by Matt Groom 11/21/12
I have decided that each month, I would take a sports debate that was either created by those in the sports industry, fans, or one that I made up myself. The first debate will be Alabama vs. the NFL.
Argument: Alabama can beat some NFL teams if they were just playing one game.
How this argument got started:
In a radio show, South Carolina football coach, Steve Spurrier said that the University of Alabama football team can beat some of the poor quality National Football League teams (i.e. Chiefs, Jaguars, Browns, Panthers). His argument is that the defense of the Alabama Crimson Tide is of NFL quality. Most of those in the sports media believe Spurrier said this to hype up the Southeastern Conference (SEC). That did not stop those shows from giving their point of view. While most people believe that the NFL team (whoever it would be) would win by 50, 60, or even 70; I decided I would take this time to argue both cases. In this make-believe game, we will say that Alabama would play the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO; since they are thought to be the worst team in the NFL right now.
Note: When I decided to write about this argument, Alabama was still undefeated. Therefore, their 29-25 loss to Texas A&M on November 10, 2012 will not be used as an argument for or against an Alabama win in this debate.
Arguments for an Alabama win
You don't have to be ahead by a big number to win, you just have to have one more point than the other team when the game is over. To achieve that, you need great defense and great coaching; and Alabama has that. The defense is not only the best one in the SEC, but it is the best one in the nation. Only in two games have they given up more than 14 points. The defensive line is as big, if not bigger than, some of the teams in the NFL. As for coaching, Nick Saban is one of the best in the NCAA. Year after year, he has taken the talent that comes to Tuscaloosa and have turned them into champions. Let's not forget that he coached in the NFL. He is used to that style.
Alabama has 20 members on that roster that could play in the NFL. That includes the defense, quarterback A.J. McCarron, and center Barrett Jones. That roster is tough to beat, and they beat everyone's best time-after-time, and they do it in the best conference in college football.
If the Crimson Tide had to test their ability against the NFL, the Kansas City Chiefs are a good matchup. They have a decent running back in Jamaal Charles, but after him, who do they have? Matt Cassel hasn't been great in Kansas City. Brady Quinn has been a bust, and he's hurt. They might as well play that kid from Iowa, Ricky Stanzi. This is also an offense that has scored 13 touchdowns in ten games. That is not one or two players combined. That is the ENTIRE TEAM. That Alabama defense would tear them up. Finally, this is an offense that had never led at all in regulation until recently. Their only win came in overtime, after they came back to tie it up against the Saints.
Finally, there are times that occasionally a lower-level team beats the big guys. Soccer sees it frequently. Every couple of years, a minor league baseball team beats their major league counterparts in the preseason. Thirty years ago, Chaminade, a NAIA school at the time, beat the mighty, undefeated Virginia with Ralph Sampson, which was ranked number one. The NFL all-stars used to play the college all-stars annualy, and there were a couple of times that the college players won. We're not arguing that we could beat the NFL guys all the time, but we do believe that we can beat them once. Like Rick Moranis said in the movie "Little Giants", they can beat you 99 times out of 100, but that still leaves one time.
Arguments for a Kansas City win
Seriously? Alabama? No, really, who would this fake matchup be with? Anyone from the Canadian Football League or even the Arena Football League would be more credible. Bring on the Toronto Argonauts! Bring on the San Jose Sabercats! If an Alabama-Kansas City game were to happen, Kansas City would win by at least 50. If for no other reason, the simple fact that the Chiefs are grown men and some of the Crimson Tide Players are just a few months removed from high school should be enough. The earliest a person is allowed to enter the NFL is after the 3rd year of graduating high school. Therefore, there is no hope that anyone on the team is actually as young as the Alabama players.
As good as Alabama is at the college level, the NFL is a different ball game. The players are bigger at most positions. If they are not bigger, they are definitely stronger, faster, and football-smarter than the Alabama boys. Nothing against them in this regard, but the Chiefs all have experience playing at a high level week-after-week. There is no taking a week off to play a Sun Belt or a I-AA team like they like to do in the SEC. The Chiefs get the best players and best teams in all of football weekly. It was mentioned that Alabama has 20 guys who can play in the NFL. That may be true, but guess what. Kansas City has all 53 who can play in the NFL. These are the 53 made it out of 90 plus that tried out from the beginning of the offseason.
Alabama's offense is not that great. It is just adequate for the SEC. Even if their offense is actually better than I think, they better play flawlessly in this game. Those little mistakes that happen in the college game will turn into interceptions and fumbles against an NFL team. That line that ESPN boasted as being as big as an NFL team better be as fast as one, or any running back that gets the ball won't be going far. Those receivers should take ballet, gymnastics, or even yoga and learn to pirouette, because you must have both feet in bounds for a reception or a touchdown in the NFL unlike the college game. By the way, if you miss a tackle against Jamaal Charles, you might as well join the fans in watching him run in the end zone. These Bama boys are just clearly overmatched.
Finally, let's talk about your coach and the NFL rule differences (I will connect the two). Nick Saban failed as a coach with the Dolphins. Pure and simple, he is a great college coach, but a horrible NFL coach. He will have to deal with some of the rule changes as a coach. Let's say he believes an official made a mistake on a play. Instead of the replay official buzzing the referee to review the play, he has to determine if it is worth using one of the two challenges (a third if he is correct on the other two) on that play, or if it is worth costing a time-out if he is wrong (of course, the rules with less than two minutes left in a half are similar to college rules on replays). If somehow Alabama is close at the end of the game, can Saban, McCarron, and the rest of the Alabama offense run a NFL two-minute drill? The clock doesn't stop in the NFL on a first down to reset the chains. You have to go, go, go; and you have to be in shape doing it. They would need to learn to call a few plays at a time. For the record, the Chiefs could run a college two-minute drill. They've all done it (maybe except for Cassel). Good luck with the adjustment.
My thoughts
Of course, anything is possible. However, do I think it is likely that Alabama would beat the Chiefs? No. I do not think that game would even be close. The days that it was probable that college could beat the NFL are long gone. Those NCAA victories over the NFL were in the 1920's, 30's, 40's (and maybe 50's, I'm not sure). NFL players can train all day now, and not have to worry about their paycheck or their team going bankrupt. The NFL players are so much bigger now than they were years ago. However, I would like to see this game for one reason. I doubt anyone on the Alabama roster knows how it feels to be Western Carolina. A lower-level team that is sent to be a confidence-builder, or a team for the back-ups to get experience time against.
Those are my thoughts. If you have any of your own, or an argument I never considered, please comment. You can comment about this topic, or if you have any arguments for next month's topic. That topic is "Should the MLS dump the playoffs in favor of a single-table?" Thank you for taking the time to read this blog.
No comments:
Post a Comment