Random Thoughts

With visions of turkey dancing on my mind, I take a moment to give thanks that I can log on here and see arguements about Corey Smith and who's bitch is who's....

Best since 1985

Here's a fun discussion, who is the best at what position since 1985? Here's my top 5s for each. Yes it is a slow week....Here is the criteria- W/L, stats, victories over AU, UT, LSU, etal.

Quarterback
1. Jay Barker. There will be this theory that he's not 1 because his freshman and sophomore year statistically were poor. That's a true statement, but with a defense like the 91-92 teams had, he didn't have to do much. Also, when Mal Moore is your coach, do you really expect greatness? The bottom line is he never lost to UT, AU, or LSU. His stat lines were good in the end because Homer taught him the way, but the W/L matters more.

2. Gary Hollingsworth. Won an SEC championship, beat UT, but not Auburn. Was statistically probably one of the best QBs on the team.

3. Brodie Croyle. Statistically, he is the best in class. Win and loss, not quite so much. If he had beaten Auburn once, he probably finishes 2nd to me, but he didn't. He also stayed on his back or on a sling a lot.

4. Tyler Watts. I'm a homer for Watts really. However, he's a big cog in the SEC title in 99 and beating UT and the 10 win season in 02. The thing about him is that he had heart and gave it every play. His career is embodied in the Milons reverse where he hunts 2 UF defenders and clears them out of the lane so that Freddie houses it.

5. Mike Shula. He was more grit than talent if you really get down to it. He was one of the better field generals in Bama's time and lead Bama to 2 last second wins vs. UGA and AU. Statistically, he was tops on the list until Croyle came along.

Honorable Mention- Freddie Kitchens Zow, and JPW, who if he wins Saturday could have a valid case for number 5.

Worst QBs- Brandon Avalos, Brian Burgdorf, Spencer Pennington, Marc Guillon, Lance Tucker

Running Back

1. Bobby Humphrey. No one player has ever been more dominant on the offensive side of the ball in the modern era at Bama than Humphrey. His stats, great games, wins over UT, AU, LSU, were all large and the biggest thing was he was a bruiser as well as a sprinter.

2. Shaun Alexander. Stats wise, he's the top of the chart, but he also was feast and famine. He has an SEC title and the rushing records, but if you watch him and Humphrey side by side, there is no comparison to me that he's not quite as good. Not saying he sucks, but Humphrey was a horse every Saturday.

3. Sherman Williams & Derrick Lassic. The tie goes to these two because they practically worked together every year. Williams was the scatback and Lassic was the north south runner. Both had excellent careers in both wins and stats and big games.

5. Dennis Riddle. May be a shocker for the stat junkies and younger folks that Darby isn't here, but Riddle was just as good and had big plays in big games and wins over Auburn and UT (1994).

HM- Darby, Sh Williams, S Stacy, G Coffee, G Jelks

Worst- Shaun Bohannon

Wide Receivers and TEs

1. David Palmer. No brainer here. The most dynamic player of the 90s led the Tide to big wins and a NC in many ways. Had about as many TDs and kids, but that doesn't detract to his greatness as a player.

2. Al Bell. Those of you younger than say 20, probably don't know Bell, but Al was a catch magnet in the 80s and caught the winning TD against UGA.

3. Freddie Milons. The system made him great, but when the ball was in his hands, good things usually happened. He was probably the 3rd best return man of the period behind Palmer and Arenas.

4. DJ Hall. Stats push him this high, his demeanor and play push him downward.

5. Toderick Malone. He was Barker's go to man in 94 and a real vertical threat his time at Bama.

Top TE- Patrick Hape & Howard Cross.

Worst- Zeke Knight but in his defense, he shouldn't have played WR. Pierre Goode, fast as fleas but hands of rock.

Offensive Line

1. Chris Samuels. He was just as dominant in the huddle as on the field. When you took him out of the equation, they weren't as good or as confident.

2. Andre Smith. Dre is a rare find at any level when you consider he started from day one and was ready.

3. Evan Mathis. He wasn't as big a name as Smiley or Britt, but he was a better ball player.

4. Antoine Caldwell. He's the best OL talent wise since Samuels because he can play all 5 spots if needed.

5. Larry Rose & Neighbors. Back when linemen didn't weigh 300 pounds or have to be 6-6 to play it and were in shape and mean, these two were fine as you could find.

HM- A Ephraim, Smiley, Britt, Patterson

Worst- Von Ewing (biggest waste of scholarship ever when you look at the names you could have gotten), Lannis Baxley, Charlie Dare, Bart Raulston, you know what, the list is extremely long.

Defensive Line

1. John Copeland. I think some kinda kick his name a bit because he had Eric Curry next to him a lot, but I think that defense would have been just as good with just Copeland.

2. Eric Curry. Same for Curry as with Copeland, he was a beast on his own.

3. Jarrett Johnson. Morehead and King got all the recruiting hype, but this guy was the lunch pale, I'll kick your ass guy that made those defenses good.

4. Michael Myers. By far the best pound for pound lineman in a while. He did what Cody is doing plus got to the QB on a regular basis. He'd be higher if he hadn't messed up with the NCAA.

5. Kindal Morehead. He was undersized but was a pure rush end and had a motor that ran 4 quarters.

HM- Antwan Odom, Mark Anderson, Kenny King

Worst- Loescher. What a worthless turd he was off field.

Linebackers

1. Cornelius Bennett. If you are from the ESPN SportsCenter culture that says sacks make you a great player, he wouldn't be on the top of the list, but as far as being the most well rounded player, he was it.

2. Derrick Thomas. The all time leader in a lot of categories, and owner of one of the finest games I've ever seen v. PSU.

3. DeMeco Ryans. A true throwback player to the days of Jordan and Lowe for sure. I just wonder how good he'd been if Kines put him at MLB?

4. Wayne Davis. A name forgotten because of McCants and the top 2 there, but this guy was just as good as Ryans in a lot of ways.

5. Antonio London. Another name forgotten because of those around him, but this guy was the ultimate OLB in the 90s. Always around the ball, always around the QB, and always in position.

HM- Roach, R McClain

Worst- You know, my memory is fuzzy because I can't put my finger on one. Maybe you can refresh me?

Defensive Back

1. George Teague. Langham got press, but Teague was the reason he could gamble. This is the guy that your kids need to watch and learn from.

2. John Mangum. John was a coach's favorite at all levels because he hustled every down and probably touched more footballs in 4 years than 3 defensive backs combined.

3. Antonio Langham. Despite how his career at Bama ended, he was one of the last great cover corners they've had.

4. Tommy Johnson. Another member of the 92 defense mostly forgotten, but this guy was just as good as the rest of the pack. He just didn't have the stat lines they did.

5. Kermit Kendrick. The 80s secondaries are kinda no name for the most part, but Kendrick was a fine DB to compliment the front 7 those teams had.

HM- Peprah, Harper, S Castille

Worst- Kecalf Bailey and the whole host that came through from 1998-2001ish.

Special Teams

1. Van Tiffin. Need I say more?

2. Daniel Pope. When you hit around 44 per kick, you are a game changer.

3. Phillip Doyle. Every bit as good as Tiffin just didn't have the game winners he did.

4. Lane Bearden. Toughest kicker I ever saw.

5. Michael Proctor. A true big legged kicker for the championship teams.

HM- Chris Mohr.

Worst- Hamp, Tank, and about everyone that punted for Curry.

Coaches

Keep in mind, Bear has already passed away by 1985.

1. Gene Stallings. He won, won a lot, didn't do it pretty or clean exactly, but you can't put anyone above the guy who has a championship ring.

2. Nick Saban. No other coach has had the fanfare or the results.

3. Ray Perkins. Perkins was an ass to people, but that doesn't take away from the turn around job he did. I still think he'd won a championship if he hadn't left.

4. Mike Dubose. You'll see his name twice....

5. Bill Curry. Ugh, the coaches have been that bad haven't they?

Worst- Any coach named Mike can be here.