Georgia vs. Alabama: 6 Questions 2015 game could answer

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Sep 6, 2014; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Lane Kiffen talks to head coach Nick Saban during the game against Florida Atlantic Owls at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Is the Alabama Dynasty Really In a Decline?

Alabama has been so good for so long under Nick Saban, most Tide fans don’t even remember the deer-in-the-headlight days of Mike Shula.

Every program which has long-term success has little dips…peaks and valleys…but still manages to play at a high level and win. So why is it that after six losses in the past three-plus seasons, everyone is talking about the fall of the Alabama dynasty?

It’s the eyeball test. It’s not about the games they are losing, it’s about how they’re losing them, and how much more difficult its become for them to win. Kirby Smart’s defense, which used to look impenetrable, has become more and more flawed, and especially susceptible to the pass.

The numbers aren’t vastly different, but they are clearly in a decline.

In 2012, the Tide sat on top of the nation in scoring defense giving up only 10.9 points per game, sliding to 13.9 in 2013, 18.4 in 2014, and 17.5 a quarter of the way through 2015. It’s even worse against the pass, where Alabama gave up only 173.6 yards per game in 2012, slightly dipping to to 180.3 (2013), then 226 (2014) and now 210 yards per game so far this season.

The offense, which was once the epitome of “ground and pound” has become more cute and fast-paced, but less consistent.

Saban himself has shown frustration in dealing with the evolving spread and up-tempo offenses, and it wouldn’t seem that those are about to go away anytime soon.

If Alabama loses this game, a second conference game before the sixth week of the season, it could be a clear indicator that a changing of the guard is taking place in the SEC, whether it be to Georgia or someone else in the conference.

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