Klink
TBDPITL Writer
Normally I start these things with a nice table giving the advantages each team has, but who am I kidding? The Best Damn Poll in the Land’s preseason number 1 team, The Alabama Crimson Tide, are playing a tune up game before Joe Paterno and Penn State come to Tuscaloosa on September 11th. Bama is returning 9 offensive starters, including Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram, undefeated quarterback Greg McElroy, and monster WR Julio Jones. Unfortunately, Ingram had minor knee surgery on Monday, and will miss at least this game. This certainly puts his bid to win another Heisman on hold, if it didn’t ruin it altogether. Don’t worry though Alabama fans, because the other first team All-SEC running back just happens to be Ingram’s backup, sophomore Trent Richardson. Some, including myself, wonder if Richardson is actually the better back. This offense should have no problem scoring 45+ on the Spartans.
While the offense of the Crimson Tide returned 9 starters, the defense lost 9. Don’t let that number fool you though, as many guys like Nico Johnson, Courtney Upshaw, and Josh Chapman saw significant time in 2009. Defensive end Marcel Dareus, the Tide’s sack leader in 2009, is also one of the returning defensive players that didn’t start last year. However, his status is in question due to the offseason “Agentgate” scandal and the silence of the NCAA. If Bama doesn’t hear from the NCAA before the game on Saturday, then they will have no choice but to sit Dareus. Again, this is not a big deal for this week, but the Tide will really miss him if he is not eligible for the Penn State game. The front 7 of the Tide are still considered among the best in the country, but the secondary is the real question mark for this defense. Can the new guys use Mark Barron’s experience and leadership to gel into a cohesive unit? We’ll know soon enough.
Bama’s special teams can easily be considered their biggest weakness, mainly the kicking game. The place kickers have been inconsistent throughout camp, and the punters have been mediocre at best. But with Trent Richardson and Julio Jones returning kicks, and Jones also returning punts, the return game should be as good as any in the country. It’s certainly enough to give the Tide the edge over the Spartans.
In short, expect Bama to completely overwhelm San Jose State and pull many of the starters by the end of the 1st half.
Prediction:
Alabama- 56
San Jose St.- 3