AJ McCarron sees some championship potential in this year’s Alabama team, according to comments on a recent podcast.
AJ McCarron Sees Familiar Formula in 2025 Alabama’s Championship Bid
The 2025 college football season looks to be promising for the University of Alabama, and former quarterback AJ McCarron has his own positive view, likening head coach Kalen DeBoer’s plans to how his team operated during the 2011 season.
AJ McCarron says he thinks 2025 Alabama can be similar to 2011 Alabama:
“We had a ton of returners coming back on defense. A very established defense that year. Us, as an offense, was hey, manage the game.
If the possession ends in kick, field goal or punt, it’s not always bad.… pic.twitter.com/SRBeVUgkFY
— Sidelines – Bama (@SSN_Alabama) May 29, 2025
“When I view this team, almost like the 2011 team for us,” he said of the new offense during the first episode of his podcast, The Dynasty. “We had a ton of returners coming back on defense, a very well-established defense that year. Us as an offense was manage the game.”
McCarron helped lead Alabama to the National Championship in 2011, where the Crimson Tide beat the Louisiana State Tigers 21-0 at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. His season was robust, seeing him throw for 2,634 yards and 16 touchdowns.
McCarron continued, “If the possession ends in a kick, whether it’s a field goal or a punt, it’s not always bad. It allows the year to go on. Your offense to get established more, what you’re true identity is, and then being able to feed off that late in the year when you have to. I think that’s probably the biggest key for them going into this year.”
He did note that the running game needed to be addressed for the team to realize serious success after former quarterback Jalen Milroe was drafted by the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks. “I think having an established run game with the running backs, being able to establish that early throughout the season that helps the passing game open up and evolves a little more,” McCarron said. “I think that’s the biggest thing going into this year for Kalen DeBoer and Ryan Grubb as the new OC. If they can do that, I think the sky’s the limit for them.”
KEEP READING: Kalen DeBoer Reveals Bold Offensive Shift After Jalen Milroe’s Exit From Alabama
This year’s Alabama team has some work to do in matching McCarron’s teams, which dominated college football resulting in three national championships in four years.
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