The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly- WR & TE's

I was looking back on last year's review of this position, and this was my header, sad things don't change much...

"I don’t wish harm on Brett Favre but I do wish that I wouldn’t hear his name for 20 years…."

LAST YEAR RECAP

There are two names that were mentioned a lot by me for good reasons. The first was Julio Jones and the second was Travis McCall. Julio lived up to and exceeded all expectations that were on him and he's a premiere WR already as a sophomore. McCall was the unsung hero of the running game and his ability to take on the lead blocking role and make some key catches from the H Back position was a hidden key to why the Tide went 12-0 to start the year. If you go back and watch each game, you will see both of them making key contributions at key points each win. Mike McCoy started off as a starter, but, as he has done since entering school, he faded off and eventually lost his starting role. Nick Walker was the starting TE, and faded after a strong start....again. Nikita Stover and Darius Hanks both improved as the year went on and were starters in the 3 wide sets by year end.

THIS OFFSEASON

Who is back?

Earl Alexander. Earl is an Internet favorite and has the size to be a great target. However, he's injury prone and plays smaller than what he really is. He lets smaller corners move him off his routes way too easy. He projects as a 4th or 5th option this season.

Mike McCoy. For all the raving about McCoy by experts, it sure didn’t show up on the field. He runs one route well enough to get the ball (out routes) and really wasn’t a force during the fall. He lost his confidence and was a little banged up, but who isn't by October, and the staff and players lost faith in him towards the end of 2008. He leads every spring and summer, but at some point has to show some game in the game. He really needs to step up and be a factor in the game and quit talking so damn much. A guy who has done as little as Mike shouldn't be talking so much trash about the former QB.

Brandon Gibson- Gibson was a big time get at the end of the recruiting season when he came out of HS, but has not been the guy that has gotten attention since enrolling. He’s not a vertical guy, he looks more like the possession guy. They need him to come in and be a replacement for Stover in the scheme of things. From reading practice reports, he seems to have had the light come on somewhat, but he may be lost in the shuffle down the road.

Darius Hanks- Hanks was the big winner of McCoy's issues last year and he is probably a co-starter in the 3 wide set if games started now. Hanks is tall, fast, and has good hands, he isn't afraid of the flat and squares up to give the QB a nice target when he runs his routes. He does need to get better about his route running, as he has a tendency to get a little loose on them, but that is coachable. I look for big things from him this year as McElroy will be more of a short field passer and allow guys like him to create.

Marquis Maze- Maze is a burner, but he’s small and this offense is more for big and fast than just fast. With that said, however, he probably will be in with Hanks as an option for different passing situations and gives the offense a vertical threat they need. Maze has the speed and the hands to be a real weapon, but he has to grow up and quit making such costly mistakes- ie personal fouls at the worst moments- that put the momentum and team in bad situations.

Preston Dial- Dial has flirted with being a real weapon every spring, but fades in the summer and has struggled to get in the games due to 2 seniors being ahead of him. He has lost ground to Peek and Smelley now, and is the 3rd option at TE, but that could be a good thing if he fits a special role. This fall is big for him because if he can play well, others can be used in other areas.

Chris Underwood- Underwood is a big target, and really he’s an oversized WR playing hand down. Look for them to use him some to exploit mismatches in coverage, but he won’t be used for pass blocking or run blocking very often. With the influx of new talent coming in soon, he may be moved or may be a casualty of numbers.

Julio Jones- Sweet Child O Mine, if he hadn’t come to Bama this country would be 49 states because Alabama would have melted off the map. The number one player and WR in America had fun with the process and comes from a good program. He’s physical and tall, two things missed over the years on campus. He definitely lived up to expectations and has a lot of buzz nationally for his gritty and tough play. He has my respect because he played and caught most of the passes this past year with a broke hand. That's toughness that makes those around him step up.

Brad Smelley- He is a former QB but has stepped up to be a nice pass option from the H Back/TE position. He is a co-starter with Peek and I look for them to use him a lot like they did last year by putting him in motion and getting him isolated with a slower linebacker or a smaller safety/corner and exploit his game that way. He still needs to learn how to block more, but really QBs don't learn how to block they just know one when they see it, but for him to be a bigger option in the whole game, he's got to work on it.

Michael Williams- Boy this one kills me to no end. He started practicing at Jack last year while he redshirted, which wasn't real surprise. Then they moved him to TE during the bowl practices and now he sits 4th string at TE. I don't hide that I'm a homer for the guy, he's a true athlete that with some coaching and focus could be a standout end or jack.

Colin Peek- Transferred from Georgia Tech. He is a big target and an adequate blocker who moved on after Tech hired Johnson and his wing T offense. He sat out last year due to the transfer and he was hurt too, so it didn't matter. He is a starter and will give the offense its first true dual threat TE in ages.

Who is gone?

Will Oakley. Injuries plagued him and his career at Bama was more or less about the injury of the week than his play.

Nick Walker TE. Nick was a good pass catching tight end, but a mediocre blocker. That's being nice. He started each season as a real option but faded down the stretch every time.

Travis McCall TE. Like I said above, this guy was a real foundation for their successes. They will miss him more than they will miss a lot of lost starters. Finding a blocking replacement for McCall will be a real factor this year in Bama's run for the SEC and National Title.

Nikita Stover. Stover was a great mystery, when he’s in, he’s damn good, but that’s the thing. The thing I liked most about Nikita is that when he’s in the big game, he makes big plays and he was always making key blocks in the running game during those games. It is one thing to look good against Sister Mary of the Blind, it is another to score on Auburn. Well up until last year anyways.

Chris Jackson- transferred to Tech and probably for the best, he was getting lost in the shuffle

Who is new?

Kenny Bell- Bell is a speedster and he's a rare find, there aren't many LA boys that will leave state when LSU offers. He's a 4 star because he's legitimately fast. From what I could see and read, he's your typical vertical WR, great in space, good with the ball, as good as down once contact is made, if made. He will go over the middle, but is at his best outside one on one.

Michael Bowman- As some have read, I've seen Bowman play since he started high school. I have seen a lot of comments about him being a speed receiver, but he's not. His biggest assets are his long arms and physical nature. He is a possession WR. Plays a lot like Nikita Stover. Can catch one and make a guy miss and then turn it into a bigger play, but will not just out run coverages. He's a guy that is good over the middle and will take a lick and keep going. The only thing he doesn't like is to be doubled and taken out of the game. Some of the area coaches have said they noticed him getting out of the game mentally and were able to neutralize him quickly. That probably won't be an issue at Alabama though because of Jones and the running game. He has great hands and will get to a ball if it is humanly in range. Loves to create separation with his hands and elbows, and he runs good routes. He will be in the rotation, but the separation between him and a guy like Norwood is prior coaching. Bowman is still a little raw in that he was kinda of a big fish in a small pond as far as competition goes and has gotten by on being bigger than most of the guys he played against. He isn't short on confidence, which is a double edged sword, and likes the ball in key situations, but I will be interested in seeing how he handles things when Saban gets on him or how well he can stand by and wait his turn.

Kendall Kelly- Kelly is kinda hard to read at times. Some love him, some are not as wild about him. I can see both at times. He's a guy that I could see outgrowing the WR spot and becoming a LB. He is very raw and has gotten by on pure athleticism but lacks a lot of understanding about what he's doing at times. He can make a catch but doesn't know or see how to extend the play sometimes. Has plenty of speed to separate on the fly and good hands. Likes contact and can catch in stride, not that easy for some, but it is all him and not a lot of coaching. He's not a possession guy, but he isn't the vertical threat at the college level either. As is, reminds me of several on campus right now. Overall, he has a ton of upside to him with time and coaching. He is a candidate to redshirt or play special teams

Kevin Norwood- Norwood is probably my favorite of the bunch. He isn't high on the board because he isn't ultra flashy and he doesn't rack up sick numbers like some others do, but he's got a lot of skill. He gets the position best out of the ones I've watched. Is deceptively fast, doesn't look fast until you look at the time lapse and he books it. Has a good mix of possession with a deep threat capacity. His long arms and size make him an easy target for a QB who isn't the most accurate. Can snag passes that most can't. He's really smooth with the ball in his hands. Looks almost like a running back at times the way he turns and shifts. The biggest knock on him is that he can be taken out by a more physical player. Patrick Patterson owned him in the playoffs, but Patterson would own many if he played CB as he will as a WR at Ole Miss. He has separated from the freshman pack in Saban's eyes because he is the most ready of the bunch right now. He has the coaching, skill, and focus to play now and I think he gives the offense a real weapon down the road.

THE WIDE RECEIVERS

The Good…

Julio being Julio.

The biggest thing going for the receiving corps is that they don't have to wonder who the man is, they know who the man is. His name is Mr. Jones. Call him Julio and he might put that 5 foot hand print over you when he stiff arms the crap out of you. All smack talk aside, Jones has become the target and even in double teams and shadowing situations, gets the ball when thrown to him. He isn't afraid of the hits, and he isn't afraid of the work.

Talent Abounds

When you have Hanks, Jones, Norwood and Maze, you have 4 very good and tough to cover players. When you have that, surely the mismatches and opportunities will be there. Yes I left McCoy out for a reason.

Potential for big things

If Norwood and Bowman can come in and do what they are expected to by fans, this could be a fun group to watch. If potential becomes reality, this could be the foundation of a full power offense. I think when you add Norwood's versatility to Jones big play capacity; you have a balance to the schemes. They have been hunting this for a reason and haven't had it in a long long time.

A true big play TE

If Peek can stay healthy, and if they can work him in to the play calling regularly, you will finally see the TE become a weapon in the offense. I know McElwain wants to use the TE's a lot, it is a trademark from Fresno, but they either haven't had the guy or have had to use the TEs in max protect a lot. Smelley also gives them that threat, but as mentioned, needs to be a blocker too.

The Bad...

Inexperience

For all the potential and expectation out there, it doesn’t really overcome inexperience and the lack of connectivity with the QB. It won’t be like playing a video game where you plug in and go.

No established number 2 or 3 option

Everyone knows it is Juilo Jones first, then everyone else second. Every defense Bama will see early on will play like that. The key for the offense to be more than a conservative won't win but won't lose the game facet is finding that second passing option, whether it is Peek or Smelley at TE or one of the WR's that can get the load off of Jones some.

The Ugly…

Every year is THE year but never comes

How many years in a row now have we all speculated that this WR unit will be a breakout weapon but fizzles and fumbles along? They are the Georgia Bulldogs of the team where every year is their year until they play and then it is next year when so and so comes to campus.

What the experts think….

Lindy’s- They rank this unit 2nd in the conference behind LSU. They cite it is due to Julio Jones, and that he needs help from Hanks and McCoy. They pay people for that info? They mention Maze as the vertical fast threat that can give Jones some help, but that Saban has never been pass happy but wants balance and ball control via the pass.

Athlon’s- They rank the WR/TE's 4th behind FL, UGA, and LSU. They talk about Julio Jones establishing himself as the top WR in the nation for the sophomore class. They quote Saban as saying that now he knows the offense, they expect to do more things with him. Athlons must read this blog/post because they say the exact same thing I've said about EA, Maze, and McCoy that I've said for 2-3 years respectively.

DEPTH CHART

Starter- McCoy/Jones/Hanks/Peek
2nd String- Maze/Gibson/Alexander/Smelley
3rd String- Norwood/Bowman/Dial