2007 Alabama Crimson Tide

The 2007 Alabama Crimson Tide will attempt to improve from a disappointing 6-7 record in the 2006 season. The Tide will be led by its new head Coach Nick Saban, who recently left the Miami Dolphins to take over the Alabama job.

Offense
The Crimson Tide offense returns nine starters from 2006. Returning are all three quarterbacks at the top of the depth chart, including starter John Parker Wilson. The entire starting offensive line returns, anchored by freshman All-American Andre Smith, along with reinforcements brought by the top four tight ends from the 2006 depth chart. Alabama's deepest and most experienced unit is its wide receivers led by DJ Hall, who broke nearly every Alabama-receiving record in school history in 2006. Alabama must find a replacement for Ken Darby at tailback from its young running backs. With the offensive line, quarterbacks, and receivers being regarded as strengths for the Tide, Alabama hopes to find an effective running game with its young running backs as opposing defenses will be forced to respect Alabama's vertical passing game. The Tide will have to adapt to the new offense installed by new offensive coordinator Major Applewhite. Head coach Nick Saban has stated this will be a unique offense that no other team in America will be running, and will simply be titled the "Alabama" because of its solitude. All told, the Tide returns nine starters on offense.

Defense
The Alabama defense will return six starters in 2007, based on the 3-3-5 scheme that was run in 2006. The Tide in 2007 will have a new nose tackle, a new outside linebacker and strongside linebacker, and also a new starting cornerback and a starting safety.

Schedule
The schedule was ranked as the #7 toughest home schedule.

Schedule Notes
The Alabama vs. Florida State game on September 29 will be played in Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. The match-up is a one-time only contest, and the tickets for the event will be split 50 / 50 between the two fan bases.

The Alabama vs. LSU game on November 3 will mark the second time that Alabama head coach Nick Saban will compete against LSU. The first time came in the 1995 Independence Bowl while Saban was the head coach of Michigan State. The game will be the first time Saban will compete against LSU after his tenure as head coach at that school.

The Alabama vs. Auburn game on November 24 will see the Tide attempting to end a current five-game losing streak to the Tigers.

Of the twelve teams on the 2007 schedule, eight made bowl games in 2006.