Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama Football Will Dominate The Playoffs Again This Year

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 2:27 p.m. ET

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Fansided, Meredith Hornsby/FanSided via Bama Hammer

Dec 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban celebrates winning the trophy with his team after the SEC Championship college football game against the Florida Gators at Georgia Dome. Alabama defeated Florida 54-16. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Four teams will play for the chance to win the national title in the 2016 College Football Playoff. What do Alabama football’s chances of bringing home more hardware look like?

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to talk with FanSided site expert Anthony Messenger. Messenger runs site Rubbing The Rock, dedicated to all things Clemson Tigers. Since Clemson will once again be playing in the CFP, there’s a chance the Tigers will meet the Alabama football team in the championship game again this year.

First, the Tide must roll over the Washington Huskies in the Chick Fil A Peach Bowl on New Year’s Eve at 2pm central. Then that evening at 6PM , the Tigers have to beat Urban Meyer’s Ohio State Buckeyes in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl.

If both the Clemson and Alabama football teams win their respective games, they will face one another in a rematch of last year’s championship game on January 9th.

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Knowing that the possibility is on the table, Messenger wanted to get a Bama fan’s perspective – in this case, mine –  on this 2016 Alabama football team. He asked just five questions that I answered to the best of my ability. You can read Andrew’s version of the Q&A here, on the Rubbing the Rock site. For the BamaHammer version, just click right on through.

Dec 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Jonathan Allen (93) celebrates with linebacker Tim Williams (56) during the fourth quarter of the SEC Championship college football game against the Florida Gators at Georgia Dome. Alabama defeated Florida 54-16. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Question 1: The Alabama football defense has continued its dominance under new defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt. What has Pruitt brought to this defense that it may have lacked in years past?

Dec 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) looks to pass during the second quarter of the SEC Championship college football game against the Florida Gators at Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Question 2. Washington is +21 in turnover margin. Alabama football freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts has yet to show his youth. Do you think Washington’s defense will be able to fluster Hurts?

Nope; not a bit.

This Alabama football team already played against stronger, more powerful defenses. Jalen doesn’t get flustered – ever.

Alabama’s offensive line grew significantly stronger as the season has gone on. They’ve improved their ability to give Jalen more time in the pocket, and are good at opening up holes for Bama’s running backs to power through.

Even with a few interceptions in the last couple of games, Jalen continued to show poise under fire. I don’t see the game against Washington being any different.

Nov 12, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton (20) and linebacker Rashaan Evans (32) hit Mississippi State Bulldogs tight end Jordan Thomas (83) at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Tide defeated the Bulldogs 51-3. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Question 3. With Shaun Dion Hamilton done for the rest of the Alabama football season with a torn ACL, how do you expect his replacement Rashaan Evans to perform?

Evans is a former five-star player, so talent is certainly not an issue. He’s actually faster and better on the blitz than Hamilton, but his “Football IQ” might be a drawback. Not that Evans isn’t smart; he’s very intelligent. But SDH is always in the right place at the right time, because his football instincts are second to none.

Evans reminds me a lot of Rueben Foster LAST season; he had the talent but had yet to develop the sheer instincts he has now. However, with SDH out, Evans is seeing more and more playing time in practices leading up to the first playoff game against Washington. I guarantee that Saban and Pruitt are ensuring that Rashaan is ready to go.

Evans will perform well for Alabama football in the CFP this year, but expect him to be even better next season.

Dec 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban celebrates after the SEC Championship college football game against the Florida Gators at Georgia Dome. Alabama Crimson Tide won 54-16. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Question 4. Should the Tide win the national championship, how would this team stack up against Saban’s previous Alabama football championship teams?

Dec 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Gehrig Dieter (11) celebrates after the SEC Championship college football game against the Florida Gators at Georgia Dome. Alabama Crimson Tide won 54-16. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Question 5. Of the other three teams in the College Football Playoff, who in your mind poses the biggest threat to the Alabama football team?

In my honest opinion, only Alabama poses a threat to Alabama.

I don’t think any other team is as strong as the Tide, and I see this as Bama’s championship to lose. As long as the players can stay healthy and outgoing OC Lane Kiffin will “run the damn ball”, this team could very easily be bringing home more hardware in January.

If I HAVE to pick another team, I’d probably say Clemson because Watson is the most talented of the quarterbacks.

OSU has the best collection of overall athletes top to bottom to compete with this Alabama football team, but their offense isn’t strong enough to overwhelm the Tide’s defense.

Clemson has the capability to play big in that one game, so if I’m required to name another team, then I’d say the Tigers are the biggest threat.

What do you think about my answers? Would you have chosen a different team as Alabama’s biggest threat? Will Rashaan Evans perform well for the Tide?

Want your voice heard? Join the Bama Hammer team!

Let me know! You can interact with me on Twitter @DivineMrsMH, or on the BamaHammer social media sites. Twitter: @Bama_Hammer ; Facebook: “BamaHammer Fans”. And as always – Roll Tide.

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