Bill from NYC

Ya got me there. That said, I think that by the time the season is over, A&M will be respected as a quality team. Having Jimbo will help quite a bit. If there is a team to be cited for an easy schedule it is Clemson imo. I really doubt this. They might not even get in with 1 loss.

Your standards are pretty high, no? Both Texas and Notre Dame played for the title in the last 6 or so years.

They came within 2 points of beating Clemson. Does that tickle your sentiments?

Again, Texas A&M is a good team. The only time they looked bad was while losing to the Crimson Tide.

For a first round pick I would gladly give up Shady and a 3rd.

Not really. They have very tough games ahead and defensive issues to resolve.

Still think Texas A&M is a "cupcake" game? Are you sure Notre Dame could handle them?

Today I witnessed some of the best passing I have ever seen in college football. In prior Saban years, Alabama usually had that 1 great wide receiver, such a Jones, Cooper or Ridley. This team has no less than 4 tremendous wideouts, a slew of rbs who can catch, and 2 solid TEs. There might actually be more that we don't know about. That brings us to Tua. He has every skill a qb could ever want and he is just so smart. If he stays healthy he might be an all time great. The defense needs work but I'm sure Coach Saban is on it. ROLL TIDE!!!!!

This will be a tough issue to tackle. I don't know how fair it is to make kids play yet more games and risk losing all the money that awaits some of them. Also, what about the bowls? I have more questions than answers.

That is a good point but the regular season record should mean something too. If Alabama had lost to a so-so team by 33 points, do you think they would have made the playoffs?

You sure are critical of Alabama's schedule. Although Notre Dame did defeat Michigan and Stanford, they squeaked out wins against the likes of Ball State and Vanderbilt. I'm not sure how good Michigan and Stanford are, but I'm pretty sure that they are not as good as Auburn, LSU, and Georgia. Maybe ND is as good as you seem to believe. I don't know but as I said, I do hope that Alabama makes the playoffs and faces them.

Clemson and Notre Dame have schedules that are soft. It is hard for me to tell good these teams are. They could very likely coast to undefeated seasons, leaving only 2 spots and making things tough for the Big 10 and SEC teams.

Different world with Coach Saban, wouldn't you say? The Alabama 2nd team would probably destroy Notre Dame this season, and; I am not even going to make a prediction that the Tide will win it all. Anything can happen. Still, I do urge you to stay away from the TV if those teams do meet in the playoffs. I don't want you to suffer that kind of extreme pain. There is no real reason to put yourself through such torment.

I wish there were enough words to tell you how much I wish that the Crimson Tide would face Notre Dame in the playoffs (assuming that we make them). It would make the last time the 2 teams met for the title look like a nail biter. If it happens, it would probably be a good idea for you to not watch.

Lane is a very good offensive mind. He is innovative and intelligent. Does he have personality issues? Certainly. Did he piss off Coach Saban? Yes, numerous times. He recently claims to have become more religious. I hope this works to improve him as a person.

You raise good points but I disagree wrt the Giants. I think that they are already in desperate need and if not, they will be by the end of the season. Jmo.

I completely disagree. Often he seemed to not even try and he was burned way too often to be a star from where I sit. Jmo.

Do you seriously believe that Gilmore was a shut down corner in Buffalo?

We are and ultimately, I think that the draft will have a far greater impact than free agency. Free agents cost a lot and don't always produce as expected. I am all for going after good free agents but I still think that solid drafts are the best way to victory.

If we finish with a top 5 pick (sadly, a distinct possibility), we should trade down in round 1 and amass early draft picks for 2 years. If they don't repeat stupid mistakes in the draft and also use the cap space wisely, they can (imo) be one of the most talented teams in the NFL. There will be DTs galore in the 2019 draft, along with lots of blockers, receivers and even running backs to replace (at some point) McCoy. The 2019 draft looks like a great one from where I sit. We shall see but I am optimistic.

Pretty sweet!!!

I really don't understand the above. Alabama won titles and continues to win games. Please, list the teams who were better than Alabama and were deprived of a playoff spot. I see your point Yolo. I thought that Ohio State was going to be voted in last year but they obviously were not. If there was a pro OSU bias, the committee would have overlooked the second loss and tossed them right in there.

The OP raises a great question but the answers are clear: 1) Trade DOWN in the 2019 draft. Face it folks, we will have a very early pick. Trade down with a desperate team and acquire extra early picks for 2 years. 2) Use said picks on blockers and receivers. Imo we have a quarterback, unless of course he is slaughtered. 3) After #2, get rid Ducasse, along with the right side of the OL and start over with NFL caliber talent. Also, is there a wr on the squad that belongs in the NFL? I don't know, you tell me. 4) If Allen suffers even a minor injury in 2018, take him out and immediately replace him with Petermann. It doesn't matter if we lose. Not this year because in 2019, we have a chance to accomplish something. 5) GO BILLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How was Georgia while facing a 13 point deficit? How was Texas A&M? Your bitterness and jealousy is overtaking any type of reason.

In no way did he ever (in my opinion) ever try to control the press. Now, he has been critical of them and this doesn't bother me even a little. Last season he actually took the press to task for saying how great the team was. I heard him say (before the "rat poison" comment) that he wants the players to listen to him, not the press. Do you blame him? Nick Saban, like him or hate him, knows how to win football games. He might not win another title this season but he just might at that. After the rat poison remark he apologized and said that he went too far. Saban doesn't kiss the ass of the press. He is not the most congenial man in town. He is a driven, focused all time great who out-works and out-thinks his opponents. Does he have much of a personality? Not at all but there are plenty of worse people out there. Watch these senate hearings.