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
No comments:
Post a Comment