http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/sports/9441526.htm
SEC PREVIEW ALABAMA AT A GLANCE Tide has experience, bowl motivation By Michael A. Lough � Last year: 4-9 (2-6 in SEC West) � Bowl game: None � Coach: Mike Shula (4-9 in one year at Alabama and overall) � Returning starters: 6 on offense, 7 on defense, 1 specialist. � Local impact: None Editor's note: The is the 11th in a series of stories previewing prospects this season for ACC and SEC schools. Life for Alabama still is nowhere near what it used to be. That's bad and good. Bad, because the Tide isn't expected to contend for any championships this year. Good, because the Tide is starting to turn, and for the positive. The coach and quarterback return as do key parts of the offensive line and defense. Alabama can go to a bowl game, the schedule is less rugged with only two seriously difficult road games and no tough non-conference opponents. The first year of Coach Mike Shula was certainly action-packed, with a touchdown loss to Oklahoma, plus a three-point loss at home to Northern Illinois, a defeat that shook the very foundation of Alabama football. A double-overtime loss to Arkansas followed, and then Tennessee survived five overtimes to beat the Tide. Alabama lost six of nine games by a touchdown and two-pointer or less. Tackle Wes Britt says simply familiarity should help erase those near misses. "Last season, we went into the season with a playbook we had never seen before," he said. "We'd look at things and see things we'd never seen before. "This year, we're going in with a playbook we know, that we've experienced as a team. We know things." There is plenty of hope, especially on defense, where there's some talent as well as depth, courtesy of some position changes as well as better health. Todd Bates missed all last year and is back at end. Charlie Peprah moved from corner to safety based on the quality spring by sophomore Ramzee Robinson. Most notable is the switch of Cornelius Wortham from outside to middle linebacker where he'll battle returnee Freddie Roach and give Alabama "some depth there and some toughness," Shula said. The secondary should also be a strength with three returning starters, although at some new spots. Peprah's move to safety gives the Tide some confidence there, with the improvement of Robinson and the return of safety Roman Harper and corner Anthony Madison. "I played safety in high school," said Peprah, a 5-foot-11, 193-pound junior from Plano, Texas. "Playing safety, I think, gives me the opportunity to make more plays." Tackle Anthony Bryant, a 6-3, 330-pounder, anchors a defensive line that has some experience. "He's a guy that needs to have a great year," Shula said. "He's probably in the best shape he's ever been in." Which is obviously a good thing. "What we need to do defensively as far as personnel is to rotate our guys in more, keep our guys as fresh as we can," Shula said. "To do that, we've got to have guys that we feel like are capable of playing and playing winning football." The offense is a general question mark, but has some definite positives, led by junior quarterback Brodie Croyle. The 6-2, 200-pound junior threw for 2,303 yards and 16 touchdowns with 15 interceptions last year, but was rarely 100 percent healthy. What will make life easier for Croyle, who has battled injuries in his 'Bama career but has added about 20 pounds to a lean frame, is having three starters back on the offensive line, led by all-SEC senior tackle Britt. Center JB Closner and tackle Evan Mathis are also back. But Croyle's receiving corps is a new one. "The receiver with the most experience right now is Tyrone Prothro, and he's a true sophomore and he played in four or five games last year," noted Shula. Alabama breaks in a new tailback to replace Shaud Williams. Senior Ray Hudson (5-11, 196) has the edge at tailback, but not by much, for Shula plans a back-by-committee situation. Alabama has made it through practice so far in pretty good health with no regulars out for any serious time or expected to miss substantial work. Bowl eligibility makes August a little more tolerable as well as serving as a possible distraction. "It's definitely a motivating factor," Shula said. "Saying that, the thing I don't want our football team doing is just worrying about where they're going to a bowl." ______________________________________________________ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List "Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup!" To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net AOL.com addresses are NOT allowed on this list.Get a real ISP.
