2012 Alabama Football Preview

We are now 27 days to the kickoff of collage football and 29 days from the start of Alabama's season. As every Friday I reveal the next team in my SEC Power Poll and today's team is #1"A" The Alabama Crimson Tide. I know I have Alabama ahead of LSU in my NCAA Football Top 25  but a power poll is a poll of talent, and I think its pretty safe to say the talent level at Alabama and LSU is second to none. Because of the equals between the two teams I have ranked them #1"A" and #1"B".


#1 Alabama Crimson Tide



 Last season wasn't perfect as the Tide split its two games with LSU, but they won the most important of the two and came away with the crystal ball. A good chunk of the 2011 team has now moved on to the NFL, but the Tide should be able to reload and not rebuild. One of the main obstacles they will have to overcome is the same thing that bit them in 2010 as they got extremely complacent after winning the 2009 National Championship.

Back to the talent on the Field in 2011 Bama's Defence was maybe if the not the best defence to ever play collage football, but only 4 official starters return for 2012. That number is a little bit misleading because players like Nico Johnson have started and have lots of player experience along with Dee Milliner. I think the defence will have some learning  to do because you can't just lose 3 first round players and expect the same results. The 2012 defence will still be one of the tops in the SEC with major players on all three levels of the defence Jesse Williams AKA "The Monster" will anchor down the defensive line; CJ Mosley and Nico Johnson are two Preseason All SEC Linebackers; Robert Lester is one of the best safeties in the nation leading the Tides secondary.

Offence will need to find new skill players with Trent Richardson, Marquis Maze, and Darius Hanks are all now gone. Alabama does return its QB AJ McCarron and they have some very talent skill players who have been waiting their turn with Eddie Lacy, Kenny Bell, and Kevin Norwood. They're also a par of 5 star running backs in Dee Hart and TJ Yeldon who are expected to make an impact. The real strenght of this offence is what could be the Tides best Offencive line ever. They're lead by Outland Trophy winner Barrett Jones who will now be at center, also on that line is preseason All SEC DJ Fluker, and Chance Warmack. Even with Trent and Maze gone I think this years offence has the chance to improve on last years offencive numbers.

Returning Starters (13)

Offensive: 7

Defence: 4

ST: 2

Schedule and Predictions

• Michigan ? W
• Western Kentucky W
• @ Arkansas ? W
• Florida Atlantic W
• Ole Miss W
• @ Missouri W
• @ Tennessee W
• Mississippi State W
• @ LSU ????
• Texas A&M W
• Western Carolina W
• Auburn W

I see three games that the Tide could have trouble with. Game one VS Michigan in Jerry World; I think Bama will be a little to much for Michigan to handle. I don't think Michigan is ready for the power of a top SEC team, but it is game one and the Tide could come out a little sluggish. At Arkansas is always a scary game especially with the high powered offence of the Razorbacks, but Arkansas might be a headcase this year. Then there is At LSU "Game of the Century part 3" who will win that game is any ones guess. I think Bama will go 12-0 or at worst 11-1. 

 -Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter @Patrickp13