SEC coach views Alabama Crimson Tide as an 8-win team

The Alabama Crimson Tide has questions at the quarterback position and that is reason enough for one anonymous SEC coach to think the Tide is an eight-win team on paper this season.

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Athlon Sports spoke to a number of SEC coaches about their fellow SEC opponents this season on the condition of anonymity to avoid the typical coachspeak or cliche-riddled responses to give an accurate reflection of the coaches assessments.

"As it sits, Alabama might be an eight-win team on paper. Obviously a lot hinges on how well the FSU kid does coming in — will be make or break the season? The freshman, David Cornwell, is not ready. If they have to go with Blake Sims, their offensive play-calling will be very limited. They would run the ball a lot, wouldn’t be very exotic with the passing game.”"

Jacob Coker would be the “FSU kid” who transferred from the Seminoles after backing up Jameis Winston, E.J. Manuel and Christian Ponder the last three seasons and is eligible to play immediately after graduating.

He has been the anointed starter in the media and amongst the fans, but even if he does win the job is an inexperienced quarterback coming off an ACL tear.

The last time Alabama had a question mark at the game’s most important position, they turned to AJ McCarron who went down as arguably the best quarterback in program history.

Could history repeat itself with Coker replacing McCarron again?

He replaced him in high school, but the stakes are much higher this time around, but even if he is not on McCarron’s level, there is zero chance this team wins eight games.

Alabama is still an elite team that will be the betting favorite to win the SEC and make the College Football Playoff, but it is interesting to see some outside Tuscaloosa view Alabama as an eight-win team.

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