Whose ass tastes better....Saban or Shula?
Just kidding.
I do have a question about the 2007 team though.
Looking back, your 2003 recruiting class was ranked #49, but that's only because there were only 17 guys, they actually had an average of 3.03 stars. Then the 04 class was ranked #15, the 05 class #18, and the 06 class #11. In all, 99 guys were signed over those four years (plus whatever redshirts were left from 2002). So going by these respectable recruiting numbers, I'm curious as to why you say you only had two solid players on the whole team in 2007 (McClain and Smith I think you said) and had no depth, etc.
It seems more likely to me that there actually was some talent there, but they weren't being coached/utilized properly until Saban got there. And if so, that's a bit different than Saban coming in and taking scabs and making all-stars out of them.
This is an honest question, as I don't recall enough about the 2007 team or the recruits signed in the 5 years leading up to it.
I didn't follow recruiting all that closely until around 2005-2006ish. I couldn't tell you what I saw from some of those guys in HS. I can tell you what I saw on the field, though. I bet you can't come up with many names from the '06 squad off the top of your head though.
We simply didn't have the talent in the backfield. That is evident, for example, by Roy Upchurch behind a true frosh and a sophomore. Terry Grant is 4th string. So, they have been given proper time to develop and show what they can do, and its not good enough obviously.
At QB, it might be hard for me to make a case on JPW. His first year starting was Shula's last year. I do know that he looked a whole hell of a lot better in '08 than in '07, though. I think I would have to credit that to McElwain.
As far as WR, all we had was DJ Hall. Now, when our OL can actually hold their blocks and not have McElroy zipping through his reads, we have Julio, Maze (fast as hell), and Hanks who are pretty good receivers. Add in the mix that now we utilize the TE alot, and that makes for a pretty good WR corps. An upgrade from what we have, not not light years away or anything.
Our defense was sufficient. I will concede that. But, guys like Arenas, Rashad Johnson, would they be where they are now if Shula had stayed? I think not. Arenas wasn't highly recruited and Rashad Johnson was a walk-on. They blew up once Saban came to town. Arenas isn't known for being just a good kick returner anymore. Same thing with Reamer and Anders. Hell, Anders is another walk-on that is now a starter on an elite defensive unit. Donta Hightower is just a Rolando McClain clone except bigger.
Its hard to pick exactly what guys were misused and which ones were coached up. I think there is a good mix of both, FWIW.