Lets Talk Alabama Football 2016!

USC week is finally here folks. We're days away from finding out who will be the starting QB at Alabama.

I'm really hoping it's Barnett or Hurts. One of these two guys are the future. Why not give them the keys now? This Alabama defense has so many returning starters. In my opinion this defense could possibly be better than last years or even, dare I say, better than that 2009 defense. I'm a huge Jeremy Pruitt fan. I always have been. Kirby Smart has taken the head coaching job at Georgia and Pruitt comes in with all of these players at his disposal. There are quite a few players on this defense that will be selected in the NFL draft next year. As much as I'd love to talk about our offense and especially those Wide Receivers, this defense will get most of my attention this season. As good as the front seven will be I absolutely LOVE our secondary this year.

For years this was our weak link. Minkah Fitzpatrick, Marlon Humphrey, and Eddie Jackson are as solid as solid gets folks. You put that pass rush from Jonathan Allen, Da'Ron Payne, Dalvin Tomlinson, and De'Shawn Hand, with that secondary back there licking their chops, and its pick 6 city. I wont spend this entire blog talking about this defense but those close to me... Well I apologize in advance. It's going be one hell of a year for this D. I'm excited.

Now we'll talk a little bit about this offense. We still are not sure who the QB will be but lets be honest... Does it really matter? And let me say... The QB's on this roster are the best I've ever seen in my life time as a whole, at Alabama. As I said before I really hope Nick Saban goes with youth at QB. Not just because of that insanely intense defense, but the weapons at their disposal on offense. As I said about the QB's being the best I've ever seen in my life time, I also feel the same way about our Wide Receivers. Calvin Ridley will have tons of records before he's gone. Julio Jones and Amari Cooper were great. But I think Ridley will exceed them. Even Amari Cooper speaks this way about Calvin Ridley. Listen to how he talks about him here on First Take the day before the National Championship game this past January.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULNEuEShFfA

But it's the other Wide Receivers that make this the best over all WR core I've ever seen at Alabama. Ardarius Stewart was clutch as clutch got last year. Robert Foster hasn't seen much action because of injury. But I thought Robert Foster, had he not gotten injured last year, would've been the "go-to" X type receiver over Ridley. Foster will be a big factor this season and other teams not having much tape on him will only make him more dangerous. Hurts, Barnett, or whomever takes the job will be in great hands with these guys running routes. Just another reason to be excited about Alabama football.

The positions, other than QB, I'll be watching closely are Running Back and Offensive line. A lot of change has happened in these positions over the last eight months. I expect Bo Scarbrough to be the #1 back but I also expect Damien Harris to be a huge part if the running game. I'd even go as far as saying a 40/60 split. We will be great at this position. Saban will do what Saban does. Get his guys to play at a very high standard and running back has always been #1 priority. 2016 will be no different. We're just looking really good in other positions. I love these two backs though. We'll soon find out which one will take that leap.

Just like the Running Back position the Offensive line is also one that will look much different in 2016. And from this writing it looks as if we'll have two freshmen on the line in Jonah Williams at OT and Brandon Kennedy at OG. We'll still have Cam Robinson at OT and O.J Howard out at TE so it won't be all new faces. I look forward to watching these two groups and seeing how they play out. I'm excited about 2016. We're so young in so many positions yet so strong with plenty of veteran leadership.

The South Eastern Conference looks to be stronger than ever. LSU and Alabama will control the west. The east could go a number of ways but I think Florida is a step ahead of the rest. Watch out for Tennessee and Georgia, though it may take Smart another year to win the East. I'm not as big on Tennessee as most people are but I do think the East is more wide open and they could potentially win it. But lets be honest. Whoever wins the West wins the SEC. The East is definitely getting stronger but they're not quite there yet! I'll be back after the season starts and give my feelings on the SEC and where I stand with each school. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your last Saturday without Bama football for a while with us! Please Like and Share us! Have a blessed and outstanding day! Roll Tide!