Last Year
The starting 3 last year were veterans and really anchored the front for Bama's defense. Cody, Washington, and Deaderick were solid in their assigned roles all year. The high point for them was Cody's Rocky Block that saved the season. The bright spot was the coming of age for Marcel Dareus. His ability to play inside and outside as well as his freakish athleticism made him a household name across the country.
This Year
Who is back and who is new?
Undra Billingsley- Undra has bounced around from defense to offense to defense again. His issue that keeps him off the field is that he is a tweener. He lacks the speed to play offense or linebacker, but has the power and size to play both. As a D lineman, he's the exact opposite- he has the speed but not the size and power. With that said, he can be a serviceable reserve for the Tide this fall.
Chris Bonds- Chris redshirted last year and is trying to get up the chart. The scouting report on him in high school is that he's got a great motor and has all the potential to be good, but he's injury prone. He is deep on the chart right now, but there are 2 regulars and a JC player ahead of him right now. I would guess that they roll him out there in some situations to see what they have in him and continue to try and harness the energy he has into a full player.
Josh Chapman- Chapman will take up Cody's spot in a platoon with Murphy, his high school teammate. Chapman isn't Cody, but he can be as effective with this defense. Cody was a plug and took up space and disrupted by his size. Chapman is more mobile and is stronger than Cody was. He disrupts with his power and speed. His past chances to start and play have been good and I don't see him or Murphy letting any slack happen between last year and this year.
Marcel Dareus- He doesn't seem to be distracted much by the off field business and that is good. Dareus is one of those rare players who could be as highly touted as Curry and Copeland were 18 years ago. Dareus is a high motor guy that uses his hands and strong upper body to disrupt the offense. He is very athletic for a guy his size, as proven by the TD vs Texas. He can play both end and tackle and does both in the nickel and dime sets depending on situations. If he goes pro, and I think it is about as sure a bet as anything in town that he will, he will be a tackle in the 4-3 and an end on a 3-4 team. His stock will go up or down based on how he handles playing more minutes and being an official starter now. FWIW- I don't see him getting more than 1 game if that much for the Miami thing.
Luther Davis- Davis has quietly made it to a senior year. He has earned the love of the staff and is going to be a captain this fall from the looks of it. Davis has got the ability to be good, but in the past he lacked the consistency. Davis has the skill set and size to be a perfect 3 end. He has great speed and good hand work. If he plays as he did in the BCS title game, he will have a great senior year and live up to the hype that fans and Luther have put on him.
Nick Gentry- Nick continues to hang around and continues to always be ready to jump in when an injury or depth concerns hit. He plays hard and he plays right, but he isn't the most talented guy and he is a tad small for the 3-4, but that doesn't seem to stop him when he plays.
Brandon Ivory- Brandon is a lotta player to move around. He plays more like Cody than Murphy or Chapman. He wallers a lot and doesn't really use his arms to separate much. He is a space taker who disrupts by using his massive size to drive back the line much like Cody did. He probably will redshirt due to the fact they have 3 or 4 guys who can play nose. I look for him to contribute a lot in the future though.
Brandon Lewis- This is a guy I am really high on. He has 3 years to play 2, so he might redshirt if they want to plan their future depth around him, but if he plays this fall, I think he will play quite a bit. When he was in high school, I thought he had all the makings of a star, and from what I gather, he still can be. He's behind Davis and Square, but like Square he will probably see quite a bit of play. He is really good at working the stunts and uses his hands really well to keep linemen from getting inside to his chest. He needs to work a bit on his form, but the fundamentals were down before and should be now.
William Ming- Ming is a guy that seems to be in the hunt, but has not done anything to separate from the pack. He will play some this year, but I don't know the how much part since he's not really made a name for himself. Ming coming into college has a great motor and is very active off the rush end. He is a pure pass rusher and can move sideline to sideline, and is fast. He ran a 4.7 in high school. He can also play TE or Jack.
Brandon Moore- Moore redshirted last year and is deep on the nose depth chart, but has a lot of upside. He isn't a pass rusher, but he is a guy that can open lanes up for other defenders to rush through. That will be his role on the team is to create space for the Mike and Will to rush through.
Kerry Murphy- Murphy is running with the 1s and is 1A to Chapman's 1B. Murphy has a lot of upside and is probably one of the most unique athletes Bama has ever had. He uses his size against defenders, but uses his upper body strength to keep linemen off of him. He is a better run stopper than he is pass rusher. He is more of a Cody like player in that he just takes up space amongst 2 defenders. He has the power and technique to fight through those doubles and move towards the ball. He will get better as he gets more snaps. He should see a lot of snaps.
Anthony Orr- Orr is a guy that in time will be a really good contributor. Coming to Tuscaloosa, he looked the part, he's aggressive, hard working, and built to take the hits football brings its players. He is a bit raw though and in HS had a hard time keeping his body low and exploding up. He wants to get too high and loses position at times. When he stays down, he shows his power and can bend a guard or tackle backwards. I can see him maturing into a rush end down the road, but I don't expect to see him on the field for more than mop up for a year or 2.
Darrington Sentimore- He is a lot like Luther Davis. He has a lot of fan fare because he bucked LSU for the Tide, like Davis, and like Davis he will have to show he wants up the charts and earn the job. Sentimore is a rush end and reminds me a lot of Washington and Greenwood. I know that makes some mad, but that isn't a kick at the guy. They were both good players who worked hard. Sentimore has a really good first move and is best used when going over the open shoulder of a tackle, but struggles when he goes inside. In time, I can see him starting and being a good blue collar guy if he can bulk up some and continue to work on his hands and upper body.
Damion Square- Before he was hurt, I thought he was the next big thing at DE. He is just a strong, high motor, high fundamental player that a guy like me can enjoy watching play. He has a lot of football smarts and has so much power that he's almost impossible to play one on one. Putting him and Dareus side by side or book ending each other, will be deemed illegal by the NCAA probably. They are that good together.
Who is Gone?
Terrence Cody- Mount Cody toppled Rocky Top and probably increased future chiropractor revenues by 200%. Cody's ability to take up space and disrupt the running game for most teams in the SEC went a long ways towards Bama's success. His future in the NFL is as simple as this, if he wants to do the work, he'll be as good as any in the NFL at tackle, but if he slacks and doesn't keep the weight down, he'll be a short lived story.
Brandon Deaderick- Deaderick is as tough as any man I know. There aren't many that can be shot in the arm and play a few days later. Deaderick is a prototype 3-4 end that moves well inside the tackles and is able to shove linemen with ease. He may not be an all pro, but he can be a serviceable lineman in the NFL.
Lorenzo Washington- Zo took a long time to find the player he was, but his senior year was his best year by far. Zo is a guy that can play in the 4-3 or 3-4 at end/tackle. I don't know if he'll have a future in the NFL, but with the right team, he could be like BD.
Milton Talbert- Processed.
The Good...
The depth and talent is deep and very, very good
There may be a couple of starts under Dareus's belt and Chapman's belt, but what they lack in experience, they make up with interest on talent. The 3 deep roster for the defensive line is almost an All SEC list by itself.
Dareus being Dareus
I don't think there is a secret about his future, and I think folks will get to enjoy him rampaging this year as he's working on a ring for himself and a higher draft slot for the future draft.
Quality depth at nose
Chapman, Murphy, Ivory, and Moore all are quality nose tackles and as Saban knew in year one, and Georgia is going to find out this year, it all starts there. Having quality big men shutting down the middle is as vital a part as the 2 middle linebackers. Bama has a 4 deep of quality players there. Hint, UGA doesn't.
So many options, so few plays...hopefully
Last year, you could pretty well guarantee that Cody and a combo of Washington/Dareus/Deaderick would be on the field at any time. This year is no different, but they have so many players that can play inside or outside that it will be fun to see how they throw different things at them.
The Bad...
The experience factor isn't there this time
While talent is plentiful, experience isn't. One of the things that has fallen in the cracks with Bama fans is that what Deaderick, Cody, and Washington put on the field was experience in tough game situations. If you watch the Auburn game, the Tennessee game, and the Texas game, all three were games where at a certain point the team needed the defense to make a play, and they did. McClain and others got the starlight, but those three were the ones who locked down the middle and opened the lanes for others to shine. They probably have that, but it is not tested under duress yet.
The Ugly....
None yet.
Depth Chart
End- Dareus/Sentimore/Billingsley
Nose- Murphy/Chapman/Moore
End- Davis/Square/Lewis
Nickel/Dime
End- Upshaw
Tackle- Dareus
Tackle- Square/Chapman/Davis
End- Hightower or Stinson/ Chavis Williams
August 21, 2010
August 20, 2010
The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly- Offensive Line
Last Year
Here is kind of the long and short of how Bama's offensive line goes: when they run first, pass second, they are as good an offensive line as anyone in America, but if they pass first, run second as they tried to do several games into the year, they are average as anyone in America. I'm criticized a lot for criticizing the OL play, but if you watch any of Bama's games last year, you see that statement over and over again. Barrett Jones grew as a player and was probably the team's best lineman at the end of the year, Carpenter did as well as a guard playing tackle can do, and Vlachos improved as the year went on with his snaps. All three will be leaned on heavily to lead the team again this fall.
This Year
Who is back and who is new?
John Michael Boswell- JMB is one of those guys who isn't the best at any spot, but he's going to be one of those guys who is good at every spot. He can play both tackles and both guards right now and is their top reserve going into this season. If Warmack doesn't perform as expected, Boswell can fill the spot without any drop off.
James Carpenter- Carpenter learned LT under fire last year. I hope to see him using better footwork this fall because that's really the only real flaw in his game at LT is his footwork. You can tell he is more comfortable in a guard position by the way he moves off snap, but he's the best left tackle this team has still and you are not going to move him or win a one on one with him.
DJ Fluker- Big guy has lost a lot of weight and looks a lot more like the player we all thought we'd see last year. He projects as the starting right tackle and has held off McCullough this summer after more efforts in the weight room. DJ is a major obstacle to work around and most shouldn't get through him with ease....praying for no more Hightower video moments....but I think the 5 star thing has inflated what he is in the mind of some fans. DJ is a project. He is still very raw, and an experienced end will take advantage of him at times. Tight Ends and H Backs will be asked to help cover the wide side more than before. With that said, the upside is really on DJ, and how he learns and how he keeps his conditioning in check. I don't forsee him ever playing left tackle, but I can see him playing on Sundays with commitment from him to do it.
Barrett Jones- Jones matured as a lineman as the season went on. To watch the Virginia Tech game again and the Texas game, you could see a different player. He looks better this spring as well. The only thing I see him do that I wish he wouldn't, and he's not the only one that does this, is springing up off the snap. That movement usually results in a defeat for the down, but that is not a major issue and can be fixed. The thing I like most about Jones is that when he gets his assignment, he finishes them off fast. I think if he continues to progress and grow, he's got the potential to be a late 1st round pick.
Arie Kouandijo- I'd pay good money to watch Eli Gold and Verne Lundquist practice that name. Don't ask me how it goes, fellas born on Sand Mountain have no clue bout them thar fancy names. I do know this much, the guy can play football. The thing I like is that he comes out of his stance fast and keeps his shoulders down. He doesn't spring up when he goes, he just moves forward or backwards with the pad level where it should be and keeps his frame centered. He can be a bit slow on the outside rush, but I think with a little more coaching he can be solid at either tackle spot. He has beaten out Tyler Love for second string now and may still redshirt, but the odds look like they are going to season him up now.
Chad Lindsay- They grow them big in Texas and Chad is big. 2 websites have him over 300, and I'd believe that. He can play guard or center for the Tide, and they are going to need one soon. Ross is gone after this year, Motley is too, and Vlachos is gone after next season. He plays somewhat like Vlachos in that he has a powerful upper body and can obliterate players on the counter/pulling guard plays. He does a really good job of keeping his hands up and using them to keep defenders from driving him in the chest. He isn't overly fast, but guards and centers do not have to be as fast as tackles. I am guessing he redshirts and then gets to be AJ or Sims's center down the road.
Tyler Love- What's it gonna be? That's really the question here. He's big, he's got all the stats and attributes you could ask for except one- grit. I quipped a quote back last year that still holds true, he's about as mean as a Hallmark card. He's now 3rd string behind a true freshman and a guard playing tackle. My gut says that they have moved on to players who fit the bill and he can stay if he wants or leave if he wants.
Alfred McCullough- If Alfred were 3 inches higher, he'd be starting at tackle. That's really the only thing against him is that he's a little short for tackle at 6'2. His technique is strong, he's plenty stout and has plenty of power to be an SEC lineman. He works hard too, he's played DT, DE, LT, and RT in the last 2 years. If Bama has to be a passing team this year, he will be their right tackle as he can move and get around on the rush.
Brian Motley- The senior finishes up his letterman campaign this fall.
David Ross- David will backup Vlachos, but also will just finish up this fall.
Austin Shepherd- Austin is another Georgia product that will get a little time to season and will compete for one of the tackle spots in 2 or 3 years. He is quick for a lineman, moves really well in the videos available on him. He makes the most of each play and is a good run blocker, but gets out of balance when in pass protection. I look for him to bulk up and get more lower body strength and be a real bulldozer down the road if he applies himself.
Anthony Steen- If football were weight lifting, he'd be the number one pick. Steen is an ox, there is no question, but he's still really raw. At A Day he was great in run situations, but lost on passing situations. He still struggles with the stunts and other things defenses throw at him. He gets a break though because Warmack and Jones are both going to be there a little while so he can mature as a player some more. The thing I like about weight room warriors is that you know they can dedicate to something, and I think he'll dedicate to being better at it.
William Vlachos- Vlachos started every game last year and continues to improve on his center to QB exchanges. That's always priority one for a center. The rest comes after you get the ball off. When in space and on the pull, he's a force to be reckoned with. He is very strong and can take on much larger players, like Cody in practice, without the need to constantly double down. This is vital because they have others that need help on a double down. His leadership up front was missed at A Day as there were several gap issues. He will definately be a big help to Warmack and others this fall in helping them know their assignments.
Chance Warmack- Warmack is a guy that when you look at him, you think one thing, watch him play and you see a much better thing. Warmack is very gifted and fundamentally sound. He can take on big men like Chapman and Davis and move them and get on to the 2nd level, and he really plays well in space for a guy as young as he is. I think his upside is still ahead too.
Kellen Williams- He has potential, but he has a ton of better talent in front of him. I liked what I saw of him at A Day, but I fear that he's not going to get ahead of the guys his age in front of him.
Who is gone?
Mike Johnson- Mike's leadership and effort was a big part in last year's success. He started out at tackle and was moved back to guard which was all the difference in him playing Saturdays and Sundays.
Drew Davis- Davis was a greyshirt that worked hard and bulked up to gain a starting job and keep it.
Taylor Pharr- The only lineman I could ever see punting. Too bad he couldn't do that without getting hurt.
The Good...
The starters outnumber the newbies.
The line returns 3 starters in Carpenter, Vlachos, and Jones. This is always important and with all the questions on defense for once, they will be asked to play a lot of minutes and lead from the front week in and out. They have logged in a year's worth of starts and should grow from that to be better than before. They also have JMB with starts under his belt that will come in handy if injuries occur.
Improved Depth
At the end of the day, they have stockpiled talent up front. Most of it is unknown and untested, but the potential great lines of the future are there. Arie, Fluker, Jones, Lindsay, and Warmack are all potential starters now and in the future. That actually could be the starting five in 2 years.
The starters are all north of 300 minus 1.
That won't mean a win or loss, but it will mean that moving them back is just that much harder. I don't care how big and strong a d lineman is, 300 is 300.
The Bad...
Inexperience up front still exists
While they have 3 starters back, Warmack has some limited snaps in, and Boswell has several, Fluker has none, McCullough has a couple, Ross has a few, and the rest are unknown. If a few injuries happen, there isn't any experience behind either tackle to shore up with.
The Ugly...
They still give up too many hits to the QB
Even at A Day, they were putting the QBs on the run and they are supposed to be ahead of the d line. At some point, they have to be able to protect the quarterbacks and keep them up right. McElroy did a lot to keep the sacks down by chucking it in the sidelines or scrambling for his life, but they need the offense to move more this year and keep the defense off the field more this year than last. For that to happen, this OL has to break old trends and habits.
Depth Chart
LT- Carpenter / Arie / Love
LG- Warmack / Boswell / Lindsay
C- Vlachos / Ross / Motley
RG- Jones / Boswell / Steen
RT- Fluker / McCullough / Shepherd
Here is kind of the long and short of how Bama's offensive line goes: when they run first, pass second, they are as good an offensive line as anyone in America, but if they pass first, run second as they tried to do several games into the year, they are average as anyone in America. I'm criticized a lot for criticizing the OL play, but if you watch any of Bama's games last year, you see that statement over and over again. Barrett Jones grew as a player and was probably the team's best lineman at the end of the year, Carpenter did as well as a guard playing tackle can do, and Vlachos improved as the year went on with his snaps. All three will be leaned on heavily to lead the team again this fall.
This Year
Who is back and who is new?
John Michael Boswell- JMB is one of those guys who isn't the best at any spot, but he's going to be one of those guys who is good at every spot. He can play both tackles and both guards right now and is their top reserve going into this season. If Warmack doesn't perform as expected, Boswell can fill the spot without any drop off.
James Carpenter- Carpenter learned LT under fire last year. I hope to see him using better footwork this fall because that's really the only real flaw in his game at LT is his footwork. You can tell he is more comfortable in a guard position by the way he moves off snap, but he's the best left tackle this team has still and you are not going to move him or win a one on one with him.
DJ Fluker- Big guy has lost a lot of weight and looks a lot more like the player we all thought we'd see last year. He projects as the starting right tackle and has held off McCullough this summer after more efforts in the weight room. DJ is a major obstacle to work around and most shouldn't get through him with ease....praying for no more Hightower video moments....but I think the 5 star thing has inflated what he is in the mind of some fans. DJ is a project. He is still very raw, and an experienced end will take advantage of him at times. Tight Ends and H Backs will be asked to help cover the wide side more than before. With that said, the upside is really on DJ, and how he learns and how he keeps his conditioning in check. I don't forsee him ever playing left tackle, but I can see him playing on Sundays with commitment from him to do it.
Barrett Jones- Jones matured as a lineman as the season went on. To watch the Virginia Tech game again and the Texas game, you could see a different player. He looks better this spring as well. The only thing I see him do that I wish he wouldn't, and he's not the only one that does this, is springing up off the snap. That movement usually results in a defeat for the down, but that is not a major issue and can be fixed. The thing I like most about Jones is that when he gets his assignment, he finishes them off fast. I think if he continues to progress and grow, he's got the potential to be a late 1st round pick.
Arie Kouandijo- I'd pay good money to watch Eli Gold and Verne Lundquist practice that name. Don't ask me how it goes, fellas born on Sand Mountain have no clue bout them thar fancy names. I do know this much, the guy can play football. The thing I like is that he comes out of his stance fast and keeps his shoulders down. He doesn't spring up when he goes, he just moves forward or backwards with the pad level where it should be and keeps his frame centered. He can be a bit slow on the outside rush, but I think with a little more coaching he can be solid at either tackle spot. He has beaten out Tyler Love for second string now and may still redshirt, but the odds look like they are going to season him up now.
Chad Lindsay- They grow them big in Texas and Chad is big. 2 websites have him over 300, and I'd believe that. He can play guard or center for the Tide, and they are going to need one soon. Ross is gone after this year, Motley is too, and Vlachos is gone after next season. He plays somewhat like Vlachos in that he has a powerful upper body and can obliterate players on the counter/pulling guard plays. He does a really good job of keeping his hands up and using them to keep defenders from driving him in the chest. He isn't overly fast, but guards and centers do not have to be as fast as tackles. I am guessing he redshirts and then gets to be AJ or Sims's center down the road.
Tyler Love- What's it gonna be? That's really the question here. He's big, he's got all the stats and attributes you could ask for except one- grit. I quipped a quote back last year that still holds true, he's about as mean as a Hallmark card. He's now 3rd string behind a true freshman and a guard playing tackle. My gut says that they have moved on to players who fit the bill and he can stay if he wants or leave if he wants.
Alfred McCullough- If Alfred were 3 inches higher, he'd be starting at tackle. That's really the only thing against him is that he's a little short for tackle at 6'2. His technique is strong, he's plenty stout and has plenty of power to be an SEC lineman. He works hard too, he's played DT, DE, LT, and RT in the last 2 years. If Bama has to be a passing team this year, he will be their right tackle as he can move and get around on the rush.
Brian Motley- The senior finishes up his letterman campaign this fall.
David Ross- David will backup Vlachos, but also will just finish up this fall.
Austin Shepherd- Austin is another Georgia product that will get a little time to season and will compete for one of the tackle spots in 2 or 3 years. He is quick for a lineman, moves really well in the videos available on him. He makes the most of each play and is a good run blocker, but gets out of balance when in pass protection. I look for him to bulk up and get more lower body strength and be a real bulldozer down the road if he applies himself.
Anthony Steen- If football were weight lifting, he'd be the number one pick. Steen is an ox, there is no question, but he's still really raw. At A Day he was great in run situations, but lost on passing situations. He still struggles with the stunts and other things defenses throw at him. He gets a break though because Warmack and Jones are both going to be there a little while so he can mature as a player some more. The thing I like about weight room warriors is that you know they can dedicate to something, and I think he'll dedicate to being better at it.
William Vlachos- Vlachos started every game last year and continues to improve on his center to QB exchanges. That's always priority one for a center. The rest comes after you get the ball off. When in space and on the pull, he's a force to be reckoned with. He is very strong and can take on much larger players, like Cody in practice, without the need to constantly double down. This is vital because they have others that need help on a double down. His leadership up front was missed at A Day as there were several gap issues. He will definately be a big help to Warmack and others this fall in helping them know their assignments.
Chance Warmack- Warmack is a guy that when you look at him, you think one thing, watch him play and you see a much better thing. Warmack is very gifted and fundamentally sound. He can take on big men like Chapman and Davis and move them and get on to the 2nd level, and he really plays well in space for a guy as young as he is. I think his upside is still ahead too.
Kellen Williams- He has potential, but he has a ton of better talent in front of him. I liked what I saw of him at A Day, but I fear that he's not going to get ahead of the guys his age in front of him.
Who is gone?
Mike Johnson- Mike's leadership and effort was a big part in last year's success. He started out at tackle and was moved back to guard which was all the difference in him playing Saturdays and Sundays.
Drew Davis- Davis was a greyshirt that worked hard and bulked up to gain a starting job and keep it.
Taylor Pharr- The only lineman I could ever see punting. Too bad he couldn't do that without getting hurt.
The Good...
The starters outnumber the newbies.
The line returns 3 starters in Carpenter, Vlachos, and Jones. This is always important and with all the questions on defense for once, they will be asked to play a lot of minutes and lead from the front week in and out. They have logged in a year's worth of starts and should grow from that to be better than before. They also have JMB with starts under his belt that will come in handy if injuries occur.
Improved Depth
At the end of the day, they have stockpiled talent up front. Most of it is unknown and untested, but the potential great lines of the future are there. Arie, Fluker, Jones, Lindsay, and Warmack are all potential starters now and in the future. That actually could be the starting five in 2 years.
The starters are all north of 300 minus 1.
That won't mean a win or loss, but it will mean that moving them back is just that much harder. I don't care how big and strong a d lineman is, 300 is 300.
The Bad...
Inexperience up front still exists
While they have 3 starters back, Warmack has some limited snaps in, and Boswell has several, Fluker has none, McCullough has a couple, Ross has a few, and the rest are unknown. If a few injuries happen, there isn't any experience behind either tackle to shore up with.
The Ugly...
They still give up too many hits to the QB
Even at A Day, they were putting the QBs on the run and they are supposed to be ahead of the d line. At some point, they have to be able to protect the quarterbacks and keep them up right. McElroy did a lot to keep the sacks down by chucking it in the sidelines or scrambling for his life, but they need the offense to move more this year and keep the defense off the field more this year than last. For that to happen, this OL has to break old trends and habits.
Depth Chart
LT- Carpenter / Arie / Love
LG- Warmack / Boswell / Lindsay
C- Vlachos / Ross / Motley
RG- Jones / Boswell / Steen
RT- Fluker / McCullough / Shepherd
August 15, 2010
The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly- Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Before we jump into a deep and long discussion on WR's, let's talk scrimmage. The number of TDs aren't a big deal either way because it is always inflated based on what the staff runs for the day. The number of passes they threw tells me that the secondary was getting a tough love lesson that they and really the whole defense must have needed. The worry I get from the scrimmage is 2 parts:
Part one, when you are tired, sore, banged up, you show who you are and the secondary and defense were those and they didn't show up. When Saban has to stop scrimmage to chew you to get you up, that's not good. Last year, when they were tired and hurt, they rallied and prevailed. This year's group hasn't exactly gotten there yet. If they flop again after the 2nd scrimmage, trouble looms. Part two is that they don't have that leader out there now that gets that extra effort. Ro and Javy would have been the rally captains during those hot, tired, hurting moments and gotten them up for one more fight. I've yet to hear anyone be that guy. I hear a lot about vocal "leaders" but it was quiet on the western front of late. Maybe I am spoiled by McClain's leadership, but that's what they'll need again to repeat. This team has all the potential in the world, but little resume to show for it. It does have a lot of ifs and maybes that fans wanna lean on. I never feel good about that, but I have a few more weeks to get comfortable with things.
Like I said before, the second scrimmage will show more about their growth, but I think it probably starts to lower the bar for some until we can figure out if this team has the stuff of champions. I think they have it, but they haven't found it in them just yet. I think that's where a lot of Saban's frustrations are right now.
WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS
Last Year
Well, if all these two spots did were block, they would have been all stars. However, both spots had spots of inconsistency and games where they did not catch the ball well or run routes well. Julio Jones was expected to step it up to the next level, but a variety of injuries and other hampered that. Marquis Maze had great games (UF) and games where you couldn't find him on the radar, same for Hanks. Peek had an up and down time as the team emphasised him some weeks and others didn't even look to him other than as a blocker. Smelley lost his job to Preston Dial and has yet recover it. Michael Williams came on later in the year and became the new Travis McCall for the group and really is their best blocker returning.
This Offseason
Who is back and who is new?
Earl Alexander- Alexander is a guy that has flirted with playing, but seems to stub his toe each year. Literally. He probably will be the team's 5th option behind the starting 3 and Gibson. His size makes him a threat always, and he is a fairly decent run blocker, but he doesn't have a certain skill that separates him from the others. I'll give him credit, he could have packed it in 2 years ago, but he's stayed with it and hopefully has taken advantage of the education opportunities available to him.
Kenny Bell- Bell gives them a vertical option, but I wonder if he can play consistently enough to get on the field enough to do it. I thought he looked ok in the A Day game, but he lacks any strength to separate from a jam or bump.
Michael Bowman- If Bowman can stay out of the dog house, he may participate this year. If not, well, it isn't like there aren't options without him. He can be the Julio lite for this team. He is physical, can block, catch over the middle, and make mistakes turn into big plays. He also can lose focus, and get out of the game at times. The firecracker might be a metaphor for his career if he isn't careful. He can go up as fast as he came down and fizzled out.
Brandon Gibson- This may be the year where Gibson finally steps up. He's shown a great interest in improving his game and for the first time in his career, he looks like he wants to play. I still think he can really contribute as the other slot in the 4 wide set and really compliments Jones and Maze just as Hanks does. They will need him to step up and have a solid year like Matt Caddell did.
Darius Hanks- Hanks continues to just do his part. He doesn't run the best routes at times, he rounds off, but he catches the ball and doesn't muff, drop, or miss the ball. He has good speed and can turn a 15 yard play into a 50 yard TD. Just ask MSU. McElroy likes him as his safety option at times, but he needs to step up and be there as more than just that. He can be a great WR, and he now gets this year and next to do it.
Julio Jones- Jones is a bit of an enigma. He can be just dominate and take games over, but he can also deviate and miss passes over and over. He is a pure specimen and does all the fundamentals at an NFL rookie level. He has a great vertical, he has a 2nd gear that can leave any defender 10 yards behind him, and he can pretty well abuse a corner with his physical play. Jones only real concern is concentration. When he's not focused, he's still good, but he's not good enough to cover his tracks. When he doesn't concentrate, you start to see drops and missed routes. He has the chance to get up the draft board and be the 1st WR off the board next year, but he needs a complete season this fall. I think he can get that year with more time with McElroy now in hand, and he probably is a top 15 pick this spring.
Keiwone Malone- The 1st WR on the board last year, not to mention the first recruit period, and has a lot of upside to him. He is a speed WR and will play taller than he is. He can cut on a play and waste little motion to shed defenders. That will be big if he can do that at this level. The biggest thing I notice in his videos is that he is not comfortable catching with his hands. He lacks the upper body strength like most coming out of high school do, but he has the ability to be a good option for McCarron and Sims down the road.
Marquis Maze- The light came on and Maze has finally started to play like the guy we expected coming out of high school. He is the speed option across from Julio when they want to run Jones over the flat. He probably is McElroy's top option, was in the UF game, and he looks for him when he's in trouble. I look for him to continue to progress and be a solid contender for 2nd team all SEC this year.
Kevin Norwood- The coaches really like him, but he isn't going to wow anyone with his game. He's a little slower version of Hanks and Gibson. With that said, he runs better routes than both, and he has really good hands. I don't know if he can continue to linger in the 7-8th option without getting more talk about defense. He was a good defensive back in high school and it may be time to revisit that now that this year's secondary has issues.
DeAndrew White- Another new face on the team this year. White is a little more polished than Malone is. He has good hands and really has a great first step off the snap. He has great speed but it isn't a second gear thing, it just is that his first step and movement with the ball is faster than most defenders. His main growth area is to work on a juke move or something to separate without speed. His moves are not as smooth as Malone's and he sometimes struggles to shed defenders, but he has better "hops" and gets a lot of jump balls. I think he probably will get a shot at playing this fall, but I hope with the depth they already have that either can't or won't redshirt, he gets to sit out this year and get a year of college life in.
Preston Dial- Dial was on the forgotten list by many, but a bad first series against Va Tech by Smelley resulted in 14 weeks in heaven for Dial. Dial is a pure blocker, but has good enough speed and hands to get an occasional look. Dial will play both the TE and H Back in different situations and packages. I'm happy for him, he's worked hard and has become a real surprise contributor for the team. I look for a lot from him and Williams because the team will still run the ball a lot.
Brad Smelley- Smelley's freshman year was a great surprise. He worked his way into a solid option at H Back. His sophomore year was a great disappointment. The team asked him to be more of a blocker and to round his game. He didn't answer the challenge and lost his job. His season just went to quicksand, the more he played the more the struggles were there. He has a chance to work back to the role he had as a freshman, and I think that's where his game really is at and will be. Running short routes out of the H Back position to give the QB a safety option.
Chris Underwood- This is really the now or never summer for Underwood. Vogler is close to beating him out for the 3rd spot at TE and he's yet to get any real PT other than mop up and the occasional short yardage blocking scheme. I think that's about all he'll get this year too. It would not surprise me if Chris developed an injury that ended his career next year like cannotfindthefielditis. Deadly in Tuscaloosa so I hear....
Brian Vogler- Big fella. Putting him and Williams side to side will book end a massive running game some time in the future. Like Williams, he's big and physical, but sneaky athletic for his size. Typically a guy his size can't catch over his head, but Vogler can stretch out like a WR and pull down passes. I can see them using him this fall as they work through sets and formations and try to keep all their guys fresh. I could see him bulking up and outgrowing the TE spot and becoming a tackle possibly because he has good technique in his run and pass blocking.
Michael Williams- Williams redshirted and went from Jack to TE in the year. Last year, he came through to become one of the better blockers on the team. He can play both TE and H Back and is athletic and quick enough to be an option in the passing game, but needs to work on his hands. He will be leaned on more this year with Fluker at RT to help him as he continues to mature. If he can get better at catching and holding the ball right, he could be Colin Peek part deux.
Who is gone?
Colin Peek- One year, one title, one good guy. Holla McGhee was a great leader and solid worker on a team full of stars. He played hurt a lot and gutted through it. I wish we could have watched him for 2 or 3 years, but am just happy for the 1 we got.
Mike McCoy- If his game were as good as his mouth, he'd been a player.
The Good....
Talent is deep at both positions
When you have guys who can fill in for a 1st round pick, you have it good. Bama has that at WR now. Sure, none are as good as Julio, but as we saw last year, they can play and win without him if needed. Tight End continues to stack up with quality players as well with Vogler, Williams, and Dial all powerful blockers with the capacity to snare a few passes as needed.
The year of the Julio is upon us
All indications are that he's healthy and ready to put all the doubts and mumbling to rest. Nobody out mumbles Julio....NOBODY. All kidding aside, I think he's a little embarrassed by some of the issues he had last year with the drops and really invisible championship game, and with motivation and his talent, he should be back in the 1000 yard club and threaten the record books.
Road paving TE's = protection in numbers for a shaky pair of tackles
Not to jump ahead, but Bama has a guard playing tackle and a guy who isn't real polished yet at the other. With that said, having Dial and Williams on a regular basis as well as Vogler off the bench, gives the QB and staff a lot more confidence because they are proven blockers and can cover up a few mistakes or misses along the way.
The Bad...
Coaching isn't exactly strong here...
I am one of the growing numbers of fans that really tires of seeing the WRs underachieve. I get that triple C is a great recruiter, and he does teach them to be some pretty dawgone good fullbacks out there. Ok, I'm being a little silly with that, but blocking is a part of their job, but catching the damn ball is what makes them get scholarships. Even with Maze's improvement, he's still streaky. Maze is the only one that I've seen that has grown as a player. With that said, I see a weekly occurrence of bad route running, mental errors, drops, and letting corners abuse them. All are coachable fixes within a couple of weeks, but through the spring, they still are there 3 years later. Where Burton is a great coach and recruiter, Cignetti is a pure recruiter and short on coaching. I realize by mentioning, the race to post lines of "well Saban likes him" or something to that degree will come, but really, you put guys like triple C at fullbacks coach. You notice Bama doesn't have those now, that would be a good spot for him.
The Ugly...
Watching the WR play during the BCS championship again.
What? You want details on that? Watch it again, it is like a school yard bully beatin on the one armed math wiz out there.
Depth Chart
1st String- Jones/Maze/Hanks Williams (TE)/Dial (HB)
2nd String- Alexander/Bell/Gibson Vogler / Smelley
3rd String- Norwood/Bowman/White Underwood
Part one, when you are tired, sore, banged up, you show who you are and the secondary and defense were those and they didn't show up. When Saban has to stop scrimmage to chew you to get you up, that's not good. Last year, when they were tired and hurt, they rallied and prevailed. This year's group hasn't exactly gotten there yet. If they flop again after the 2nd scrimmage, trouble looms. Part two is that they don't have that leader out there now that gets that extra effort. Ro and Javy would have been the rally captains during those hot, tired, hurting moments and gotten them up for one more fight. I've yet to hear anyone be that guy. I hear a lot about vocal "leaders" but it was quiet on the western front of late. Maybe I am spoiled by McClain's leadership, but that's what they'll need again to repeat. This team has all the potential in the world, but little resume to show for it. It does have a lot of ifs and maybes that fans wanna lean on. I never feel good about that, but I have a few more weeks to get comfortable with things.
Like I said before, the second scrimmage will show more about their growth, but I think it probably starts to lower the bar for some until we can figure out if this team has the stuff of champions. I think they have it, but they haven't found it in them just yet. I think that's where a lot of Saban's frustrations are right now.
WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS
Last Year
Well, if all these two spots did were block, they would have been all stars. However, both spots had spots of inconsistency and games where they did not catch the ball well or run routes well. Julio Jones was expected to step it up to the next level, but a variety of injuries and other hampered that. Marquis Maze had great games (UF) and games where you couldn't find him on the radar, same for Hanks. Peek had an up and down time as the team emphasised him some weeks and others didn't even look to him other than as a blocker. Smelley lost his job to Preston Dial and has yet recover it. Michael Williams came on later in the year and became the new Travis McCall for the group and really is their best blocker returning.
This Offseason
Who is back and who is new?
Earl Alexander- Alexander is a guy that has flirted with playing, but seems to stub his toe each year. Literally. He probably will be the team's 5th option behind the starting 3 and Gibson. His size makes him a threat always, and he is a fairly decent run blocker, but he doesn't have a certain skill that separates him from the others. I'll give him credit, he could have packed it in 2 years ago, but he's stayed with it and hopefully has taken advantage of the education opportunities available to him.
Kenny Bell- Bell gives them a vertical option, but I wonder if he can play consistently enough to get on the field enough to do it. I thought he looked ok in the A Day game, but he lacks any strength to separate from a jam or bump.
Michael Bowman- If Bowman can stay out of the dog house, he may participate this year. If not, well, it isn't like there aren't options without him. He can be the Julio lite for this team. He is physical, can block, catch over the middle, and make mistakes turn into big plays. He also can lose focus, and get out of the game at times. The firecracker might be a metaphor for his career if he isn't careful. He can go up as fast as he came down and fizzled out.
Brandon Gibson- This may be the year where Gibson finally steps up. He's shown a great interest in improving his game and for the first time in his career, he looks like he wants to play. I still think he can really contribute as the other slot in the 4 wide set and really compliments Jones and Maze just as Hanks does. They will need him to step up and have a solid year like Matt Caddell did.
Darius Hanks- Hanks continues to just do his part. He doesn't run the best routes at times, he rounds off, but he catches the ball and doesn't muff, drop, or miss the ball. He has good speed and can turn a 15 yard play into a 50 yard TD. Just ask MSU. McElroy likes him as his safety option at times, but he needs to step up and be there as more than just that. He can be a great WR, and he now gets this year and next to do it.
Julio Jones- Jones is a bit of an enigma. He can be just dominate and take games over, but he can also deviate and miss passes over and over. He is a pure specimen and does all the fundamentals at an NFL rookie level. He has a great vertical, he has a 2nd gear that can leave any defender 10 yards behind him, and he can pretty well abuse a corner with his physical play. Jones only real concern is concentration. When he's not focused, he's still good, but he's not good enough to cover his tracks. When he doesn't concentrate, you start to see drops and missed routes. He has the chance to get up the draft board and be the 1st WR off the board next year, but he needs a complete season this fall. I think he can get that year with more time with McElroy now in hand, and he probably is a top 15 pick this spring.
Keiwone Malone- The 1st WR on the board last year, not to mention the first recruit period, and has a lot of upside to him. He is a speed WR and will play taller than he is. He can cut on a play and waste little motion to shed defenders. That will be big if he can do that at this level. The biggest thing I notice in his videos is that he is not comfortable catching with his hands. He lacks the upper body strength like most coming out of high school do, but he has the ability to be a good option for McCarron and Sims down the road.
Marquis Maze- The light came on and Maze has finally started to play like the guy we expected coming out of high school. He is the speed option across from Julio when they want to run Jones over the flat. He probably is McElroy's top option, was in the UF game, and he looks for him when he's in trouble. I look for him to continue to progress and be a solid contender for 2nd team all SEC this year.
Kevin Norwood- The coaches really like him, but he isn't going to wow anyone with his game. He's a little slower version of Hanks and Gibson. With that said, he runs better routes than both, and he has really good hands. I don't know if he can continue to linger in the 7-8th option without getting more talk about defense. He was a good defensive back in high school and it may be time to revisit that now that this year's secondary has issues.
DeAndrew White- Another new face on the team this year. White is a little more polished than Malone is. He has good hands and really has a great first step off the snap. He has great speed but it isn't a second gear thing, it just is that his first step and movement with the ball is faster than most defenders. His main growth area is to work on a juke move or something to separate without speed. His moves are not as smooth as Malone's and he sometimes struggles to shed defenders, but he has better "hops" and gets a lot of jump balls. I think he probably will get a shot at playing this fall, but I hope with the depth they already have that either can't or won't redshirt, he gets to sit out this year and get a year of college life in.
Preston Dial- Dial was on the forgotten list by many, but a bad first series against Va Tech by Smelley resulted in 14 weeks in heaven for Dial. Dial is a pure blocker, but has good enough speed and hands to get an occasional look. Dial will play both the TE and H Back in different situations and packages. I'm happy for him, he's worked hard and has become a real surprise contributor for the team. I look for a lot from him and Williams because the team will still run the ball a lot.
Brad Smelley- Smelley's freshman year was a great surprise. He worked his way into a solid option at H Back. His sophomore year was a great disappointment. The team asked him to be more of a blocker and to round his game. He didn't answer the challenge and lost his job. His season just went to quicksand, the more he played the more the struggles were there. He has a chance to work back to the role he had as a freshman, and I think that's where his game really is at and will be. Running short routes out of the H Back position to give the QB a safety option.
Chris Underwood- This is really the now or never summer for Underwood. Vogler is close to beating him out for the 3rd spot at TE and he's yet to get any real PT other than mop up and the occasional short yardage blocking scheme. I think that's about all he'll get this year too. It would not surprise me if Chris developed an injury that ended his career next year like cannotfindthefielditis. Deadly in Tuscaloosa so I hear....
Brian Vogler- Big fella. Putting him and Williams side to side will book end a massive running game some time in the future. Like Williams, he's big and physical, but sneaky athletic for his size. Typically a guy his size can't catch over his head, but Vogler can stretch out like a WR and pull down passes. I can see them using him this fall as they work through sets and formations and try to keep all their guys fresh. I could see him bulking up and outgrowing the TE spot and becoming a tackle possibly because he has good technique in his run and pass blocking.
Michael Williams- Williams redshirted and went from Jack to TE in the year. Last year, he came through to become one of the better blockers on the team. He can play both TE and H Back and is athletic and quick enough to be an option in the passing game, but needs to work on his hands. He will be leaned on more this year with Fluker at RT to help him as he continues to mature. If he can get better at catching and holding the ball right, he could be Colin Peek part deux.
Who is gone?
Colin Peek- One year, one title, one good guy. Holla McGhee was a great leader and solid worker on a team full of stars. He played hurt a lot and gutted through it. I wish we could have watched him for 2 or 3 years, but am just happy for the 1 we got.
Mike McCoy- If his game were as good as his mouth, he'd been a player.
The Good....
Talent is deep at both positions
When you have guys who can fill in for a 1st round pick, you have it good. Bama has that at WR now. Sure, none are as good as Julio, but as we saw last year, they can play and win without him if needed. Tight End continues to stack up with quality players as well with Vogler, Williams, and Dial all powerful blockers with the capacity to snare a few passes as needed.
The year of the Julio is upon us
All indications are that he's healthy and ready to put all the doubts and mumbling to rest. Nobody out mumbles Julio....NOBODY. All kidding aside, I think he's a little embarrassed by some of the issues he had last year with the drops and really invisible championship game, and with motivation and his talent, he should be back in the 1000 yard club and threaten the record books.
Road paving TE's = protection in numbers for a shaky pair of tackles
Not to jump ahead, but Bama has a guard playing tackle and a guy who isn't real polished yet at the other. With that said, having Dial and Williams on a regular basis as well as Vogler off the bench, gives the QB and staff a lot more confidence because they are proven blockers and can cover up a few mistakes or misses along the way.
The Bad...
Coaching isn't exactly strong here...
I am one of the growing numbers of fans that really tires of seeing the WRs underachieve. I get that triple C is a great recruiter, and he does teach them to be some pretty dawgone good fullbacks out there. Ok, I'm being a little silly with that, but blocking is a part of their job, but catching the damn ball is what makes them get scholarships. Even with Maze's improvement, he's still streaky. Maze is the only one that I've seen that has grown as a player. With that said, I see a weekly occurrence of bad route running, mental errors, drops, and letting corners abuse them. All are coachable fixes within a couple of weeks, but through the spring, they still are there 3 years later. Where Burton is a great coach and recruiter, Cignetti is a pure recruiter and short on coaching. I realize by mentioning, the race to post lines of "well Saban likes him" or something to that degree will come, but really, you put guys like triple C at fullbacks coach. You notice Bama doesn't have those now, that would be a good spot for him.
The Ugly...
Watching the WR play during the BCS championship again.
What? You want details on that? Watch it again, it is like a school yard bully beatin on the one armed math wiz out there.
Depth Chart
1st String- Jones/Maze/Hanks Williams (TE)/Dial (HB)
2nd String- Alexander/Bell/Gibson Vogler / Smelley
3rd String- Norwood/Bowman/White Underwood
August 6, 2010
The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly- Running Backs
LAST YEAR RECAP
Things were about as perfect as any season in my lifetime as far as Bama running backs go. Ingram improved by leaps and bounds, and was pushed hard by Richardson who looked like a junior last year. Ingram's Heisman run started against Va Tech as he started to take over the game in the 2nd half and was capped off by the screen pass in the SEC championship game. TR's season was nothing short of great even if he had fewer carries. His run against Arkansas is still probably one of the top 3 runs I've ever witnessed. Upchurch's TD against Va Tech and Auburn will be the moments I remember him for because he flat out trucked the defender against Tech and his catch against Auburn probably will be a Moore painting eventually.
THIS OFFSEASON
Who is back?
Demetrius Goode- Graduated from Hargrave, why doesn’t that make me feel better on a side note there, and is a pure running back. Goode looks good at times and looks afraid others. He is holding off Lacy, which may be more about Lacy than him, but the potential for Goode has pretty well plateued it looks like. He probably could start at some schools, but not with 2 Heisman caliber players ahead of him.
Mark Ingram- Dad was a great WR for the Dolphins, and he’s a darn good athlete himself. As a freshman, I said "Out of all the RB’s coming in, he’s the most likely to make an impact because he’s versatile enough to play inside or outside and kick it up a notch and turn a 5 yard carry to a 30 yard TD." Sometimes I actually hit one. Some questioned his vision last year before the season, I don't think there is a weak spot in his game right now. There are areas that he probably could grow like pass blocking, but you don't ask your best offensive threat to block much. Ingram will get the bulk of the carries, but I doubt he gets as many this year as last because the staff will be more comfortable with both Richardson and McElroy's game to let him stay fresh whereas last year he gassed a few times. I really think fans better enjoy him this year because I don't see a reason for him to stay after this fall.
Eddie Lacy- Lacy is a 4 star RB that would have been a bigger name in the recruiting wars if his grades were better. He's a downhill runner, plain and simple. In some aspects of his running game, he reminds me of Glen Coffee or Ahmaad Galloway. He's flashy, and not a guy most likely to bust out a 80 yard TD on any defense at the college level, but he's consistent, runs low, but he runs with the ball loose and free, and most of all is patient with the ball. For example, Darby would race up to the lane he was to run to, and jitter around and force it. The results were 2 yards or less most of the time. Lacy is patient to the lane, and has the vision to cut back or cut outside if the play isn't there and doesn't force the action if it isn't required. Loves to hit, uses his lower body power to move people and punish smaller defenders for tackling him. His lower body power will make his YAC (contact) numbers look impressive because he doesn't go down on contact (see Terry Grant) he plows forward for 2-4 more yards. The only flaws in his game that I can find is that he's not going to just blow away defenders in a foot race and he gets sloppy with his hand transitions while running. He's listed with 4.4/4o speed, but he lacks that extra burst that Shaun Alexander and Bobby Humphrey type players had. He redshirted and his Internet legend continues to grow as the "How's Lacy (or Lacey) doing" threads grow. My fear is that while physically he is a D-1 guy, mentally he may not be up to a Saban status. As we have learned well, if you can't get the playbook or take one of his chewings and keep going, you don't have a long shelf life at Alabama any more. That's my fear, nothing concrete on that.
Trent Richardson- You would get a kick out of watching me watch this guy play. The transcript is pretty easy reading. "Damn....daaaamn, wow, damn". That's about it. This guy has that "it" that the Alexanders and Humphreys and Jacksons and Walkers have. He has that McFadden stiff arm that just humiliates and stings defenders. Does a great job of getting low and making his tackle spot small. Uses his hips and shoulders to hit a small crease and turn into the open field. He's one of the more fluid runners I've seen in recent years. He really impressed everyone last season and showed off his skills during the BCS game as Ingram was cramping. As to the debate over is TR better than Ingram? Time will tell, but they are similar backs as far as how they approach the role, but different in their styles of running.
Mike Marrow- Marrow is a lot like Chris Jordan was a while back. He could play on either side of the ball, but he lists with everyone as a H Back, just because he is playing that sorta. They seem more content to let a TE go in motion to lead block than using the FB much and that will hurt Marrow's play time potential because the way that position is approached compared to a fullback is different. As a runner, he's a pinball. He's not fancy and not flashy, but he's a true north south running back with serious leg drive. The few shots of him blocking that I could find, he likes to stick players, but you can tell he's not practiced it all that much or hasn't been taught how to use his body and power to move players in space. I still would not be shocked if he is moved half way during the season to ILB.
Who is gone?
Roy Upchurch. Was sought after by all the major Florida schools and Arkansas. Has a nice balance to his running style. He mixes power with dashes of speed to make a nice package. He had 2500 yards and 27 TDs and became a Parade All American. He redshirted due to injury in 05, played sparingly in 06 and 07. Played half of 08 before going down with a neck injury. When he did play last year, I thought he looked good both as a runner and a blocker. Nobody will question his effort on the field though. It is all elbows and cleats when he runs. He had some great moments over the last 2 years, and I wish he could have stayed healthy, but he did all the things asked of him and was a team guy.
Terry Grant. Grant played as a return man for a bit but was injured early. Mr. Mississippi ran for 2700 yards and had 35 TD’s. He also comes from a winning program. He started out like a ball of fire early, but the pounding that the SEC brings caught up with him. He fell down the depth chart and found pity with fans, but not the staff. His career at Bama was short, and he went on to other opportunities.
Jeramie Griffin- was the 3rd best fullback in the US his senior year and compiled 1200 yards. He looked strong against a beaten MSU team last year, but he's really about to become a situational back and Saban has never been a fan of a guy who just comes in for 1 thing, like jumbo back. They have held him out this summer under a cloud of mystery, but news today is that he has gone medical.
Who is new?
Corey Grant- Grant is a pure scatback, plain and simple. He will have to be used in several different areas like slot WR, and returner. They can use him in some shotgun draw type situations, or quick dive type plays, but he won't be a guy that can be ran 25 times a game in this system. He's not built for it, but he does do a good job of keeping his pads and hips low to keep from getting a lot of direct shots. If they want him to be a starting running back, he will have to spend a lot of time in the weight room to fill out and develop into a full system back.
The Running Backs
The Good...
The best position coach on the staff resides here
I felt it before but after seeing him go through all the situations on film, I can say it without a lot of fear at this point. I am sure some will say that given all the talent he gets with Ingram, Richardson, Upchurch, Lacy, and others, it is easy. Maybe, but look at where they were and where they are. Also, look at all the threads discussing the WR coaching and how you never see anyone saying the talent isn't progressing at RB. Also, do you recall fumbles or missed assignments with these guys? I can think of one fumble by Ingram against UT, but outside of that, nothing. Remember, he got Spiller to Clemson too, that worked well for CJ.
Best depth on the team resides here in both quality and quantity
There may be better backfields, but there is not a better running back core in the nation than Alabama. Period. There are 2 sure fire 1st round draft picks playing side by side and a few potential good to great backs behind them just starving for more touches.
Plenty of carries available
I do think they will pass more, but I also think that the 2 main backs will still get plenty of touches to keep defenses off balance. Ingram and Richardson, PC will be able to provide a full service of running beat downs across the nation as they attempt to repeat as national champs.
The Bad...
Enjoying it now, because it may not be around long...
With Ingram really ready for NFL life now and Richardson not far behind, it is a realistic worry that by the end of next season, both will be gone and Bama will be starting over instead of passing the torch as Coffee did to Ingram.
The Ugly....
How many times can someone wonder who number 26 is?
Really, is there a reason to wonder if a walkon running back is a player? I'm happy for a guy to live the dream, but folks I really wish fans would ask more about the secondary than who the 5th string tail is.
Depth Chart
1st String- Ingram/Richardson. 1A and 1B really, but Ingram will get more touches
3rd String- Goode. Hunch says they are trying to get Lacy to turn a corner and putting him 4th will help with that if he hasn't started the turn by the end of the month.
4th String- Lacy
Things were about as perfect as any season in my lifetime as far as Bama running backs go. Ingram improved by leaps and bounds, and was pushed hard by Richardson who looked like a junior last year. Ingram's Heisman run started against Va Tech as he started to take over the game in the 2nd half and was capped off by the screen pass in the SEC championship game. TR's season was nothing short of great even if he had fewer carries. His run against Arkansas is still probably one of the top 3 runs I've ever witnessed. Upchurch's TD against Va Tech and Auburn will be the moments I remember him for because he flat out trucked the defender against Tech and his catch against Auburn probably will be a Moore painting eventually.
THIS OFFSEASON
Who is back?
Demetrius Goode- Graduated from Hargrave, why doesn’t that make me feel better on a side note there, and is a pure running back. Goode looks good at times and looks afraid others. He is holding off Lacy, which may be more about Lacy than him, but the potential for Goode has pretty well plateued it looks like. He probably could start at some schools, but not with 2 Heisman caliber players ahead of him.
Mark Ingram- Dad was a great WR for the Dolphins, and he’s a darn good athlete himself. As a freshman, I said "Out of all the RB’s coming in, he’s the most likely to make an impact because he’s versatile enough to play inside or outside and kick it up a notch and turn a 5 yard carry to a 30 yard TD." Sometimes I actually hit one. Some questioned his vision last year before the season, I don't think there is a weak spot in his game right now. There are areas that he probably could grow like pass blocking, but you don't ask your best offensive threat to block much. Ingram will get the bulk of the carries, but I doubt he gets as many this year as last because the staff will be more comfortable with both Richardson and McElroy's game to let him stay fresh whereas last year he gassed a few times. I really think fans better enjoy him this year because I don't see a reason for him to stay after this fall.
Eddie Lacy- Lacy is a 4 star RB that would have been a bigger name in the recruiting wars if his grades were better. He's a downhill runner, plain and simple. In some aspects of his running game, he reminds me of Glen Coffee or Ahmaad Galloway. He's flashy, and not a guy most likely to bust out a 80 yard TD on any defense at the college level, but he's consistent, runs low, but he runs with the ball loose and free, and most of all is patient with the ball. For example, Darby would race up to the lane he was to run to, and jitter around and force it. The results were 2 yards or less most of the time. Lacy is patient to the lane, and has the vision to cut back or cut outside if the play isn't there and doesn't force the action if it isn't required. Loves to hit, uses his lower body power to move people and punish smaller defenders for tackling him. His lower body power will make his YAC (contact) numbers look impressive because he doesn't go down on contact (see Terry Grant) he plows forward for 2-4 more yards. The only flaws in his game that I can find is that he's not going to just blow away defenders in a foot race and he gets sloppy with his hand transitions while running. He's listed with 4.4/4o speed, but he lacks that extra burst that Shaun Alexander and Bobby Humphrey type players had. He redshirted and his Internet legend continues to grow as the "How's Lacy (or Lacey) doing" threads grow. My fear is that while physically he is a D-1 guy, mentally he may not be up to a Saban status. As we have learned well, if you can't get the playbook or take one of his chewings and keep going, you don't have a long shelf life at Alabama any more. That's my fear, nothing concrete on that.
Trent Richardson- You would get a kick out of watching me watch this guy play. The transcript is pretty easy reading. "Damn....daaaamn, wow, damn". That's about it. This guy has that "it" that the Alexanders and Humphreys and Jacksons and Walkers have. He has that McFadden stiff arm that just humiliates and stings defenders. Does a great job of getting low and making his tackle spot small. Uses his hips and shoulders to hit a small crease and turn into the open field. He's one of the more fluid runners I've seen in recent years. He really impressed everyone last season and showed off his skills during the BCS game as Ingram was cramping. As to the debate over is TR better than Ingram? Time will tell, but they are similar backs as far as how they approach the role, but different in their styles of running.
Mike Marrow- Marrow is a lot like Chris Jordan was a while back. He could play on either side of the ball, but he lists with everyone as a H Back, just because he is playing that sorta. They seem more content to let a TE go in motion to lead block than using the FB much and that will hurt Marrow's play time potential because the way that position is approached compared to a fullback is different. As a runner, he's a pinball. He's not fancy and not flashy, but he's a true north south running back with serious leg drive. The few shots of him blocking that I could find, he likes to stick players, but you can tell he's not practiced it all that much or hasn't been taught how to use his body and power to move players in space. I still would not be shocked if he is moved half way during the season to ILB.
Who is gone?
Roy Upchurch. Was sought after by all the major Florida schools and Arkansas. Has a nice balance to his running style. He mixes power with dashes of speed to make a nice package. He had 2500 yards and 27 TDs and became a Parade All American. He redshirted due to injury in 05, played sparingly in 06 and 07. Played half of 08 before going down with a neck injury. When he did play last year, I thought he looked good both as a runner and a blocker. Nobody will question his effort on the field though. It is all elbows and cleats when he runs. He had some great moments over the last 2 years, and I wish he could have stayed healthy, but he did all the things asked of him and was a team guy.
Terry Grant. Grant played as a return man for a bit but was injured early. Mr. Mississippi ran for 2700 yards and had 35 TD’s. He also comes from a winning program. He started out like a ball of fire early, but the pounding that the SEC brings caught up with him. He fell down the depth chart and found pity with fans, but not the staff. His career at Bama was short, and he went on to other opportunities.
Jeramie Griffin- was the 3rd best fullback in the US his senior year and compiled 1200 yards. He looked strong against a beaten MSU team last year, but he's really about to become a situational back and Saban has never been a fan of a guy who just comes in for 1 thing, like jumbo back. They have held him out this summer under a cloud of mystery, but news today is that he has gone medical.
Who is new?
Corey Grant- Grant is a pure scatback, plain and simple. He will have to be used in several different areas like slot WR, and returner. They can use him in some shotgun draw type situations, or quick dive type plays, but he won't be a guy that can be ran 25 times a game in this system. He's not built for it, but he does do a good job of keeping his pads and hips low to keep from getting a lot of direct shots. If they want him to be a starting running back, he will have to spend a lot of time in the weight room to fill out and develop into a full system back.
The Running Backs
The Good...
The best position coach on the staff resides here
I felt it before but after seeing him go through all the situations on film, I can say it without a lot of fear at this point. I am sure some will say that given all the talent he gets with Ingram, Richardson, Upchurch, Lacy, and others, it is easy. Maybe, but look at where they were and where they are. Also, look at all the threads discussing the WR coaching and how you never see anyone saying the talent isn't progressing at RB. Also, do you recall fumbles or missed assignments with these guys? I can think of one fumble by Ingram against UT, but outside of that, nothing. Remember, he got Spiller to Clemson too, that worked well for CJ.
Best depth on the team resides here in both quality and quantity
There may be better backfields, but there is not a better running back core in the nation than Alabama. Period. There are 2 sure fire 1st round draft picks playing side by side and a few potential good to great backs behind them just starving for more touches.
Plenty of carries available
I do think they will pass more, but I also think that the 2 main backs will still get plenty of touches to keep defenses off balance. Ingram and Richardson, PC will be able to provide a full service of running beat downs across the nation as they attempt to repeat as national champs.
The Bad...
Enjoying it now, because it may not be around long...
With Ingram really ready for NFL life now and Richardson not far behind, it is a realistic worry that by the end of next season, both will be gone and Bama will be starting over instead of passing the torch as Coffee did to Ingram.
The Ugly....
How many times can someone wonder who number 26 is?
Really, is there a reason to wonder if a walkon running back is a player? I'm happy for a guy to live the dream, but folks I really wish fans would ask more about the secondary than who the 5th string tail is.
Depth Chart
1st String- Ingram/Richardson. 1A and 1B really, but Ingram will get more touches
3rd String- Goode. Hunch says they are trying to get Lacy to turn a corner and putting him 4th will help with that if he hasn't started the turn by the end of the month.
4th String- Lacy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)