Random Thoughts...

Ahh spring, it signals the end of another basketball season, thank God, spring practice, where Thomas Darrah will be bronzed, and boredom sets in shortly there after.



Spring Drillin



For fun, and to maybe cull down the number of threads about all 24 positions worth talking about, let's stroll through shall we?



Quarterback

2008 Starter- John Parker Wilson (graduated)

2009 Starter- TBD



The top candidate and most likely starter is Greg McElroy. Mac is a guy that isn't flashy, but he's smart, and he has a good arm, not a cannon, and seems to really have a good head on his shoulders when playing. After waiting his turn, he finally gets to show off his talents for fans and the coaches. His top competition is Star Jackson. Jackson is a big armed QB and has big game capacities, but he's not the best reader of defenses. He's kinda the guy that has gotten by on his talents without getting it, so to speak. This spring basically comes down to 2 things. First, does McElroy establish his position as starter and second, does Jackson turn the corner on understanding the game. For the Darrah family who posts non stop for their boy, I'm sorry but nobody wins championships with walkon QBs. Yes, David Smith was a QB and a decent one at that, but that team went to the Sun Bowl, not the Sugar Bowl. He threw a nice pass on 4th string defenders, but he's never once been allowed close to the 2nd string much less the 1st string. That kinda says it all doesn't it?



RLB002's predicted starter going into summer- Greg McElroy. I don't think Star will be as close to Greg as Greg was to Wilson in regards to 1st and 2nd. I don't think he'll lose it in the summer either.



Running Back

2008 "Starter"- Glen Coffee (Pro)

2009 "Starter"- TBD



There hasn't been a true starter since Saban came to Tuscaloosa, he employs more of a situational deal, but the bulk of last year's carries were Coffee's and he is gone. This year it will start with Mark Ingram and work down from there. Ingram had a strong freshman year and made a case to really be the feature back last year. He has great understanding of the game, and his role in it, and does a lot of the little things well. His top competition in the spring will be Terry Grant or Jeramie Griffin, because Roy Upchurch is non contact still. Neither Grant or Griffin can compete with a healthy Ingram, period. Upchurch, when healthy, is that competition, but he's never been able to stay healthy for an entire season. I also wonder with the Textbookgate, how much longer he's a part of things. In the end, the real main event of the running backs race starts in August when Trent Richardson, and possibly Eddie Lacy, arrive.



RLB002's prediction- Mark Ingram. No big shock there. The other backs are just situational at best and can't be the go to guy.



Wide Receivers

2008 starters- Julio Jones (return), Nikita Stover (graduated), Darius Hanks (return)

2009 starters- Julio Jones, TBD, TBD



Before you hit reply to show your intelligence, McCoy had lost his job by the end of the year, the starters reflect the end of the year. Going into this spring, Julio Jones just has to be Julio and he's in as the starter 1. Losing Stover will be a bigger thing than you think because he was a great part of the run game and was a consistent player for the Tide down the stretch. Hanks came on late and beat McCoy out after he refused to catch footballs. So, this spring Hanks should be solid for his spot as the 3rd WR. That puts the focus on the 2nd WR on the unit. It gets real murky as to who the front runner is at this point. There is McCoy who practices like Tarzan and plays like Jane, Marquis Maze who physically is Tarzan, mentally is Jane, Earl Alexander who hurt himself just reading this, Brandon Gibson who couldn't find himself reading this, Chris Jackson who didn't know he was a WR until reading this (I really wish the coaches would pick a spot already), and a host of walkons. Get the idea that I don't have much confidence in the depth chart here? The reason why is all over the stat sheet and video of last year. Out of the others, the best of the bunch is Maze, but he consistently makes mental errors and his route running leaves much to be desired. That may open the door to McCoy winning yet again.



RLB002's prediction- Jones/Hanks/McCoy. The bottom line is this, until someone can really practice AND play better than McCoy, he's going to keep getting chances.



Tight Ends

2008 Starters- McCall & Walker (graduated)

2009 Starters- Peek & Smelley



Is it me or does Peek stay hurt more than any non-participating player? Peek, when he is able to play, really has the well rounded TE game. He catches and blocks better than Smelley does, but can he shake the injury situation? Smelley captialized on the opening and displayed a real good receiver option for the offense. He does need to work on his blocking because he's a tip that they are in a pass first audible. The main competitors this year will be Michael Williams and Preston Dial. Williams is a big athlete (6-6, 260ish) who would play PF in basketball. He's got the hands and the speed to play the position, but started on defense and is catching up on the role. Dial has been the 3rd TE in the past, but injuries and lack of solid hands pushed him to 4th during the season. Chris Underwood still is on the roster, but is an oversized WR playing TE.



RLB002's prediction- Peek & Smelley with Williams 3rd. Part of me wishes they could find a 3rd TE to move Williams back to defense. If Peek cannot shake the foot issues, he should be the McCall option with Smelley reprising the Walker role.



Offensive Line

2008 Starters- Smith (Pro)/Johnson (return)/Caldwell (graduated)/M Davis (graduated)/D Davis (return)

2009 Starters- TBD/Johnson/TBD/TBD/D Davis



All the other positions really pale behind the OL. There isn't a good answer for any open spot as is because none of the potential starters have enough snaps, minus Vlachos and Cardwell, to call them ready to go. Left Tackle will get a long look by fans and coaches alike with a right handed QB. The best option going into the spring will be newcomer James Carpenter with Tyler Love competiting. Drew Davis probably will get some snaps there, but his visits to LT have not been fruitful in the past and they need him at RT. Johnson looks to hold his LG spot and we'll see how much he misses Smith and Caldwell being around him. Center is a toss up. Vlachos is the odds on favorite, even though Cardwell when healthy is far ahead of him. Right Guard looks to be David Ross with a host of potential starters around him. Right Tackle, as mentioned, should be Drew Davis with Boswell competing. Of course Fluker comes in this spring and Warmack is there now so both will dictate possibly some moves in the front five. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for McCullogh, Motley, and Taylor Pharr as this is kinda the make or break year for each. I wouldn't mind seeing McCullogh move back to end myself.



RLB002's predictions- Carpenter/Johnson/Vlachos/Ross/D Davis. This 5 will be lucky to hold out by the end of summer. I don't see Ross holding on when Fluker makes campus. I could see it being Fluker/Johnson/Center to be named/D Davis/Carpenter (or visa versa) possibly.

Defensive Line

2008 Starters- Greenwood (graduated)/Cody (return)/Deaderick(return)

2009 Starters- TBD/Cody/Deaderick

Defensively speaking, the shake up is far less numbers wise than on offense. However, those who are gone will be hard to replace by spring. Bobby Greenwood is a prime example. Greenwood was moved over to rush end last year to replace Gilberry, and that made a big difference in his play. His motor was never questionable in his 4 years, and his prime replacement, Zo Washington, has never had much of a motor. The Internets favorite pick is Marcel Dareus, who has the folklore of Paul Bunyan, and the highlight reel of Paul Rubens, well not that bad, but he didn't really live up to the hype associated with him. Dareus is raw and gets by on his power and less his understanding of how to get past linemen, and that's why they keep bouncing him inside and outside. Luther Davis is bipolar, one day he's wanting to play, the next who knows. When he wants to play, he's adequate, not a star by any means, but he'll get you through games. The rest are unknowns and projects. Cody loads the middle up and Josh Chapman is the pass rushing half of the duo. Cody is a premier run stopper and fits the 3-4 as well as anyone can, but the state of college football is not ground and pound any more, it is spread and speed. Cody's campus legend status took a considerable ding when he was more or less a cheerleader the final 2 games. Teams this fall will be trying to neutralize him by passing more, especially short routes, and that will be Cody's biggest focus this spring. Can he learn how to rush? Chapman isn't as good at run stopping, but his pass rush is far better because he uses his hands and has a quick burst for a guy as big as he is. Dareus plays behind them as well and probably will until he learns how to play beyond the raw skills. Deaderick holds down the other end position and is primarily a run stopping end. He does well when he's asked to jam lanes and create gaps for linebackers, but his game really doesn't go beyond that. I think he'd be helped out more if there was a Jack on the squad last year that was serviceable.

RLB002's Predictions- Washington/Cody/Deaderick. The truth is that Washington has PT, and that is going to carry him until the staff grows tired of the ho hummedness of his play and someone can step up and take it.

Linebackers

2008 Starters- Fanney/Hightower/McClain/Reamer

2009 Starters- Fanney/Hightower/McClain/Reamer

I love how there is always this "when this guy arrives, he's gonna be the man" theory about each recruiting class. It is fun, but dangerous. Fans have put the eye of expectation on Upshaw to beat Fanney. He might now that Fanney is supspended for a while, but the evil eye club fails to see that run support counts too. Upshaw gives up 20 pounds to Fanney and about 70 to the average lineman. Eryk Anders was 2nd string Jack most of last season and had a good start to the year, but faded down the stretch because he lacks a 2nd or 3rd move in his rush. Hightower and McClain will be back as the 2 inside linebackers until further notice. The loss of Prince Hall to the ganga nation won't be felt, but will give guys like Chris Jordan and any host of incoming freshman a chance to play, no Jennings Hester won't see the light still unless it is Bus Saban. There is a lot of chatter about Hightower to Jack or End, and I can see why he measures even with Fanney, but the real problem is that you have to have another inside linebacker that can do as much as he can. As far as Spring goes, they may tinker with it on some nickel and dime formations, but outside of that, I think he stays inside. Rolo returns, for what may be the last season, and he's battle tested, not even getting competition. Reamer also is the "starter" and plays in base, but with the spread and teams throwing more than they ran, his use became marginal. The Internets eye of expectations also wants Jerrell Harris to be Sam. Harris is a lot like Dareus in that he is raw and needs time. His move to the inside is to help him understand his game better. He'll never play a down inside, he gives up too much weight. Chavis Williams and Alex Watkins, both prizes from year 1, have fallen off the map after the staff got more time to recruit and evaluate talent.

RLB002's prediction- starters hold. Sorry, but none of the reserves have "it" yet.

Secondary

2008 Starters- K. Jackson (return)/Arenas (return)/Woodall (return)/Johnson (graduated)

2009- K Jackson/Arenas/Woodall/TBD

The funny thing here is that like linebacker, the base group never really played much. The loss of RJ will be the hardest replacement to fill, bar none. The eye of expectation says Mark Barron will step in and all will be fine. Watch the Sugar Bowl again. That race and can Kareem shake the sophomore slump and hold on will be worth while speculation. Kareem's play didn't really drop all that much as he was just an easy target. He's physical and plays bump well, but lacks the correction speed when he bites wrong. Zo Lawrence, BJ Scott, and Dre Kirkpatrick (in the summer) will more than likely push him hard. Javy Arenas played well in the Star, and plays ok on the island, but he too isn't blazing fast and can't correct himself if he misses. The difference is that when he is in Star, he doesn't play man very often. Marquis Johnson starts when they go nickel, and as we all saw, if you bob your head, he eats it up like Thanksgiving turkey. He too will be pushed by Zo and Dre. I wouldn't be shocked to see him get some snaps at Free Safety. Johnson can see the field and play off the ball, he just can't man up. Woodall is getting talk about both safety spots, but his mentality is a strong safety, and I think he'll stay there. He plays the run too well to move him over. Barron, Robbie Green, Ali Sharrief (if he finds his helmet), and a host of others will get some time at either FS or SS. If Barron or Green or maybe even Lester, can figure it out, I may feel better, but hitting folks hard is great for SportsCenter it doesn't win games like reading and leading does.

RLB002's prediction- Arenas/Jackson/Green/Woodall. I think Green is the best FS option for now. Ali is not a 4 quarter guy, Barron still is not ready and won't by end of spring because he's a SS mentality, and the others are farther behind.

TOURNEY DAZE

For those whooping and cheering about the greatness of Pearson, look at the peer perception of the SEC. 3 teams in the dance. MSU is there because they won, and only because they won, UT and LSU because they were the only two that were ranked at some point during the season. The SEC stinks when it gets down to it. So, the job done really has some perspective issues for me. Anyways, to teams that do want to put effort into a solid basketball program....

I like Louisville and Michigan St in the Midwest, UConn and Missouri in the West, Pitt and Duke in the East, UNC and Syracuse in the South. Beware of Duke in Beantown, that's home cooking for Duke much like New York and East Rutherford are. None of the SEC teams will make the Sweet 16. Don't fall in love with Chokelahoma, they choke each spring.

Now, as far as Bama goes, the NIT probably is a long shot for them because there are a lot of worthy teams out there with quality wins. Bama hoists up 2 conference wins and that's it that have value. Honestly, I think it is good for business to close up and start over. Who the next coach will be, I don't know. When you have Mal Moore running the show, you can't see into that fog very often. I do get the feeling fans will be let down in the end.