Going with the young man from the University of Alabama, Justin Thomas, to win the Zurich Classic in New Orleans this week. The 21 year old former Crimson Tider has been playing some awesome golf this year and been in the hunt quite a few times, and will challenge Jordan Spieth and others in the coming years in regular events and majors. Really believe in Justin. He's pretty long and very accurate off the tee, he's an excellent ball striker-approach shot player, and he has a very good short game including an excellent putter. Like Justin to get it done this week on the 7,399 TPC Louisiana course.
Will have Alabama and Auburn spring game write ups this weekend starting Friday. Watched Bama on Monday and liked what I saw. Jake Coker looks like he has potential to be a pretty solid quarterback for the Tide. Needs to sharpen up some things, but he had a nice first half in the spring game including a 40 yard TD strike to Robert Foster, who looks like he'll be awesome. Derrick Henry looked solid, and Kenyan Drake could be primed for a huge year along with Derrick. Like what I'm seeing out of wide receiver Ardarius Stewart as well. Both Foster and Stewart caught passes for over 100 yards. Still think Chris Black can be an excellent receiver as well. Defense intercepted six passes. Looks like a talented, ball-hawking group. See potential for a very good season. The Tide could certainly win the SEC and be back in the playoff again.
Jeremy Johnson looked terrific in AU's spring game. Really looking forward to seeing Jeremy play. Roc Thomas and Jovon Robinson are the real deal at running back for the Tigers. Defense will be much improved under Will Muschamp.
Both Bama and AU will have very good offensive lines. Alabama held out six players on defense in the spring game and still looked pretty good on D. AU held out a lot of players as well. Both have a shot at making a deep run next year and could be playoff bound depending on the outcome of the Iron Bowl at AU on Nov. 28th (Saturday) . Auburn plays at LSU (Saturday, Sept. 19th), @ an improved Kentucky team (Thursday, Oct. 15th), @ Arkansas (Saturday, Oct. 24th), @ A&M (Saturday, Nov.7th) and open with Louisville @ the Georgia Dome, Saturday, Sept. 5th. The Tigers have State at home, Saturday, Sept. 26th, Ole Miss at home, Saturday, Oct. 31st, and Georgia @ home, Saturday, Nov. 14th, along with the Iron Bowl. Other non-ocnference games include Jax State (Satiurday, Sept. 12th), San Jose State (Saturday, Oct. 3rd), and Idaho ( Saturday, Nov. 21). All three of those are at Jordan-Hare. Tough, but navigable. Will be good for AU to get back Alex Kozan on the oline and Carl Lawson on the defensive line.
Bama plays Wisconsin in their opener at Jerry World in Arlington Texas on Saturday, Sept. 5th. That's an interesting opener. Road games are @ Georgia (Saturday, Oct.3rd), @ A&M (Saturday, Oct. 17th), @ State (Saturday, Nov. 14th) and @ AU (Saturday,. Nov. 28th). Home SEC opponents are Ole Miss (Saturday, Septh. 19th), Arkansas (Saturday, Oct. 10th), UT (Saturday, Oct. 24th), and LSU (Saturday, Nov. 7th). Bama has an open date Oct. 31st before the LSU game Nov.7th and after the Tennessee game, Oct. 24th. Other non-conference games are Middle Tennessee State (Saturday, Sept. 12th), Louisiana Monroe (Saturday, Sept. 26th), and Charleston Southern (Saturday, Nov. 21st).
The key stretches for the Tide are the opener against Wisconsin. Can the Tide get out of the blocks well against a quality opponent, though with a new coach, but one who knows the Wisconsin system? Paul Chryst was the offensive coordinator for the Badgers under Bret Bielema before becoming the head coach at Pitt for a couple of years. He's back at the helm at Wisconsin, so it may not be a major adjustment for them with Chryst in charge. Will be an important start for S and his team. Then the stretch in October @ Georgia, home against Arkansas, @ A&M and the 12th man, and a young gunslinger quarterback in Kyle Allen, and a much improved Tennessee team at home. That will be a pivotal month of the season.
For AU, of course, @ LSU with stellar tailback Leonard Fournette and company will be a battle on Sept. 19th (Saturday). Then, after an open date on Oct. 10th, @ Kentucky on Thursday, Oct. 15h, then @ Arkansas, Oct. 24th (Saturday), Ole Miss at home (Sat, Oct. 31st), @ A&M, Saturday, Nov. 7th. And Nick Chubb and Georgia on the Plains, Saturday, Nov. 14th, should be a classic.
It goes without saying the Iron Bowl will be another spectacle.
The big question for Alabama is, will Coker take the reins and be the quarterback he was expected to be when he came to campus last year. Working with Lane Kiffin this summer should have him prepared. He'll have a good running game if Henry and Drake can stay healthy, and the line led by all world, 6'6", 330 left tackle Cam Robinson should be pretty darn good. There will be some positions to fill at guard, but there are capable guys. Center Ryan Kelly will be outstanding and the best leader the o line has had since Barrett Jones.
Freshman Ronnie Clark looks like he can help at running back, and five star incoming freshman running back Damien Harris looks like an absolute stud on film. Also, Desharrius Flowers participated in spring drills and the freshman will also provide some help at running back. Bo Scarborough, the five-star freshman, tore his ACL and he'll be out for most likely the entire year.
Can Blake Barnett, or David Cornwell become good backups or even win the starting qb job?Neither looked great in the spring game, though it was the spring game, and they can improve exponentially this summer. Both have excellent high school resumes. Don't think Alec Morris or Cooper Bateman are there yet, but they'll keep developing. Looks like the qb race is still ongoing somewhat with Coker, Barnett and Cornwell the contenders for the starting job. Coker definitely has the edge coming out of spring. Jake has good potential.
AU looks pretty set at quarterback with Jeremy, a junior, though redshirt freshman Sean White is quite a quarterback as well. White should be a valuable backup to Johnson. It's about the defense at AU this year. The offense will be explosive and can win the Tigers a lot of games IF the defense can hold their own. Muschamp is going to bring a more physical, aggressive defense that Auburn has been known for all the way back to the Dye years. Auburn football is about being physical on defense and that's what they're getting back to. The defense should be much improved and the offense will be stellar. AU should be right in the thick of the SEC West race in November.
Will have more when I get back from a work thing on Friday. Thanks.
