I've been preaching that Bama's WRs aren't nearly as good as they are used to

My take is that most kids get a bump in their ratings once Alabama offers out of laziness of the internet services. I find it incredible to believe that Alabama's best RB is a transfer from GT and last year their best receiver was a transfer as well.

They have a ton of talent but let me take 3 guys off their team and put them on most of the SEC teams they play and things get a lot more real at that point. It used to be what held them back was the QB but they seem to have that figured out now their problem is playing time as kids aren't nearly as interested in sitting for two years before they get their chance especially when there is NIL money out there.
 
Thought their younger guys looked better. To be honest the OL is an issue. It’s pretty weak, but Bama masks it with that quick passing game.
 
I posted here and elsewhere ... (1) they have not recruited well at OL, and the high recruits they got have not panned out. when one of your transfers is an OL from Vandy, you have to wonder; (2) they have a lot of high star WR recruits who haven't panned out, yet. And as much as I hated losing Burton, it wasn't like he was going to immediately join the likes of Judy, Smith, Waddle, etc. He's not a blazer like they are, and he never impressed me with his YAC. Again, not sour grapes ... I wish he was at UGA, but the bar at WR is set high at Bama; (3) the D simply hasn't been the same since Smart left. Yes, Anderson is a beast. But the Bama D of old isn't in T-Town right now.

Now for the disclaimers - (1) a lot of this is coaching turnover finally catching up - you have to develop relationships to recruit at a very high level and that's hard to do with annual coaching movement; and (2) more importantly, they still are likely to go 12-0, so we are talking a matter of degree at a very high level. Bama's still Bama, and the end of the dynasty has been discussed many times and yet it still hasn't happened.
 
I posted here and elsewhere ... (1) they have not recruited well at OL, and the high recruits they got have not panned out. when one of your transfers is an OL from Vandy, you have to wonder; (2) they have a lot of high star WR recruits who haven't panned out, yet. And as much as I hated losing Burton, it wasn't like he was going to immediately join the likes of Judy, Smith, Waddle, etc. He's not a blazer like they are, and he never impressed me with his YAC. Again, not sour grapes ... I wish he was at UGA, but the bar at WR is set high at Bama; (3) the D simply hasn't been the same since Smart left. Yes, Anderson is a beast. But the Bama D of old isn't in T-Town right now.

Now for the disclaimers - (1) a lot of this is coaching turnover finally catching up - you have to develop relationships to recruit at a very high level and that's hard to do with annual coaching movement; and (2) more importantly, they still are likely to go 12-0, so we are talking a matter of degree at a very high level. Bama's still Bama, and the end of the dynasty has been discussed many times and yet it still hasn't happened.
The defense is good. They are talented at CB, but it hasn’t translated on the field yet. You can get the LBs in coverage (Georgia has just the TE for that). I wouldn’t bet against those CBs being good late in the season.
 
Bama's sucking right now because of poor receivers. But when they lost in the NC game after losing their best two receivers it wasn't supposed to have made any difference. Which is it? Are the receivers that important or not? (Asking for a friend.)
 
If Hartline keeps recruiting the way he is then Ohio State might have another 5* they can steal in a year or two
 
The defense is good. They are talented at CB, but it hasn’t translated on the field yet. You can get the LBs in coverage (Georgia has just the TE for that). I wouldn’t bet against those CBs being good late in the season.
I am counting on our D being better later in the season because we are inexperienced but talented, so I am not going to deny that. Again, in a lot of ways we are splitting hairs here when we say they aren't as good as some of the great Bama defenses. Part of my point is that all we heard at the end of last year was that Bama was going to be unbeatable this year, and even this year we were told that last year was a "rebuilding year" and this is the year. That screams this is one of those great Bama teams. I didn't see it back then and I am not seeing it now. CFP caliber team? Yes. Capable of winning the natty? Yes. But I think we are seeing they aren't the unbeatable team they were made out to be. I have great respect for Bama and won't ever rule them out until Satan is gone.
 
No Jamenson Williams
No Devonta Smith
No Henry Ruggs + Jerry Jeudy

I've been hesitant of throwing Bama ahead of UGA and OSU in preseason rankings because those are huge shoes to fill.
Williams + Metchie made up more than half of the receiving yards last season and being able to stretch the field is big part of Bama's game today. I know Bama is elite in recruiting and Saban is great at developing but not every 5* is a guaranteed 1st rounder, there's still time for someone to step up but we'll see ...
 
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