Tide Tidbits - January 4, 2009

Alabama has few but important holes to fill in 2009
The results of the Allstate Sugar Bowl were not even 10 minutes old when Alabama coach Nick Saban turned his attention to 2009. "We need more good players, more depth in the program," Saban said. "We need quality big people. We need quality skill guys. We need a lot of things for us to continue to improve to be the kind of program that is recognized as a dominant program."

Something to build on
It wasn't supposed to happen this fast. Sure, there were signs that Nick Saban had Alabama on its way back, with the bigtime recruits making their way into the fold, giving hope for a bright future and a fan base adopting the attitude that it was just a matter of time. Turns out those newcomers provided the few missing pieces to the Crimson Tide's roster. The result was a 12-0 regular season and more than a month spent atop the national rankings, before the dream season crumbled with losses to Florida in the Southeastern Conference championship game and No. 7 Utah in the Sugar Bowl, 31-17 Friday night. Alabama still went from 7-6 to 12-2, the most dramatic improvement for a coach's second year in school history. Senior center Antoine Caldwell figures the 2008 group should be remembered as "the team that kind of turned the corner for Alabama."

'Bama can't overcome O-line losses
Coach Nick Saban and the Alabama players repeatedly said the Sugar Bowl will be a key to how this team will be remembered. If true, that's bad news for the No. 4 Crimson Tide. Down to its third-team left tackle, Alabama's offensive line uncharacteristically struggled and its normally stingy defense was victimized by quarterback Brian Johnson and No. 7 Utah in a 31-17 Sugar Bowl loss Friday night.

Andre Smith announces plans to enter the NFL Draft
Alabama left tackle Andre Smith announced his intention to declare for the NFL Draft late Saturday night. Smith, who was suspended for the Allstate Sugar Bowl for improper dealings with an agent, was a consensus All-American and winner of the Outland Trophy awarded to the nation's top offensive lineman. The Birmingham native and Huffman High product started for three years for the Crimson Tide and allowed one sack in 2008. The 6-foot-4, 330-pounder is considered by pundits a lock to be a Top 5 NFL draft pick.

Recruiting: BIG MACK: Calhoun County junior poised to be one of state's top prospects in 2010
Zam Fredrick didn’t like what he saw at all. A day after his team’s 81-game winning streak came to an end at the hands of the Estill Gators, he watched as a guard let a center go right by him in defensive footwork drills. And, we’re not talking a little center. We are talking 6-4, 315 pound Eric Mack. Fredrick preaches defense, and that type of thing is unacceptable. So, as Mack -- who is a fair player coming off the bench for the Saints hoops team -- kept moving up the floor, Fredrick stopped the action. He couldn’t watch it. He had to admonish. And, yet, maybe he shouldn’t have because Eric Mack is making a name for himself these days for being more agile than a man his size should be.

Roll Tide!