On ‘First Take’, Stephen A. Smith has been concerned about where things are at Alabama going into year two under Kalen DeBoer. ESPN’s Chris Fowler, though, tried to calm him when it came to the Crimson Tide. Fowler spoke about ‘Bama on ‘First Take’ on Thursday morning. He thinks it should be an easier season […]
On ‘First Take’, Stephen A. Smith has been concerned about where things are at Alabama going into year two under Kalen DeBoer. ESPN’s Chris Fowler, though, tried to calm him when it came to the Crimson Tide.
Fowler spoke about ‘Bama on ‘First Take’ on Thursday morning. He thinks it should be an easier season for the Tide just to begin with now that the transition is more complete from Nick Saban to DeBoer. He’s then also expecting some better or more consistent quarterback play possibly for the team with their new starter in QB Ty Simpson.
“They feel good,” Fowler said of Alabama. “I mean, look. DeBoer has won everywhere. This year, he’s not in year one following Saban, which was an impossible job – let’s be honest.”
“I think Ty Simpson at quarterback is going to be steadier, maybe, than Jalen Milroe,” continued Fowler. “He’s going to have to play well or they’re not going to get through that schedule.”
Still, Fowler at least saw where Stephen A. was coming from, with Alabama going 9-4 overall in not reaching double-digit wins for the first time since Saban’s own first season in 2007 and being the first team out in missing the College Football Playoff. He got to see the Tide live several times last season, including what was their final loss of the regular season in a 24-3 defeat at Oklahoma which eventually held them out of the CFP.
“I agree (that you don’t lose to Vanderbilt). I called the Oklahoma game where they blew their playoff chance with a terrible game there,” Fowler noted.
Still, in season two for DeBoer, Alabama expects to be better, starting this weekend with their opener in Tallahassee. Fowler thinks they will be too, which will hopefully appease Smith when it comes to the Tide.
“I like them,” said Fowler. “I like the Tide this year.”
Paul Finebaum predicts winner of Alabama vs. Florida State
The primetime game in the afternoon window of week one in college football is a matchup of No. 8 Alabama vs. Florida State in Tallahassee. Paul Finebaum, though, thinks it should go in favor of the Crimson Tide come Saturday.
Finebaum, on ‘McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning’ on Monday, previewed the game between Alabama and FSU. He agreed with Greg McElroy in thinking that at least an alright showing from ‘Bama would be enough to win, with leaving Doak Campbell Stadium with that win being all that should matter to the Tide.
“I agree (that Alabama will be fine),” Finebaum said to McElroy.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if the game starts slow for Alabama. I don’t think Alabama needs to do anything spectacular other than just get out of there,” said Finebaum. “Whatever the game looks like, it will be over-analyzed – a big win or a field goal at the end. But I do feel very confident Alabama’s going to win, and this game will be forgotten quickly – as long as that is the outcome.”
Category: General Sports
