🏈 2016 NFL Combine / Draft

[JoshB]

Let's see what Urban does in the next 5 years with that talent.

See what happens in 5 years wont matter, that wasnt my point. Thats Urban's MO, the team will fall apart like Florida did. But that doesnt take away from how much talent he had loaded on that 2014 team and what they accomplished that year or in this draft. That is the difference between Saban and Meyer IMO tho. Saban had that under performing 2010 class and learned from it and used it to teach future classes which lead to three more titles in five years. Urby doesn't seem to learn from stuff like that.

 

[planomateo]

See what happens in 5 years wont matter, that wasnt my point. Thats Urban's MO, the team will fall apart like Florida did. But that doesnt take away from how much talent he had loaded on that 2014 team and what they accomplished that year or in this draft. That is the difference between Saban and Meyer IMO tho. Saban had that under performing 2010 class and learned from it and used it to teach future classes which lead to three more titles in five years. Urby doesn't seem to learn from stuff like that.

You realize we're arguing the same point basically. All those draft selections and they didn't play for the big one this year...

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

tOSU will begin to falter just like Florida did. And UM will develop some mystery illness and bail on them. And then they will be mediocre again. Just hope Bama gets another chance at those cocky bastages before the mudslide begins.

Same here.

How you been, man? Haven't seen you since the TideSprotz days...

 

[bradenob]

You realize we're arguing the same point basically. All those draft selections and they didn't play for the big one this year...

I thought the same thing - but they just blew it vs MSU - it happens. They had a loaded team, but yeah, look at us in 2010.

 

[bradenob]

OSU set the record (10) for most picks in first 3 rounds and that is impressive, but it got me thinking...Bama had 7 and had J. Allen not been hurt and OJ Howard declared, we would surely have had 9. I also think that Reu. Foster and Eddie J. would both have had a good shot at being taken in rounds 1-3. That would have Bama at 11. Under the circumstances, I'm glad the Suckeyes set the record and not the Tide.

Exactly! Now they are decimated!

And it even makes me wonder if A'Shawn should have come back. Not his fault, but by Saban's thinking, since he WASN'T taken in the first round (although 2 other DTs were) did he cost himself too much money?

When I think about Landon last year, he was the FIRST safety drafted, even though he didn't get into the first round. I don't know that that was a mistake.

 

[mrchase]

Exactly! Now they are decimated!

And it even makes me wonder if A'Shawn should have come back. Not his fault, but by Saban's thinking, since he WASN'T taken in the first round (although 2 other DTs were) did he cost himself too much money?

When I think about Landon last year, he was the FIRST safety drafted, even though he didn't get into the first round. I don't know that that was a mistake.

Only thing that hurt Reed and Robinson were style of play and the way the game has gone. Them coming back wouldn't have changed much.....especially with Allen and Williams coming back as pass rush specialist.

 

[bamachine]

Robinson could become a great pass rusher, just needs some more work at it. He is a freak athlete but mostly was used to plug up the middle and bat down passes.

Reed is more athletic than most think, now he would not be a good DE but he still is a badass.

 

[Tidestalker]

Exactly! Now they are decimated!

And it even makes me wonder if A'Shawn should have come back. Not his fault, but by Saban's thinking, since he WASN'T taken in the first round (although 2 other DTs were) did he cost himself too much money?

When I think about Landon last year, he was the FIRST safety drafted, even though he didn't get into the first round. I don't know that that was a mistake.

I'm pretty convinced that teams are starting to see Bama players as damaged goods... And it's justifiable.

 

[planomateo]

I'm pretty convinced that teams are starting to see Bama players as damaged goods... And it's justifiable.

Justifiable, care to elaborate?

 

[Tidestalker]

Justifiable, care to elaborate?

Sure. I can't remember every single guy that has come out with injuries and to what extent... But here are the names of players off the top of my head who came out with legitimate injury concerns and/or couldn't make it through that first year healthy:

-AJ McCarron
-Josh Chapman
-Jesse Williams
-Dre K
-James Carpenter
-D. Milliner
-Mark Ingram

It's no secret that Saban prefers these guys practice as much as possible when recovering from injuries. Despite the great production and talent level in college... A lot of these guys aren't panning out in the NFL to their draft level. Injuries playing a part in that.

 

[Alabama17Tide]

With the final results in, the University of Alabama's draft class of 2016 provoked a lot of conversation. Some of it was insightful and some of it was a rehash of the same tired themes that have been tossed around about every Crimson Tide draft class since 2009.

On the one hand, if there was a disappointment, it's that there was only one first-round draft choice, center Ryan Kelly. It was a tough Thursday night for the three defensive prospects who waited (along with head coach Nick Saban) for a call that didn't come until Friday. That sparked a few raised eyebrows and the chorus of chirping critics who insist on lumping all Alabama prospects together and saying they are "overworked" or that they "are so well-coached in college that they max out their potential," which may be the ultimate sideways compliment. Added to that this year was a new concept: that Alabama defenders are taught to stop the run first and NFL teams prioritize now pass defense instead.

There may be some truth to that -- next year, with Jonathan Allen, Tim Williams and DeShawn Hand, all potent pass rushers and potential draftees, will be a good test.

Frankly, though, any blanket statement that starts with "all Alabama players" is wrong-headed. If there was some universal theme that led A'Shawn Robinson, Jarran Reed and Reggie Ragland to "slip," why didn't it check Ryan Kelly's meteoric rise? Why did Derrick Henry, who had some people screaming "overworked" from his 263rd carry against Auburn on (OK, it wasn't quite that many) actually go higher than some people thought. So did Cyrus Jones and Kenyan Drake? Why did Seattle, whose staff knows plenty about defense, trade up seven spots to secure Reed? You can look at the "one first-rounder" as a "glass half-empty" situation if you strain hard enough. But isn't seven of the first 73 picks a "glass half-full" scenario, or better?

Could A'Shawn Robinson have come back for another year and raised his draft stock? It's possible, although Detroit in the second round was a good spot. And what would the rest of the SEC have done?

Much Mirth was had at the expense of Tennessee, which had zero draft choices for the second consecutive year. That's fewer than Vanderbilt, or Navy, or Samford, or the Baylor basketball team. Every other SEC team had one choice, at least. Volunteer fans will tell you that this was their version of Alabama getting blanked in the 2008 draft and that they will soon start rolling out first-rounders with a vengeance. Matching Alabama's reprint since then is a high bar, but the truth is somewhere in the middle. UT will not be shut out of the 2017 draft, though.

You can never see the future but it's hard to remember worse "back to school" decisions (without injury being involved) than the ones made by Cardale Jones at Ohio State and Duke Williams at Auburn. Both might have been first-rounders last year but returned for limited playing time and much worse spots in the draft. Jones went to Buffalo on the last pick of the fourth round and no team would touch Williams after a suspension and a dismissal. That's not blasting Auburn. Williams brought it on himself, ignoring some time-honored wisdom: if you're going to go all Johnny Manziel, be sure to do so only after you get the signing bonus.

Rivals

 

[footballer]

I may have missed it but any of you guys know where the Arkansas qb is going ? Is his name Allen ? I think he is a pretty good player and probably should have been drafted by somebody.

 

[bama alum]

I may have missed it but any of you guys know where the Arkansas qb is going ? Is his name Allen ? I think he is a pretty good player and probably should have been drafted by somebody.

Jacksonville

 

[JoshB]

Sure. I can't remember every single guy that has come out with injuries and to what extent... But here are the names of players off the top of my head who came out with legitimate injury concerns and/or couldn't make it through that first year healthy:

-AJ McCarron
-Josh Chapman
-Jesse Williams
-Dre K
-James Carpenter
-D. Milliner
-Mark Ingram

It's no secret that Saban prefers these guys practice as much as possible when recovering from injuries. Despite the great production and talent level in college... A lot of these guys aren't panning out in the NFL to their draft level. Injuries playing a part in that.

So 7 guys, out of what maybe 30, got hurt in their first year? Pick 30 random draft picks every single year, probably 15 of them will not go through their first years without an injury... I dont think your theory holds much water... For every Dee Milliner or Jesse Williams that has been plagued with injuries you have how many Julio Jones or CJ Mosleys or Courtney Upshaws who very rarely ever miss a game.

 

[Tidestalker]

So 7 guys, out of what maybe 30, got hurt in their first year? Pick 30 random draft picks every single year, probably 15 of them will not go through their first years without an injury... I dont think your theory holds much water... For every Dee Milliner or Jesse Williams that has been plagued with injuries you have how many Julio Jones or CJ Mosleys or Courtney Upshaws who very rarely ever miss a game.

Like I said... That'ss just off the top of my head. There has been more than 7. (Cyrus K is another one)

Those certain guys come to mind because most literally entered the draft injured, which is 4 months after the season.

Both those DT's dropped dramatically and got picked behind lesser players IMO. I don't think it's the end all/be all... But I think it's part of the equation.

 

[planomateo]

Sure. I can't remember every single guy that has come out with injuries and to what extent... But here are the names of players off the top of my head who came out with legitimate injury concerns and/or couldn't make it through that first year healthy:

-AJ McCarron
-Josh Chapman
-Jesse Williams
-Dre K
-James Carpenter
-D. Milliner
-Mark Ingram

It's no secret that Saban prefers these guys practice as much as possible when recovering from injuries. Despite the great production and talent level in college... A lot of these guys aren't panning out in the NFL to their draft level. Injuries playing a part in that.

Perhaps, that thought has been out there for a while, going back to his days at LSU. I'm sure it has some merit with some scouts.

With regards to making it through the first year healthy, assume you are referring to being placed on IR vs being healthy. I bet you could chart this pretty easily to compare Alabama to other big name schools of similar playing style.

 

[94 Grad]

Sure. I can't remember every single guy that has come out with injuries and to what extent... But here are the names of players off the top of my head who came out with legitimate injury concerns and/or couldn't make it through that first year healthy:

-AJ McCarron
-Josh Chapman
-Jesse Williams
-Dre K
-James Carpenter
-D. Milliner
-Mark Ingram

It's no secret that Saban prefers these guys practice as much as possible when recovering from injuries. Despite the great production and talent level in college... A lot of these guys aren't panning out in the NFL to their draft level. Injuries playing a part in that.

I think if you look at all the 1st and 2nd round picks, you'll find a lot of short-term/bust/injuries out of that group. It's not like you have 64+ long term players enter the league every year... you'd never have enough room for them all... In reality you have very few long term players in the draft every year.

I don't think injury plays much of a role in where our players got drafted this year...it was more where the teams saw value in skill set they wanted/needed. Sometimes the needs of a team don't match the skill set of the "best" available player at the position.

 

[planomateo]

I'm pretty convinced that teams are starting to see Bama players as damaged goods... And it's justifiable.

:shock: Seems I'm not the only one that disagrees with ya.

 

[Tidestalker]

:shock: Seems I'm not the only one that disagrees with ya.

Does he have a choice?

I could probably argue that the reason Bama's "injury rate" is less than other SEC teams is due to players playing through those injuries rather than sitting out.

Saban is a master at using the media... I think he makes valid points. But my general opinion isn't changed.

 

[Max]

Nick Saban has a reputation for putting players from Alabama into the NFL, and it has become a very effective recruiting tool. The reputation for some of those players as pros, however, bothers the coach.

When radio hosts Brock Huard and Mike Salk of ESPN 710 Seattle brought up the narrative of Alabama players being worn-down by time they reach the pros, Saban emphatically rejected it.


“When you talk to NFL teams, none of them ever say that to me,” Saban responded. “I don’t know where that came from. Eddie Lacy comes out and is rookie of the year as a running back. Where’s the wear and tear? We had 45 guys on NFL rosters last year, which is more than any other college team, so where’s the wear and tear? I don’t see it. Dr. (Lyle) Cain and Dr. (James) Andrews are our team doctors who deal with a lot of NFL players. They monitor what we do with our players.”

Though the Seattle interview focused on the Seahawks drafting DT Jarran Reed (or was at least supposed to), it’s more likely that the worn-down stigma brought up by the hosts could be attached to RB Derrick Henry if he fails to meet expectations in the NFL. Henry was Alabama’s primary back in 2015, logging 395 carries over the course of 15 games. By comparison, RB Kenyan Drake ran the ball 77 times.

Saban said that Alabama keeps a close eye on players’ wear and tear.

“We use a catapult system here, which is a GPS system that measures wear and tear on players. We certainly keep a balance in what we do. We also keep a record of how our players progress through the season and how they finish the season, based on the workload we have. Those players all improve their workload throughout the season. We had the lowest injury rate of any team in our conference, which is the only way we can measure it. I think a lot of those things are not even true.”

Seven members of the Crimson Tide were drafted last month, including C Ryan Kelly (Indianapolis Colts) at No. 18, Henry at No. 45 (Tennessee Titans) and Reed at No. 49.