Alabama’s 2012 offense was arguably the best in school history, finishing the season as the SEC’s fourth-best overall offense (445.50 ypg) and second-best in points per game (38.71) and rushing yards per game (227.50 ypg). The Tide put up these impressive numbers despite ten of their 13 wins being by 20 points or more, thus affording them the luxury of “shutting down” the offense late in games.

With AJ McCarron, TJ Yeldon, Amari Cooper, and a number of other talented players returning, the Bama faithful are hopeful the 2013 version will be even better.

McCarron is the key to Crimson Tide success

AJ McCarron may be the best Alabama quarterback of all time. He had an impressive 2012 season leading the nation in pass efficiency (175.28) and guiding the Tide to a second straight national championship.

McCarron threw 30 touchdown passes last year and was only intercepted 3 times on 314 attempts, bettering Peyton Manning’s old SEC record for single season TD-INT ratio. His effectiveness using play-action was even more impressive, going 18-for-25 with 9 TDs and no INTs on passes of 20 yards or more.

Everyone returns at the receiver position

McCarron will have plenty of receivers to throw to as Alabama returns literally everyone from last year’s group. Amari Cooper will be one of the very best players in the country, regardless of position.

Overall this is one of the top receiver units in the nation. Cooper will be joined by senior Kevin Norwood, the Tide’s second-leading receiver last season, Kenny Bell and redshirt freshman, Chris Black, who was getting as much hype as Cooper last year before he got hurt.

Alabama will still ground and pound

Despite the loss of leading rusher Eddie Lacey and the Tide’s effectiveness in the passing game, Alabama will still lean heavily on their bread and butter, the running game.

The Tide will have one of the best stable of running backs in college football in 2013. TJ Yeldon returns after delivering the best freshman season in school history (1,108 yards rushing on 175 carries and 12 TDs).

Sophomore Kenyan Drake quietly had an excellent season last year, averaging nearly 7 yards per carry and Jalston Fowler, who was lost to injury in game 2 of the 2012 season, will be back to add versatility to the Tide’s attack.

Alabama also brings in 4 highly rated prospects in the 2013 class, including Derrick Henry, who enrolled early and also happens to be high school football’s all-time leading rusher. This unit is so deep and talented that former 5 star Dee Hart may be relegated to 5^th string.

Heavy losses along the offensive line

Despite losing 3 NFL draft picks from college football’s best offensive line in 2012, Alabama still returns a wealth of talent and experience up front.

Junior Cyrus Kouandjio returns at left tackle to anchor the line in 2013. He is primed to have a dominant season and will likely leave early to be a top pick in the next NFL Draft.

Anthony Steen returns at right guard for his fifth season after a fantastic 2012 campaign. Steen has quietly become one of the best guards in the country and will be one of the most experienced players on the roster.

The new starters will feature junior Arie Kouandijo, Cyrus’s older brother, at the left guard spot. Sophomore Ryan Kelly is projected as the starting center and the right tackle job will be a battle between junior Austin Shepherd and incoming JUCO Leon Brown. Other than Brown, the newcomers all have at least two years of experience in the system, and all of them have actually exceeded expectations so far.

Three in a row?

Doug Nussmeier had a great first year as offensive coordinator and everyone is excited to see what strides will be made in year two. With McCarron at the helm and the level of talent at their disposal, this could very well be the best Alabama offense ever.

Combine that with an always salty defense and the easiest schedule Nick Saban has encountered to date, and I would expect the Crimson Tide to capitalize and challenge for their third national championship in a row.

The Golden Nugget GOY lines have Alabama favored by DD in every game except the A & M encounter (-6), so Vegas odds agree that  Alabama and AJ McCarron are definitely favored to make it three in a row.

 

---