He has been critical of Nick Saban in the last two years, especially with Alabama not winning national championships with Bryce Young and Will Anderson as starters, but has Paul Finebaum changed his tune on the Crimson Tide?
The ESPN analyst evaluated Alabama with Greg McElroy and Cole Cubelic after a 34-20 victory over Tennessee.
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Finebaum said Tide fans need to stop ‘obsessing’ over this year’s team.
“I thinker’s time to quit obsessing over what’s wrong and start concentrating on what’s right with this team,” he said Monday on McElroy and Cubelic. “There’s a lot that is. I think with each step on this ladder, it’s felt a little more comfortable and I think the outlook has been brighter.”
Alabama has not been perfect, but it’s made strides since its loss to Texas. The defense has rounded into form as it pitched a second half shutout against Tennessee. Offensively, it had made improvement each week. This team is unpredictable, but that is how Coach Saban likes it. He has a chance to affect this team positively to where its youth allows him to get its full attention.
“I think right now you have to accept the fact that since that very treacherous moment in the early part of the season, post-Texas and around the South Florida game, this team has gotten a lot better,” Finebaum said. “The coaching staff seems to be aligned after all the hullabaloo, some of it real and some of it imagined early on.”
Alabama remains in control of its destiny. The Tide can win the SEC West with a victory over LSU and play for a conference championship. It has an opportunity to be in the conversation for the College Football Playoff and a national championship.
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Finebaum sees a championship in the making for Alabama.
“The path is pretty clear,” he said.
“The percentages favor Alabama and I think the momentum favors Alabama right now to get back to Atlanta.”
Alabama is off this week, but the team will prepare for its matchup against LSU on Nov. 4.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
