB John Parker Wilson, who started 40 games in his career and holds nearly every passing record in school history. The Tide will count on former Southlake High and Missouri QB Greg McElroy to take charge. He has attempted only 20 passes in two years with Alabama. The Tide had a knack for getting out to early leads last season. Alabama outscored opponents 362 to 123 during the first three quarters. During Bama’s two loses, it was outscored 45-37 in the first three quarters. Note to the SEC – the Tide’s offense is not built to come from behind, so score early and often.

Transition time for Alabama quarterbacks
For three seasons, John Parker Wilson shared a hotel room with Greg McElroy when the Alabama football team hit the road. Now the two quarterbacks take turns calling the other as August approaches with both taking on new and expanded responsibilities. Wilson is preparing for his first NFL training camp with the Atlanta Falcons set to begin Saturday while McElroy is prepping to take his old bunkmate’s job as the Crimson Tide starting quarterback. “I think (McElroy) learned enough when he was backing me up,” Wilson said Saturday after signing autographs and taking pictures at Martin’s department store in Decatur. “He knows what’s going on. He’s been there long enough.”

Thank You, Rita: Both Alabama And Michigan Fans May Owe Her Thanks
Though Mal Moore didn’t know it at the time, he’d just dodged a bullet, not the kind of bullet that hurts people, but the kind that destroys football programs. The football Head Coaching job at the University of Alabama had been open since the firing of former Coach Mike Shula in late November. Moore had promised then that he would bring in a successful head coach with excellent credentials. It’s not that Rodriguez is not a good coach, he is. His coaching qualifications were never the issue. The question was how he, and by extension his wife, could stand up to the pressure cooker that is Alabama football.

SEC players speak: Nutt, Spurrier are their favorites
We asked all 24 players at SEC Media Days about it. Eight players declined to name another coach, an understandable position given the players weren’t giving anonymity in exchange for their answers and, well, there is an undeniable loyalty between a player and his college football coach. But 16 players opted to answer, usually with a nod to how much they love playing for their current coach.

Tide to see much more of the spread offense
It’s the offense that revolutionized the Big 12, was executed by each side in last year’s national championship game, and led to both University of Alabama postseason losses, in the SEC Championship and Sugar Bowl. Yes, “spread” is essentially an extended four-letter word to most Crimson Tide fans, especially the version Urban Meyer developed at Utah and brought to Florida. Despite being around in some form for decades, the high-octane attack has become the rage of the collegiate game. “I always say if you only had to defend that all the time, I think we could all get a little better at it,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said. “It’s the multiple of the different things you see throughout the season that make it more difficult.”

Roll Tide!

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