Alabama Football Podcast - College Football Talk dedicated to the University of Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama Football Podcast Breaks Down the 2017 Alabama Recruiting Class

The Improbability of it All

Trees do not grow to the sky. There is a way about things, a natural order, a limit. That is unless the sapling in question was planted in Tuscaloosa a decade ago by master arborist Nick Saban.

Only a few short years ago Alabama set a record for pulling in the second and then the third consecutive top ranked recruiting class. When Saban started to showcase his recruiting skills a surprisingly few programs could boast three consecutive top 10 classes.

Now Saban is just showing off, running laps around the recruiting competition with his 7th consecutive top ranked class. Oh, and according to one service, his highest ranked class while patrolling the sidelines in Bryant-Denny.

Breaking Down the Class

With 26 signees, 12 early enrollees, 2 Blue Shirts, and even a 4-star Gray Shirt, the story of this class is already legend.  Add in the 3 years invested in its assemblage and the 3-5 years in which most of these Crimson careers will play out and it is easy to agree that this plot line has many chapters yet to tell.

But that didn’t stop the intrepid AFP team from putting our spin on the freshly minted class.  We predict our day one contributors, career all-stars, and x-factors. Further, we identify position battles that will burn hot this spring with promises for lasting impacts across the playing rotation in the fall.

The Future is Next

In January, Alabama fell to Clemson on the biggest stage the sport has to offer. In today’s headlines-trump-facts environment, that portended the collapse of the Alabama dynasty.

However, to take that position is ignore facts that Stevie Wonder can see spring from the page.

By Saban standards, the Tide fielded a young team while continuing to develop a stockpile of talented youngsters who have not yet broken into the rotation.  Add to the mix a talented and diverse 2017 class and it does not look like Alabama is going anywhere any time soon.

The 2016 Alabama football team fell to Clemson in what some are calling a historic game, ending this Tide squad’s bid at becoming an all time great. But what did we learn watching the play unfold in Atlanta?

With each passing week we’ll learn more about the 2016 Crimson Tide squad.  We’ll spot trends as they emerge and puzzle at both the positive and negative outliers throughout the Alabama Football season. 

In this weekly feature I’ll highlight a handful of the lessons this team is teaching me.

Funny Taste

One morning just over a week ago I woke up and started looking for the monkey that shit in my mouth.  How else to explain the funny taste? All these days later and still no sign of that monkey. My wife has taken to suggesting I have issues with denial. And she’s wrong.

While I’ll concede that my monkey tale may be farfetched, I haven’t yet heard a better explanation.

Don’t Take Our Bo

It’s hard to put a fine point on this without sounding like sour grapes. Or worse, like a Texas fan circa 2010.

Had Scarbough not gone down with a broken leg, Alabama beats Clemson by at least two scores.

Clemson simply had no answer for Bo, who had 2 long touchdown runs and singled handedly out rushed Clemson before suffering a broken leg in the 3rd quarter.

Absent its power back, Alabama shifted its attack and proved unable to sustain drives.

Depth Watch

I both love and hate the irony of the depth story line. Again and again we’ve unpacked exactly how thin this Alabama defense really was at several key positions. And without fail the team was able to overcome. Creative formations, emerging youngsters, and timely turnovers all masked a limited second team. This happened with such frequency that the media continued to spin the narrative of Alabama possessing such a deep roster.

With so much bluster it had to be true. Except it wasn’t.

Enter Clemson with its talented roster, elusive and effective passer, and a game plan designed to exploit the Tide’s lack of depth on defense.

Play after play after play the Clemson receivers did two things. They rotated personnel and they took the Tide receivers deep. Add in tempo at key spots and the persistent attack took its toll.

All season long to have raised the flag for depth issues, including and especially in the secondary only to see it unravel in grand fashion on the biggest of stages. Curses.

All Hail Alabama

As disappointing as this loss was for the Tide faithful, it’s no excuse not to celebrate the wonders of the 2016 season. This team may be a near perfect embodiment of the Saban process-based ethos.

Work hard, stick with the program, ignore the scoreboard, avoid distractions, everyone competes.

This squad had it all. Star players sticking around to become super stars, depth players finally earning starting roles, and freshmen being provided a fair shake for playing time, and more. 

The 2016 Alabama squad will be a fun one to remember, even if it included some squirrely monkey business in Tampa.

Alabama Football Podcast

As a bonus, below is our recap of the action. We hope you’ll give us a listen and Roll Tide.

Meanwhile, check back as we shift into the non-playing season. Signing Day, A Day, Draft Day – lots of good times ahead for Alabama Fans.

In this episode Tom and Dave from the Alabama Football Podcast breakdown the Tide’s victory over the Washington Huskies.

Play Calling

Alabama featured the running game on 80% of its plays against Washington, a surprising total even for fans asking for Lane to run the ball more often.

Personnel Utilization

The semi-final featured the most Dubose-like play that we’ve seen in Saban’s 10-year tenure at Alabama. Tune in to the podcast to see which of our favorite players was involved.

Early Scoring

Check out why the early 7-point deficit was neither a concern nor surprise against the Huskies.

Drive Start

One of Saban’s favorite mantras was on full display Saturday night as Washington started 8 possessions inside their 20-yard line.

Affecting the Quarterback

Another Saban favorite was on display as the Tide defense harassed Washington’s Jake Browning all night long. However, despite 5 sacks, 2 ints, and countless hurries Browning did avoid sharing his frustration to the national viewing audience, unlike Conner Cook last year.

Lane Out, Sark In

I’m glad I don’t sell newspapers for a living because this is the most overwrought and boring story going today. Heck, it was barely even a surprise.

Check out the podcast to hear us explain away all the breathless chatter.

Anyone can read a headline, but which players contributed in more subtle ways to the Tide’s fortune?

Alabama’s Next Opponent

Next up for Alabama is a rematch with the Clemson Tigers on College Football’s grandest stage – the National Title game.

In this episode Tom and Dave from the Alabama Football Podcast breakdown the Tide’s drubbing of the Florida Gators.

Note – this was recorded prior to most of this week’s post game events.

Play Calling

Yet again, Tom and Dave are pit against opposite ends of the discussion. While there’s amply common ground, there continues to be tension in getting to that common ground. But at least the discussion is fun.

Elephant Package

Speaking of common ground, the short yardage game featuring a big back behind an extra tight end and a pair of defensive tackles moonlighting as fullbacks is always fun to watch.

This package should have a one play minimum every week.

Amazing Defense

We are running out of ways to describe this Alabama defense. Check out what Dave calls it this week and what you can do if you don’t like the analogy.

Depth and Over Reaction

The Tide coaching staff may have over reacted again with Marlon Humphrey being unavailable to go on Saturday. Fortunately this was quickly recognized and corrected.

Versatile Harrison

Check out our breakdown of Ronnie’s performance on a key second quarter play.

Hamilton’s Injury

Tune in as we laud Hamilton’s contributions and how the Tide will adapt to cover for this loss in the remaining games.  Yeah, I went plural.

Where In

Perhaps the worst kept secret all season was Alabama’s seeding with the college football playoffs. We have a little fun with some initial thoughts on the game.

Anyone can read a headline, but which players contributed in more subtle ways to the Tide’s fortune?

Alabama’s Next Opponent

Next up for Alabama is a return visit to Atlanta for the first round of the College Football Playoffs.

Alabama Football Podcast Breaks Down the 2016 Iron Bowl

Play Calling

Familiar lines are drawn as we debate good vs. bad play calling and game planning.

Ardarius Returns

Coincidence that Stewart returns to the lineup and the Tide offense plays with more spark? I think not. Plus Ardarius provides for a snarky jab at the Tigers, tune in to see what we’re talking about.

Solid Line

The Alabama line was stable and stable on Saturday against the Tigers when it registered a solid performance without all of the personnel shifts prevalent over the last month of the season.

Deep Secondary

Alabama goes nine deep in the defensive secondary. Check out the breakdown.

Special Teams

JK was off his mark and we discuss the punt return game including speculation for adding some spark.

Anyone can read a headline, but which players contributed in more subtle ways to the Tide’s fortune?

Alabama’s Next Opponent

Next up for Alabama is a return visit to Atlanta for the SEC Championship game where the Tide will square off with a familiar opponent relative to the forum. The Crimson Tide and Florida Gators have matched wits for the conference crown 9 times, including Saturday, and have played to a draw in splitting the first 8 appearances. Look for the Tide to take the upper hand in both the game and series come Saturday.

In this episode Tom and Dave from the Alabama Football Podcast breakdown the Tide’s triumph over the Mocs of UTC.

Solo Oh-No

Hold on folks, this is a solo ride with Dave, pure and unfiltered. Can you handle it?

Triple Threat of Question

Alabama rolled out its worst outing since week two and still managed to rack up 31 points. To what and where do we assign fault? Was it play calling, Jalen’s jitters, or an overall malaise settling over Bryant-Denny on a chilly November night? Tune in to see how we break it down.

Ardarius Out

Saturday did not represent the first game Stewart has missed this season but it may well represent the most impactful absence. Check out the show for our assessment of how the absence of Ardarius impacted the offence and who actually benefited by the revised lineup.

Line Work

Last week the Tide went 4 deep at Right Guard. This week, for an encore, the Tide went 4 deep at RG while also going 3 deep at Left Tackle. An impressive display of depth to be sure, but a trend that needs to end.

Conflicted Defense

Was this a good defensive performance or a bad one? Leaving the stadium last Saturday I was convinced of my response but upon review I’m equally as convinced the other way.

Kicking Questions

Lots of questions came out of the kicking game Saturday and we take aim at unpacking them on the show. Check it out.

Anyone can read a headline, but which players contributed in more subtle ways to the Tide’s fortune?

Alabama’s Next Opponent

Next up for Alabama is a rumble with West Georgia’s finest, the War Plainspeople from Auburn. Call it a tune up for the SEC Championship if you like. The relative health of key players on both sides of the aisle will go a long way towards determining the outcome of this one.

Alabama Football Podcast Breaks Down Alabama vs Mississippi State 2016

More discussion amongst your esteemed podcast hosts regarding the merits and opportunities represented by one Jalen Hurts. Meanwhile, young mister Hurts continues to produce on the field in route to etching his name in the record books.

Scripted Scrimmage

Did Kiffin really role out a game plan designed to treat Mississippi State as a glorified walk through?

Four Deep

We talk about how the Tide was impacted by having to reach deep into the roster to address nagging injuries along the offensive line.

Team Defense

Lots of contributors with only limited standout performances. We discuss how this defense appears to be getting stronger with each passing week.

Payne in the Middle

We highlight another example of DaRon Payne living up to his name this week against the Bulldogs.

Anyone can read a headline, but which players contributed in more subtle ways to the Tide’s fortune?

Alabama’s Next Opponent

Next up for Alabama is a tune up game in Chattanooga, an opportunity to stay crisp while working on new wrinkles and giving the front line players a short day. Starting strong and staying healthy will be key objectives on the day.

Alabama Football Podcast Breaks Down Alabama vs LSU 2016

We have some fun bantering the merits of Jalen, and Kiffin, and the aesthetics of Alabama’s offense.

Shades of 2011

We talk through how closely Saturday’s game paralleled the 1 vs 2 matchup in Tuscaloosa in 2011.

Bo Nose

We talk about Bo Scarbrough’s hardnosed running style and how he was poised for an even bigger day against the Tigers had he not suffered a 1st half set back.

Tough Competition

LSU provided Alabama with their toughest contest of the season. We discuss which Tide players may have been the most impacted by this steeper level of competition.

New Safety in Town

Minka looked at home filling in for the injured Eddie Jackson. Thanks to the bye and the nature of the opponent the debut was easier to navigate and we discuss how we’ll continue to keep an eye on this personnel grouping.

Disguising Depth

We spend time discussing the ways the Tide is able to at once manufacture and disguise concerns related to its depth along the defensive front.

Anyone can read a headline, but which players contributed in more subtle ways to the Tide’s fortune?

Alabama’s Next Opponent

Upstart Mississippi State comes to town and fresh off their upset of college football’s unofficial boy band, the bullies will be itching to hashtag everything in sight.

#StillNotYourTurnMissSt  

In this episode Tom and Dave from the Alabama Football Podcast breakdown the Tide’s triumph over TAMU.

There’s the passing Jalen and the running, both have skills and both have delivered big plays for the Tide this season. However, one is prone to missing the mark and the other may be slightly over used.  This is a trend to keep an eye on but let’s be clear, there’s a little bit of picking nits here because the Super Frosh has electricity in him.

Howard’s In

OJ Howard was a focal point of the offence with 8 targets, we talk about why we saw more of him in the game vs. prior weeks.

Goal Line Offense

We’re not immune to the rumblings here and we break down some of what we’re seeing. Is this another example of the Tide coaching staff over thinking the situation?

Over TAMU?

Tune in as we explain why A&M was one of our better opponents and how they were in possession of a formula that could have derailed the Tide.

Do You Have Change for a Dime?

Speaking of over reactive coaching… we break down the Tide starting the game in a Dime switching to a Nickel. We illustrate how this is the second time Alabama as eschewed their base for a defensive scheme no so perfectly suited for attacking the opponent’s offense.

Viva Eddie Jackson

We break down how Alabama may elect to rotate personnel in the lineup but we also explain how one does not simply replace Eddie Jackson.

Dakota Ball Kick Return

Hey, you simply won’t hear anyone else talking about it, so why not give it a listen.

Anyone can read a headline, but which players contributed in more subtle ways to the Tide’s fortune?

Alabama’s Next Opponent

Fortunately the Tide gets a bye this week. Time to rest the lingering aches and devise Eddie-less defensive schemes. With LSU kicking off a four game home stretch, the Tide must remain focused and come out of the gates ready to do work.

Alabama Football Podcast breaks down Alabama vs Tennessee

Nick Saban and Alabama Football ARE College Football