ESPN throws water on Alabama naysayers, points to favorable schedule
Alabama is in a place it hasn’t often found itself under Nick Saban with several people across college football questioning their chances in 2023. With that said, Chris Low says we all may need to hold our horses before counting out the Crimson Tide.
Low shared that opinion in a recent article at ESPN. He did start, though, with a negative outlook, specifically at quarterback. He questioned why we should all think Alabama could win it all next fall with the quarterbacks they have if they weren’t able to do it with a Heisman and the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft?
“Yes, there’s the obvious question about (their) quarterback,” Low admitted. “It’s a fair one: If the Crimson Tide can’t win a national title with Bryce Young (they did win an SEC title), is it realistic to expect them to win with Jalen Milroe or Ty Simpson and, now, last-minute Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner?”
However, from there, he went more positive in his take. He said an effective rushing attack and a staunch defense will be crucial in getting them to that level.
Low also added that it’s a reasonable thought considering how Alabama’s schedule plays out, especially with who all is set to come to Tuscaloosa next season.
“How well Alabama is able to run the football this season will be a key,” continued Low. “And look for the defense to be much more aggressive in forcing turnovers and negative plays.”
“It also helps that just about all of Alabama’s toughest opponents (LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Texas) have to visit Bryant-Denny Stadium in 2023,” Low said. “So (it’s) probably best not to sleep on the Tide.”
Again, there is a fair amount of concern about Alabama heading into 2023, especially when compared to other teams from Saban’s tenure. Still, Low says you should count them out at your own risk considering what all is still favoring them, both from a roster and a schedule standpoint.
Joel Klatt says concerns about Alabama are an ’emphatic no’
There’s a healthy helping of concern going around college football circles as well as Tuscaloosa about the upcoming edition of the Alabama football team. However, Joel Klatt asks a very simple question in response – Why?
Klatt expressed his complete lack of concern about the Crimson Tide on an episode of his show on Monday. He said he has been wrong before about the demise of Nick Saban’s program and says he won’t make that mistake again, especially considering what’s still at their disposal in their locker room.
“Am I concerned? No. The answer is an emphatic no,” stated Klatt. “Am I concerned about Alabama? No. This is coming from the same moron, me, who, what was it? Six years ago, ‘Bama fans? (I) went on with Colin Cowherd and said, ‘Alabama’s got a Nick Saban problem’. Idiot! Right? I mean, obviously, I’ve learned my lesson.”
“Am I concerned? No. Are they gonna start in my top-five? Yes. Why? Because they’re Alabama!,” Klatt continued. “Because Nick Saban is still there, because they’ve recruited as well as anybody, including Georgia, over the last five years, right? So, like, when you look at the composite of what the roster is? They’re going to be just fine.”
“So, am I concerned? No. Alabama is still Alabama. This is not the moment to panic,” said Klatt. “I’m not concerned about Alabama…It’s not time to be panicked about Alabama.”