With 7 potential 1st-rounders, could this be the greatest Alabama team ever?
Week to week, college football fans and pundits alike watch the 2019 Alabama Crimson Tide steamroll opponents and wonder to themselves the following question … where are the weaknesses? Where are the holes?
That goes for us here at Saturday Down South, too. Yours truly is tasked with the unenviable task of buffing the scratches off what is a 5-ton monster truck as it destroys row after row of 1979 Pintos.
Tua Tagovailoa throws for 400 yards in 3 quarters? OK, what about those incompletions … The Tide defense allows a couple of garbage-time TDs? Which coordinator might be fired first …
Sunday’s news that the opening line of the Alabama-Texas A&M game at Kyle Field is set at 18 points is equal parts unsurprising and staggering. Unsurprising in that the top-ranked Crimson Tide has pretty much been able to call its score against all 5 opponents this season. And staggering in that any team getting 18 points at a place known for its raucous “12th Man” speaks to the absolute dominance of the visiting squad.
As the headline to this article suggests, it is quite possible that the 2019 Alabama Crimson Tide could well be the greatest Alabama team ever.
Actually applying a metric to this claim is very tricky, for a variety of reasons. First, much as it is pretty much impossible to say one child is better than their sibling, good luck on getting Tide coach Nick Saban to ever truthfully rank his 5 Alabama national title teams.
Likewise for 11 of the 12 other Alabama titles … we can really only eliminate the weakest-of-all-weak 1941 crown from consideration — not because the Houlgate folks don’t know what they’re doing, necessarily, but that a Houlgate title in 1941 means Central Florida actually won a title in 2017. And we all know that didn’t happen.
And stats are irrelevant from season to season. No two teams are alike in their makeup, and eras in college football are impossible to compare. Your dad’s 1965 team isn’t your kid’s 2017 team.
But wait, there is one constant in the modern era of college football that allows for comparison.
The NFL Draft.
Yes, we know that the NFL Draft isn’t exactly perfect. For every Brandon Jacobs, there is a Tony Mandarich. For every Tom Brady, there is a Ryan Leaf. Bart Starr was the 200th overall pick in the 17th round of the 1956 draft, and what the heck did he ever do as a pro?
With all those caveats out of the way, it is quite possible that the 2019 Crimson Tide could produce a record 7 1st-round draft picks.
That’s correct. Seven. Out of 32. From 1 team.
The Miami Hurricanes famously produced 6 1st-rounders in 2004 — as DB Sean Taylor went 5th to the Redskins, TE Kellen Winslow Jr. 6th to the Browns, LB Jonathan Vilma 12th to the Jets, LB D.J. Williams 17th to the Broncos, OG Vernon Carey 19th to the Dolphins and DT Vince Wilfork 21st to the Patriots.
This Alabama team could, incredibly, break that mark. Early mock drafts are out, and one by Yahoo.com’s Eric Edholm has 6 Tide players coming off the board in the 1st round.
Tagovailoa is the No. 1 pick by the woeful Dolphins, of course. WR Henry Ruggs III is 6th to the Broncos. Interestingly, WR Jerry Jeudy is projected to go No. 8 to the Dolphins — re-uniting Alabama’s sweet Hawaiian prince with his Jeudy at the next level.
After that, Edholm has offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood at No. 19 to Carolina, defensive lineman Raekwon Davis at No. 21 to Cleveland and defensive back Trevon Diggs at No. 22 to the Eagles.
That adds up to 6, of course, in the first 22 picks. With 10 more picks out there in the 1st round, your SDS Senior Draft Analyst (me) wants to offer 1 more …
WR DeVonta Smith is a superstar, as evidenced by his record-breaking afternoon against Ole Miss — grabbing 11 passes for 274 yards and 5 touchdowns. At 6-1 and 175 pounds, Smith burst on the scene almost immediately when he snagged the game-winning TD pass from Tagovailoa in the 2017 national title game. Smith is 3rd in the SEC and 5th nationally with 537 receiving yards, and his 8 TDs lead the conference and are tied for 2nd nationally among all WRs.
Listen, mock drafts in October — with more than half a season remaining, not to mention all those combines and private workouts — are long-range predicting that make hurricane meteorologists look like soothsayers in comparison.
But if Smith continues his pace, one cannot imagine a single team in the NFL that wouldn’t want his big-play services. And that would make 7 Tide players in the 1st round, a record that would be awfully tough to beat.
If Smith “falls” to the 2nd round, of course, it isn’t as if his career is ruined before it starts. And none of that matters if the main goal isn’t reached — Alabama running the table and winning No. 18. That quest continues again Saturday against a Texas A&M team led by a coach (Jimbo Fisher) who knows a thing or two about Saban.
Is this the greatest team ever? No one truly knows. But one thing is certain: It should be fun to see them try and make the claim.
Unfortunately, college football is very top-heavy. Until the best play the best, we all look the same. I’ll get back with you.
Plenty of star power on the offensive side of the ball…not so much on the other, despite the raw talent and athleticism. Injuries, of course, have taken their toll, and Nick’s freshmen need to mature a bit. The showdown with LSU will provide a good barometer of the Tide’s “greatness,” and I for one would love to see Nick grind out a 21-17 win. A close, low-scoring win over a Top 5 opponent with a high-powered offense would be reassuring.
Can we please retire “sweet Hawaiian prince” and think of something better?
Lol. They just won’t let it go for some reason.
Somebody’s in love, that’s why.
I’m coming out with a BBQ sauce named after this ridiculous nickname. Stay tuned.
As long as I get a taste (see what I did there …) of the action!
This is a play on words, isn’t it David.
You can’t assault gay rights in this country like that.
I think this is Alabama’s best offensive team but not best overall team
I agree
Boxster what are your predictions on the UF vs LSU game this week?
I don’t say this to antagonize, but I think LSU might win. I think LSU could possibly be the best team in the country and this game could be their true breakout party.
I very well could be wrong, though. This current Florida team, playing in the swamp, has a puncher’s chance against anyone in the country on account of that defense. And other than lack of QB mobility, Trask is running Mullen’s offense well. There is somewhat of a lost dimension when Mullen can’t readily exploit defenses through QB runs/scrambles. But Florida’s offense doesn’t seem limited at all with Trask as QB.
That said, I think LSU’s offense wont be consistently slowed/stopped enough for Florida’s offense to keep pace. Like I said though, I could be wrong.
You think LSU is the best team in the country? No Weaknesses, no holes, well rounded? Based on which game?
I nevet said they don’t have any weaknesses or holes. Just that I think they might be the best team in the country. I could be wrong though and we’ll know a lot more after this Saturday.
I’m not an Ohio State fan by any imagination, but they pass the eye test for the most well rounded team. Their defense would shut down LSU and they would score at will.
Bama will beat LSU, and they may suffer one other loss. This is not LSU year. Way to many holes. They have time to come together. Maybe a top 7 team at best. My opinion.
Outside of a rough 2nd quarter, Michigan State did a good job slowing Ohio State’s offense. I think their completeness might be more of an illusion arising from who they’ve played. I also think you might be grossly underselling LSU. But, that’s why games are played on the field and not in comment sections.
Boxster I never take what you say as antagonizing. You are a very level headed poster who’s opinion I respect. I can’t say LSU is the best in the country yet but they are top 4 for me. I honestly think they do beat UF this week. They’re offense is high scoring and idk if we can keep up. Especially having the game take place in Death Valley at night. If our OLine was better I would have way more confidence.
agreed
For my money, that 2011 team was loaded. Can’t beat em if u can’t score and not many did.
Yes, it was. The 2011 LSU-Alabama games were the most loaded I have ever personally witnessed.
Bama blanked LSU 21-0 in the 2011 BCS NCG in New Orleans.
Bama blanked LSU last year in Baton Rouge 29-0.
Bama blanked a lot of people
Literally everybody knew who wrote this article before they clicked on it based on the title.
“And stats are irrelevant from season to season.” Eh, that’s bold. More like from decade to decade.
I think this could be the most talented passing offense in the history of college football, but the five guys responsible for that and their likely first round status don’t make this the “greatest Alabama team ever”. There are probably many Tide teams in years past that wouldn’t let Ole Miss break 30.
Seeing as I write about Alabama, it doesn’t take some hardcore sleuthing.
No, especially since you’re the only person that would call a team that gave up 31 points to Ole Miss and 23 to USC “the greatest Alabama team ever”.
Points given up don’t decide best ever. I think it’s more about margin of victory. Some of the great Bama teams from earlier in the Saban era had great defenses but poor offenses, and most teams tend to be better on one side than the other, so how do you evaluate best ever? Margin of victory? Most NFL talent? Gotta win a title, of course. This team could check these boxes easily.
Last year’s Alabama team beat Ole Miss 62-7. They also gave up 31 to Arkansas, so I doubt the current MOV of this year’s team is any better than last year’s.
I’m not comparing this team to last year’s, although they seem very similar. Many were saying last year’s Bama team could have been the greatest of all-time and might have been considered such if not for the last game of the season.
That’s true, and I for one would’ve been one of them, but what makes this team better than last year’s team? Last year had Josh Jacobs, Damien Harris, Irv Smith, and Quinnen Williams playing. So far this year’s defense seems only improved maybe in the secondary.
Well, ultimately if they win a title they’ll be deemed better just on that alone. But there’s still time for other stars to emerge. There are alot of veterans/seniors on this defense (Jennings, Davis, Lewis, Diggs, McKinney, etc.) and if the freshmen continue to improve that could really become a story. Remember, last year Bama had the same ‘struggles’ defensively early on and then they blanked LSU and MSU and it changed the narrative.
26-23. 35-28.
Wow, sensitive much?
If anything, I complemented your team by noting their past successes set such a high standard that this year’s world-class passing offense still probably wouldn’t beat Saban’s best team(s).
Alabama would have for sure had 7 first rounders if Moses didn’t get hurt. Don’t sleep on X though. He is legit.
Please, for the love of God and everything that is Holy, stop calling Tua the sweet Hawaiian prince! That has to be the gayest phrase anyone has ever wrote. It literally makes me cringe every time I see it in one your articles. Try to be a little more creative or just simply call him Tua. X. McKinney will definitely be in consideration for a 1st round pick though and you didn’t even list him.
Taking them, in order …
1. Nope.
2. Yes, Xavier McKinney has 1st-round potential. A couple more Tide players do as well.
A other wasted article by David… Is there not anyone in charge of SDS that can take a look at the comments to his articles?
Is this the type attention SDS is looking for with its articles?
My bosses seem satisfied with my work. *shrugs*
And the combined IQ’s of the bosses is…what?
I’ll let THEM speak to their collective IQs.
I can’t wait!
What exactly is wrong with his articles? Granted, I’m new to this site but I thought the writer did a fine job.
Haters gonna hate. And thanks … let me know where to send the check.
You are not allowed to take a beautiful song and use it to defend your writing against a bunch of anonymous Internet surfers.
Another wasted use of space by BT.
Certainly the best passing team we’ve had but the running game is really not running over people. The defense has many weaknesses, stopping the run is most apparent. Our kicking game is still not very good. Hope we don’t have to win a game with a field goal anytime soon or we just might be in deep trouble. I’m not ready to crown this team the best ever until they are 15-0. We have long was to go yet, we need to win in College Station first against a QB that ran around us last year. If we can escape Texas A&M with a win by 30+ points then I will start to feel a bit better.
Greatest passing game ever in Bama history, but I don’t think its the best Bama team.
Sweet Hawaiian prince…good god I love it. Take some of the joy of having a generational QB away from Bama fans with that gay phrase.
I don’t mind the nickname. And it’s only gay if that’s the way you perceive it. It’s better than the Cryin’ Christian, Tim Tebow.
Not even close. While the offense is elite, the defense is pedestrian at best.
Can’t be. Last year’s team was. Remember?