2-a-Days: Alabama and Auburn

Alabama Crimson Tide



The job isn't over yet. Alabama won the 2009 season title, sure, but the lingering drive to win another one must be there. With the Colt McCoy injury, the talk of the town was, "sure Bama was a good team, but we'll never really know whether or not they were better than Texas with McCoy." The holdovers still have something to shoot for, a second straight title and one that most people will count.

THE OFFENSE: As of right now, things are on the up and up. At quarterback, the biggest question coming into last year was how Nick Saban would replace John Parker Wilson. The answer to that question, Greg McElroy, seemed unconvincing at the time, but it was good for an SEC title, an undefeated record, and a national championship. With efficiency being his main goal, McElroy managed a decent season of 17 TDs to only 4 picks. However, Saban will be looking to expand the role of the passing game this year and would like to see McElroy eclipse 300 yards passing at least once, something he didn't do all of last year. The running backs are absolutely set with Mark Ingram and the extremely underrated Trent Richardson backing him up. Ingram obviously won the Heisman trophy and is an impressive, humble individual to boot. My baseless guess is that Ingram will see some of his burden lifted and placed on Richardson and the passing game so he doesn't wear out early. Julio Jones' sophomore season was a colossal disappointment in the Arrelious Benn mold before he broke out against Auburn. Jones caught 15 fewer passes than his freshman season and was short about 350 yards as well. The output was similar since Jones sat out against North Texas and it was safe to say that near the end of the year he was getting back in the groove, but it's all about how comfortable he is with McElroy. I expect a better rapport between the two and Marquis Maze is another WR who has breakout potential in this offense. The offensive line gets 3 returning starters including LT James Carpenter, but the youth on the line looks promising.


THE DEFENSE: Now we run into some issues. While the offense will keep plugging away and producing, the defense has some holes. Only two starters return with only one projected senior starter in DE Luther Davis. Defensive coordinator Kirby Smart was being lured away to Georgia, but he became the highest paid assistant coach this offseason. Kirby has a lot of youth to work with which bodes well for the future, but if the unit doesn't gel in time, there could be early issues. The defensive line will pretty much be fine with the underrated Marcell Dareus finally getting his shot at a starting DE spot. Josh Chapman at NT will be attempting to fill in the shoes of Terrance Cody who won't be around to block Tennessee field goals anymore. He's a strong dude who shouldn't have too many issues. The face of the green defense will probably be sophomore LB Dont'a Hightower who is coming off of an ACL tear and appears to be very healthy. Hightower has the speed and athleticism of a lot of SEC linebackers and could be an all-conference selection at the end of the year, if/when healthy. The rest of the linebacking situation is in flux right now, but Saban plans to rotate a lot of guys who are in the mix. The secondary is definitely the biggest hole on the team right now, with S Mark Barron being the only returning starter. Guys at corner like Dre Kirkpatrick and B.J. Scott have tremendous upside, but lack experience only being sophomores.


THE SCHEDULE:

Sep. 4 San Jose State
Sep. 11 Penn State
Sep. 18 at Duke
Sep. 25 at Arkansas
Oct. 2 Florida
Oct. 9 at South Carolina
Oct. 16 Ole Miss
Oct. 23 at Tennessee
Nov. 6 at LSU
Nov. 13 Mississippi State
Nov. 20 Georgia State
Nov. 26 Auburn

It's an interesting slate. I love the Penn State/Alabama matchup as that should send thrills up the spine of some of the old-schoolers. I have a gut feeling that the road game against Duke will wind up being more interesting than it should. The SEC road slate hands Bama dates at Arkansas, South Carolina, Tennessee, and LSU, but it could be worse.

Don't Even Think About It:
Ehhhhh.....Maybe.....:
Good/Probable Shot At It: The entire schedule.


THE OUTLOOK: The outlook for the Crimson Tide goes as follows: Take care of business, and you'll be in Glendale by January. It's a lot easier said than done though getting through the SEC unscathed, but the two main issue areas are the offensive line and the secondary. Both units are young, sure, but most of all they show enormous promise. And while I generally don't pick a team to repeat an appearance in the national title game, my money is on Alabama this fall winning all or all but one game and finding their way back into the title game with another SEC title in their pocket.


BOWL GAME?: BCS Championship.






Auburn Tigers

An interesting year, a new offense, some clunker games along the way, and capped off with a bowl victory in a wacky game against Northwestern. There are plenty of things to get excited about down on The Plains, but for Gene Chizik, things are heating up a bit. The intrastate rival Alabama basking in the glory of a championship, the expectations will turn up a notch on Auburn very, very soon.

THE OFFENSE: What else can you say about Gus Malzahn? This is a guy that turned around the Tiger offense from 110th in scoring offense under Tommy Tuberville to 17th in the span of one year, mostly with the same athletes at the helm. After Tony Franklin was ditched the year previous to last, Malzahn effectively implemented the spread under Chizik. But now without Chris Todd and without Ben Tate, who will be the new stars? At QB, it's a derby of epic proportion between the big prospect Cameron Newton, senior and well-polished Neil Caudle, and the exciting playmaker-type Tyrik Rollison. Although it sounds like a big competition, Newton has to be the de facto starter, at least entering the year. There's too much potential to bench him for long. The running back spot has some returning experience with Onteno McCalebb and Mario Fannin, some younger guys who saw plenty of time playing with Tate in this offense. At WR, I'm looking for the pictured Darvin Adams to absolutely bust out. I'm talking 1200 yardsish. Adams ranked 34th last season in receiving yards per game. Terrell Zachery and former QB Kodi Burns will also be featured on the offense. The veteran offensive line led by OT Lee Ziemba could cut down on some of the sacks, but things should be better in 2010.


THE DEFENSE: Auburn had one of the worst units in the SEC last season, so things need to improve or else they could be in for another so-so year in SEC play. Giving up roughly 375 yards per game isn't going to cut it against teams like Alabama and Arkansas this season. Auburn gets 8 starters from last year's unit back, so that's at least a positive sign. The two biggest stars from last year's group, Walter McFadden and Antonio Coleman, are gone. But the defensive line will still have Mike Blanc and Antoine Carter to build around for some sort of a pass rush/run-stopping combination. The linebackers look very promising heading into this year with Craig Stevens, Josh Bynes, and Eltoro Freeman all returning. Darren Bates will shift over from safety and play a little bit of linebacker as well. Bates was a standout last year as a freshman, but the secondary will try to get better. Zac Etheridge at safety should be the leader of that group. For being a heralded defensive guru coming into both Auburn and Iowa State, Chizik's groups have underperformed and with the athleticism of this team on defense, there shouldn't be any excuses not to see an improvement.


THE SCHEDULE:

Sept. 4 Arkansas State
Sept. 9 at Mississippi State
Sept. 18 Clemson
Sept. 25 South Carolina
Oct. 2 UL Monroe
Oct. 9 at Kentucky
Oct. 16 Arkansas
Oct. 23 LSU
Oct. 30 at Ole Miss
Nov. 6 Chattanooga
Nov. 13 Georgia
Nov. 26 at Alabama

The non-conference schedule isn't that difficult again. Arkansas State, UL Monroe, and Chattanooga should be three automatic wins, but the non-conference date with Clemson will be very interesting. The draw from the East isn't bad at all with South Carolina, Kentucky, and Georgia being the three teams. The Iron Bowl this year will be played in Tuscaloosa.

Don't Even Think About It:
Ehhhhh.....Maybe.....: Clemson, LSU, @ Alabama
Good/Probable Shot At It: Arkansas State, @ Mississippi State, South Carolina, UL Monroe, @ Kentucky, Arkansas, @ Ole Miss, Chattanooga, Georgia


THE OUTLOOK: I'd keep an eye on Auburn. The offense will at least keep them in games. The Tigers managed 29 scoring drives in under two minutes last season, but I wonder if that has any bearing on the defense? Tulsa turned the tempo down a bit and while they were a worse off team without Malzahn, the defense became noticeably better. Auburn's defense last season may have been getting a little too gassed. However, this team isn't going to be a in a position to compete for the SEC West and the potent no-huddle offense will at least give them an identity. As long as Cameron Newton manages the offense, this is a team that could see a one-game improvement over 2009 and finish the year 8-4.


BOWL GAME?: Gator Bowl.