2011 Bama...one of the least talented Saban teams, especially on offense...not one elite offensive player on this team, but a lot of solid defenders. Hard to stretch the field without an elite receiver and with a quarterback with a weak arm. Bama has really worked on recruiting the offensive side of the ball since this season.
I disagree, I think this was one of Saban's best teams. Richardson and most of the offensive line were definitely elite, and this defense was among the most dominant in college football history. The big problem offensively in the early Saban era was with play calling, not talent. It seems clear in retrospect that McElwain was/is not a good coach.
Foster is the only kicker I've ever seen where blowing a game for his team didn't motivate him to try to redeem himself. There are plenty of stories of kickers blowing a game for their team, but then practicing well into the night every day for a chance at redemption. Expecting that, I defended Foster after he cost Bama the first game with LSU in 2011. Then he again cost the team the infamous 2013 Iron Bowl. After that, there was this tremendous outpouring of support from Bama fans for him on social media. Even that didn't motivate him to improve - he again shanked an important kick against Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl. My understanding is that he was a frat boy and popular with girls, so I frankly think he prioritized partying over his team. It's that lack of effort that makes me have no sympathy for him. I would say he's the Bill Buckner of Alabama football, but Buckner was actually a good player outside of his one infamous moment, which is more than can be said for Foster. Foster also actually got tremendously lucky in that Adam Griffith has to be the one seen in the endless Kick Six replays, when he was a true freshman only pulled from the bench because Foster had missed three kicks in the game already. Not that Griffith was ever a world-beater either, but it's unfair that he was scapegoated in that instance.
2011 Bama...one of the least talented Saban teams, especially on offense...not one elite offensive player on this team, but a lot of solid defenders. Hard to stretch the field without an elite receiver and with a quarterback with a weak arm. Bama has really worked on recruiting the offensive side of the ball since this season.
I disagree, I think this was one of Saban's best teams. Richardson and most of the offensive line were definitely elite, and this defense was among the most dominant in college football history. The big problem offensively in the early Saban era was with play calling, not talent. It seems clear in retrospect that McElwain was/is not a good coach.
Cade Foster is the single worst player to ever put on an Alabama uniform
Foster is the only kicker I've ever seen where blowing a game for his team didn't motivate him to try to redeem himself. There are plenty of stories of kickers blowing a game for their team, but then practicing well into the night every day for a chance at redemption. Expecting that, I defended Foster after he cost Bama the first game with LSU in 2011. Then he again cost the team the infamous 2013 Iron Bowl. After that, there was this tremendous outpouring of support from Bama fans for him on social media. Even that didn't motivate him to improve - he again shanked an important kick against Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl. My understanding is that he was a frat boy and popular with girls, so I frankly think he prioritized partying over his team.
It's that lack of effort that makes me have no sympathy for him. I would say he's the Bill Buckner of Alabama football, but Buckner was actually a good player outside of his one infamous moment, which is more than can be said for Foster. Foster also actually got tremendously lucky in that Adam Griffith has to be the one seen in the endless Kick Six replays, when he was a true freshman only pulled from the bench because Foster had missed three kicks in the game already. Not that Griffith was ever a world-beater either, but it's unfair that he was scapegoated in that instance.
Kicking game awful