Now that the depth chart is finalized, we can get back on track!
LAST YEAR...
With the running game having issues at times, the passing game was asked to step up. That meant the Julio being Julio show was a 13 celeb-reality episode season. Jones answered his critics and played his best ball in spite of injuries. Darius Hanks took yet another step forward with his ability to compliment Jones and Maze by getting open and making key catches. The depth behind them, however, did not step up as hoped. Gibson had folks hoping, but did not come through. Maze also was a good compliment, but did not take the step that most had hoped for him to make. Nor did Norwood, Bowman, Bell, or Alexander who combined all combined for fewer catches than Ingram. The lack of advancement by the 2nd string leaves Bama at a cross roads this fall.
THIS YEAR...
Who is back?
Kenny Bell- Bell's greatest impact to date is mouthing off after a loss that he didn't contribute to. Bell was supposed to be a speedster, and probably is without the pads on, but with pads he is pretty well in the herd. Kenny is about the same height as most of the others, and has decent hands. The problem he faces is that with White and others primed to pass him by, he may just be a career backup. This fall is one of those falls for him to see the light or else I am afraid because the Sylves and Shinns along with whomever Bama signs will be competing for his spot.
Michael Bowman- The much talked about Bowman has yet to really find a place on the field. He is very big and plays physical, but coming out of high school was very raw. He redshirted and they experimented with him at HBack last year but they have moved him back to WR. He is running 3rd string but had a pretty good summer according to most. Bowman will get a lot of comparisons to other WRs like him physically like Jones, Megatron Johnson, TO, etc. He is not as fast as any of those, but is very good at making separation with his strength. Bowman isn't going to blow away anyone, but he can be a great possession WR if he can earn the staff's trust there. Like Bell, this is a big year for him, because like Bell, there are a lot of guys ready to bury him on the depth chart.
Brandon Gibson- Gibson has teased fans with glimpses of greatness. There are practice players and gameday players and Gibson is a practice guy. He will get plenty of chances to change that image, but he has allowed another player younger than him to pass him by. Brandon projects as a potential slot WR and if he wants it and plays for it, could be good at it, but he seems to disappear every fall with the change of the leaves. He graduates this year and hopefully has done what he needs to do to earn a degree and move on from football.
Darius Hanks- Hanks is having to sit out the first couple of games to re-earn his year of eligibility. When he returns, he will be the starter who theoretically replaces Jones. He has had a very good spring and summer and I look for him to make another jump in his production now that he can be a go to guy and not the check down guy. He earned McElroy's trust because he doesn't drop many. I hope that we all see the guy who has mastered MSU than the one who sometimes goes through the motions, but a new coach should help with that. Hanks, like most of the guys above, have not had a lot of coaching over their Bama careers, but Coach Groh is a coach first, recruiter second. Look for Hanks to get around 45 to 55 catches this fall regardless of how any other guy does.
Marquis Maze- Maze is a bit of a mystery. One week, you get to see the guy who just blazes past everyone and helps stretch the field. The next week, you can't find him on the box score. If Maze's consistency issues are Julio related, then that problem is solved. If it is concentration, there are a few guys who can fix that named White, Carter, and Hanks. Maze has all the speed and athleticism to do whatever he wants . He just needs to bring that game each week and he will play on Sundays. I look for him to probably get around 40 or so snags this year as well.
Kevin Norwood- The guy flips into the endzone against PSU and looks like a hero in the A Day game a year ago, but went forever before playing again and didn't catch a pass in 8 straight games. The staff likes him, when he isn't showboating, and I know they want him to make it on the field, but he is like the herd and doesn't really separate from the pack. He does have the benefit that he is well liked by the ones that count. I look for him to contribute a little more as they will probably try to rotate him and White in more. Look for Norwood to be in for run blocking help as he does an adequate job sealing the corner from his position.
DeAndrew White- White has surprised a few because he is the "starter" going into Kent State. He will fill in for Hanks while he sits out, but he will get a lot of PT chances early on and may hold off Carter once he is up to speed. Remember, Saban is a stickler for rewarding effort and practice performance. White's vertical and speed have separated him from the other 10 6 foot 190 WRs. He has put in the work and if he can make some growth in finding his first move off the ball to separate between the defender, he will be a 3 or 4 year starter.
Who is Gone?
Earl Alexander- Injuries and not being all that good at catching the ball limited his career.
Julio Jones- Jones saved his best year for his last year. There is no telling how high his ceiling is with some coaching and focus. At Alabama, he seemed to always play better in the big games and enjoyed LSU most of all as the matchup against Patterson was a circle game for him. There is not a replacement for Jones, but the loss of Jones is not quite as big as some have made it either.
Kewione Malone- Malone got in the doghouse quickly and was gone even faster this summer.
Who is New?
Ronnie Carswell- Ronnie is a guy who must not have played against many big corners. I say that because he doesn't like contact off the line of scrimmage. He's gonna have to learn how to negotiate through the bump and separate, but as a true frosh, he will get a full year on practice squad to do such. His role and future is as a slot WR it looks like and that is good because the other guys joining him are not quite that kind of player.
Marvin Shinn- Shinn has a lot of upside to him and he's got size going for him too. I don't know how much PT if any he gets this year because of the log jam of unredshirtable guys above him, but if he plays it will probably be early and then sparingly. Shinn probably will get more looks next season as Maze and Hanks will be gone. He will get Jones comparisons too because he's tall and kinda physical like Jones, but he's not really the same type of player. I think Shinn is probably a little farther along as a true WR than Jones was.
Bradley Sylve- Bradley is another 6 footish WR but he has a lot of speed and is a guy who can be a lot of things if coached. He is going to get a lot of comments about being Percy Harvin 2, but I think he's probably a better WR than Harvin was in college. Sylve is almost a sure redshirt but like Shinn, he may get some early PT before conference play.
Duron Carter- The much speculated one comes in and probably will get his first real PT in the PSU game, at best. Carter is the big physical guy that they need in the rotation. Carter had a good year in JC with 10 TDs, but given he missed all of the summer, folks shouldn't put expectations too high too early. As Duron goes, he is a guy who really can make a QB look good. Even on bad passes, he can adjust and reel in the ball. He has a lot of moves with the ball and has a good understanding of what his position is. He is much more likely to juke and move than stiff arm and fight through tackles. While he really needed to be at practice to build a rapport with McCarron and Sims, when they do click, he should be able to do something that not many Tide WRs have done in the past- break route and help the QB get rid of the ball. On the field, he doesn't lack confidence and I think when he gets the playbook down, he should be great. My biggest worry with him is that he's a 1 and gone type of player. He's eligible for the NFL and a good season may be all he needs to jump.
The Good...
Even without Julio, they can still be just as good
Granted, nobody will be as individually as good as Jones, but as a whole, they can be as good as a whole as they were last year if not better. Hanks, Maze, Carter, and White are all very talented and bring a lot of experience (minus White) to the table. With more passes available to those guys will result in more one on one opportunities because most teams won't double these guys.
A new voice is VERY good
Let's be honest, Cignetti was not much of a coach. He was a recruiter that had to have a position job. With Groh, you know his roots and has coaching experience and a good track record. He knows how to coach and has a lot of respect in the coaching circles. I like the fact that he's moved up to a position coach, and don't be surprised if they need a new OC, he's their next. No inside info, but he's that well liked when his name comes up.
Depth is still good, but it is time for some to show it
Bama can go 4 and 5 deep at WR, but it is time for some of these guys to step up and quit waiting for it to come to them. The best news of this fall is an injury will not be the end of the world where as last year probably would have been. Bell, Bowman and Norwood are really getting down to the point where they have to step up and show what they can do on Saturdays because while the staff likes to reward seniority, they aren't shy about making the backup a freshman- just ask Jerrell Harris over the years or Mosley and Hightower.
The Bad...
No proven playmakers found....
When fans talk about passing the ball all over the place and amassing all these yards and TDs, I often wonder- who is gonna help with that? Sure we can speculate that this guy or that guy will be a star, but to date none are proven. Carter may be the closest to proven with his JuCo career, but he has 1 practice as of today. At the end of the year, there probably is a go to playmaker, but who or whom that is, nobody can honestly tell you. They can speculate based on hype and Internet folklore.
The Ugly...
Can Bama survive if Hanks and/or Maze go down?
Probably, but they really don't have any depth or leadership beyond those two. Both are proven to be tough and durable, but things happen. Bama has gotta work harder on establishing depth here. Given the attrition and NFL rate that they go through, slow playing things is not the best prescription for future seasons. I hope to see a 3 deep rotation working through most of the games throughout the season. Why? While it may kill a stat line for a couple, it will build a lot more confidence in players and develop more players. The past strategy of not playing many other than in mop up has left the Tide with 2 experienced WRs and a host of unknown commodities.
THE BOTTOM LINE....
The bottom line for the Wide Outs is pretty cut and dry, they have to make plays for Bama to win. The running game will carry the team on offense, but the WRs must help extend to win. Hanks and Maze will have good years, I don't have any doubt there, but I would like to know that White, Carter, and others were on their page and level for sure. Bama will need to fill the blocking role that Jones had, and I think a host of guys can do that. I don't think that it will be a position that makes or breaks Bama, but this is a position that will need to answer when called to duty.
The Depth Chart
1st String- Hanks-Maze-White
2nd String- Carter-Gibson-Norwood
3rd String- Bowman-Bell-Shinn
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