It's easy to see the best is yet to come. (Photo - Touchdown Alabama Magazine)

Are Bama Football’s Best Days Yet To Come?

By: Larry Burton

More than once, members of the media have foolishly blurted out that the heyday of Alabama football and the Nick Saban dynasty is over. Of course, history, including very recent history, has proven them wrong.

But this article we pose the very real possibility that Alabama’s best days may not have come yet.

Only once has an Alabama coached Nick Saban team gone undefeated. Only once has an Alabama coached Nick Saban team gone back to back as national champions.

But after re-watching the national championship for the third time, analyzing the contributions of freshmen in that game, looking at the freshmen and redshirted players who could be big in the future and the list of likely players to continue to pour into Tuscaloosa over the next few years, its highly likely that Alabama’s best days could still be ahead.

Yes, I’m saying it’s possible that Alabama could three peat. Yes I’m saying it’s very possible for Alabama to have back to back undefeated seasons. Yes I’m saying that when the Nick Saban era ends, it could end with a real bang and not the exit of coach who may have ended his career on the backside of his peak.

Tua could easily champion Alabama to two more championships before possibly his own brother takes over for more. Yes Calvin Ridley will move on the NFL, but as we saw, there are lots of younger just as talented receivers to take his place. Jerry Jeudy, Devonta Smith and Henry Ruggs III all look to make defenses quiver at the thought of covering them. Yes Damien Harris may stay for his senior season while Bo Scarbrough move on, but Josh Jacobs and Najee Harris and a bevy of others are ready to take his spot as we’ve already seen. Freshman lineman Alex Leatherwood came in to take an All American’s place at left tackle and perhaps did a better job in the second half of the national championship game. Other young linemen are lining up as well to be in place to open holes for running backs in championships.

As for Defense, when has Alabama not just reloaded? Why indeed should anything change? While there are some question marks in the defensive backfield left to answer, departing sure first rounder Minkah Fitzpatrick thinks he’s seen enough to feel the Tide will be good hands for the foreseeable future. Trevon Diggs brings some good experience back, Deionte Thompson may make folks forget about Ronnie Harrison exiting and while Minkah Fitzpatrick leaves some really big shoes to fill, Shyheim Carter could fill that star spot well and two stars of the future could be Daniel Wright and Xavier McKinney. Wright and McKinney can fill a lot of positions and both have complimentary styles their former coach says reminds them of former stars.

Before leaving for his new job in the NFL, former DB coach Derrick Ansley said that McKinney had the explosive hard hitting style that Landon Collins has and that Wright has that ball hawking, rangy cover skills of Ha Ha Clinton/Dix has. That’s high praise and reason for Tide fans to worry a little less over losing their starting entire dime package from this season.

That leaves special teams that at times weren’t that special last season.

Losing punter J.K. Scott will be the biggest loss in that group, but overall, except for the punting game, things could only get better as there was no real highlights in the kickoff and punt return games. The good news is that Alabama won the championship despite poor field goal kicking and without any highlight returns from punts or kickoffs.

This season provided the perfect storm of great talent on hand plus an easier than expected schedule.

2018’s “Big Opening Game” is against Louisville minus Lamar Jackson, a very winnable game indeed. Then the only real tests could be at LSU and Auburn at Bryant-Denny Stadium before the SEC Championship Game. Overall, it’s an easier schedule than last season. Add to this the words of Nick Saban himself who just said himself that there’s more to come and you know the man in charge has more to accomplish.

Yes, the future is bright indeed in Tuscaloosa and the best days could surely be ahead. Far from being over, the Alabama dynasty is far, very far from being over and the Nick Saban era seems set to shine brighter than ever.

Larry has been published in almost every media outlet for college sports and now primarily writes here for Touchdown Alabama. Follow Larry on Twitter for inside thoughts and game time comments at https://twitter.com/LBSportswriter

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