I'll let you in on a little secret here. Alabama has a better player at every position than we do except maybe kicker/punter.
None of our other players match up to whatever Alabama has. Even if we did have comparable players, Manny is still in charge and running the defense like he has since 2016. We will be out-coached in every aspect of the game like we always have.
The offense will have no consistent running game, and we will start the season with non-D1 players like Mark Pope and Dee Wiggins playing against Alabama. Its part of the Manny system of starting players based off of seniority/loyalty. D'Eriq King will be healthy and ready to go but will be completely shook just like he was against Clemson last year.
The defense will be exposed against Alabama to the tune of the UNC game last year. Our defensive line is the most underwhelming group since 2013. Zach McCloud will continue to be a rotational starter despite being a non-D1 player. The linebackers are the worst in D1 and D2 football. Mannys awful scheme, lack of LB recruiting, and refusal to hire a legit LB coach has us essentially playing a 9-man defense against 11-man offenses.
No other football program in the history of mankind has had linebacker play like this:
Our defensive backs are still average at best with the exception of Stevenson, who has a high football IQ.
We still dont have a legit return man. I hope Restrepo can figure it out. Maybe Rambo.
The light at the end of the tunnel is that besides Manny, the coaching staff now seems to be respectable. The recruiting at most positions is improving. We have legit options at QB if King gets hurt and for the future. If Manny leaves and Lashlee takes over with T-Rob as defensive coordinator, we can improve in the future.
BUT, until then, we are going to be annihilated by Alabama, lose to the rising UNC, and at least one other mediocre team. We do not have a comparable roster to Alabama.
