Four months after Alabama signed Nick Saban to take over a pride-filled football program that had lost its swagger, there were still Crimson Tide fans having to pinch themselves to believe it was true. The dysfunctional Crimson Tide lured a national championship coach away from the NFL? It took a king’s ransom to score Saban, whose LSU teams (2000-04) were among the nation’s best.

Saban immediately raised expectations and quickly began imposing his will on the Crimson Tide. Alabama’s offseason program was widely regarded as its toughest in recent memory, and the players are convinced the rugged workouts will pay off in the fall.

Alabama is not deep, and its defensive front is suspect in size, numbers and talent.  However, a big pack of skill players returns on offense, fronted by an experienced, if underperforming, line. This is Alabama’s good-schedule year, with its toughest games — save for Auburn — at home. So if injuries are low and the freshman class adds some punch, maybe Saban can pull a surprise in his first season.

Quarterbacks
John Parker Wilson’s presence gave the new coaching staff a strong leader to build around. Wilson has a big arm and capable legs and might erase all of predecessor Brodie Croyle’s records before he’s through. Wilson’s durability — he started all 13 games last year — and physical skills are keen attributes, but his ball security must improve. His interceptions and fumbles led to three defensive scores and set up a couple more. Wilson must also be more assignment-sound than last year, when his freelancing blew up some blocking schemes, and much more effective in the red zone. A lively competition is expected for the lead back-up role between Jimmy Barnes and Greg McElroy, with signee Nick Fanuzzi playing catchup.

Running Backs
There hasn’t been a tailback battle as wide-open as this one since Shaun Alexander took his game to Seattle in 2000. Jimmy Johns, the heir apparent to Ken Darby, made a detour into Saban’s doghouse with his academic performance in the spring. Johns was also limited by his recovery from wrist surgery. Those issues gave plenty of opportunities to a big group, which included Glen Coffee, Terry Grant and Roy Upchurch — who are all coming off surgeries in 2006 — and freshman Jamar Taylor. Coffee has the physical skill set that would fit well in the Saban offense, and he might have edged ahead with his performances in the early spring. Grant is a burner with great footwork who could also produce in the return game. Upchurch has been hampered by bone problems in his ankles. The fullback slot will face a downgrade in talent and utilization after losing standouts Le’Ron McClain and Tim Castille. Baron Huber looks like the top option here.

Receivers
DJ Hall and Keith Brown might be the best senior duo in all of college football. Hall, who was scheduled to undergo shoulder surgery after spring workouts, has smooth moves, great hands and the physicality to be a prime blocker. Brown has sprinter’s speed and game-breaking abilities, but he must work to shake a reputation for being injury-prone. Behind the two standouts are upperclassmen Matt Caddell, Will Oakley — who emerged from oft-injured status to be a contributor last year — Nikita Stover, and transfer Jonathan Lowe. Youth abounds behind that group, as players such as Mike McCoy, Earl Alexander, Darwin Salaam, Jake Jones and signees Brandon Gibson and Darius Hanks will compete for the remaining snaps. The tight end spot is three deep with veteran talent in Travis McCall, Nick Walker and Charles Hoke, and redshirt Preston Dial could be ready for prime snaps. This position desperately needs to be more of a receiving threat.

2007 Schedule
S. 1	Western Carolina	W
S. 8	at Vanderbilt	W
S. 15	Arkansas	*
S. 22	Georgia	*
S. 29	#Florida State	*
O. 6	Houston	W
O. 13	at Ole Miss	W
O. 20	Tennessee	*
O. 3	LSU	L
N. 10	at Mississippi State	W
N. 17	UL Monroe	W
N. 24	at Auburn	*
	#Jacksonville, FL
Games in bold represent swing games. W or L indicates a projected win or loss.

Offensive Linemen
If there is a group on this team that needs an image makeover, it is this unit, which was routinely maligned last season for its insufficient performances. There is talent aplenty; they just need to be meaner, more physical and have better endurance than last year’s group. Andre Smith stepped in as a true freshman starter at left tackle and had a very strong debut. If he stays on pace, he might enter the discussion as one of the best Bama linemen ever. Center Antoine Caldwell should make some preseason All-SEC lists. He’s improved his shotgun snapping and has never lacked physical ability and a powerful motor. Those two standouts sandwich left guard Justin Britt, a defensive line convert who can play nasty and should have an upgraded final season. B.J. Stabler, who played right guard with a chronically sore knee last year, shifted a spot to tackle, where incumbent starter Chris Capps was unavailable in the spring after shoulder surgery. That shapes up as a fall battle, unless Stabler returns to guard, where Marlon Davis was solid in the spring.

Defensive Linemen
Wallace Gilberry, the last signee of Alabama’s class of 2003, is now the elder statesman of this bunch. His leadership will be key for a group of ends that includes Bobby Greenwood, Brandon Deaderick and Milton Talbert. Saban bemoaned the inability of his nose guards to hold the point early in spring, but redshirt freshman Brian Motley, a convert from center, showed strong promise as the workouts progressed. He’ll be in the mix here with Lorenzo Washington and Byron Walton and possibly signees Josh Chapman, Alfred McCullough and Kerry Murphy. Linebacker Matt Collins shifted to the front midway through spring. One of the great objectives of the fall will be to develop game-ready talent on the front of the Tide’s base 3-4 defense.

Linebackers
As thin as the defensive line, this group has only co-starters Prince Hall and Collins with significant experience. Hall has been given playcalling duties as an inside linebacker, so his performance is mandatory. Darren Mustin has the physical makeup to be a quick riser in the new scheme. Blue-chip signee Rolando McClain would appear to have an opening for considerable playing time if he reports fit. Meanwhile, low-impact contributors from year’s past — Demarcus Waldrop, Eryk Anders, Zach Schreiber, Marcel Stamps and Brandon Fanney — will get the opportunity to rise. Former ends Keith Saunders and Zeke Knight get the first crack at outside linebacker jobs, including ‘Jack,’ the hybrid slot made famous by the Dolphins’ Jason Taylor. Cory Reamer, who signed as a safety, got an audition with the linebackers in the spring and could be an impact player.

Defensive Backs
Simeon Castille has one last hurrah before taking his talent to the NFL. If he can combine with someone — a Lionel Mitchell, Eric Gray, Marquis Johnson or Kareem Jackson — or a combination of players to lock up in man coverage, it will unlock more versatility and greater blitz packages for Saban’s famed defensive system. Sorting out the depth chart at safety was an extensive process through the spring. It appears as if Marcus Carter and Rashad Johnson held the leverage for starting positions, while a group including Justin Woodall, Sam Burnthall, corner convert Chris Rogers, running back convert Ali Sharrief and possibly Reamer will comprise the top backups. Woodall, who passed on a multi-million dollar offer to pitch in the New York Mets organization, has the skills and physical prowess to be a key contributor.

Specialists
Kicker Jamie Christensen returns from a difficult season that started with a groin injury, and he should be one of the steadiest field goal men around. Leigh Tiffin experienced the ecstasy (a winner against Vanderbilt) and the agony (a meltdown at Arkansas) and should be a capable backup. Alabama hasn’t had a distinguished punter in several years, though sophomore P.J. Fitzgerald should be better and have more competition than last year. Javier Arenas was dazzling at times and returned two punts for touchdowns.

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