Secondary:
Two key pieces of the secondary are gone.
Eddie Jackson broke his leg and didn’t play the stretch run of Alabama’s playoff season last year.
Marlon Humphrey opted to leave eligibility on the table and declare for the NFL Draft. However, arguably the best member of the secondary returns for his junior season in
Minkah Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick is the Swiss-Army knife of the Crimson Tide secondary. He can do a bit of everything with the ability to play corner, Star and safety. Where he’ll play this season isn’t yet known. Defensive backs coach
Derrick Ansley returns after a productive first season to lead the unit.
Anthony Averett emerged as the surprise player in last year’s unit, and he was the most productive too. Who could be that player this season? There is no shortage of candidates.
Intrigue level: 4
*Intrigue level is rated on a scale of 1-5 based on competition, number of starting spots available at a respective position and growth needed for a position
The cornerbacks
The list must begin with Averett, who had a great season in 2016. He was quietly one of the better players on the defense. A major decision that must be made is where Fitzpatrick will play. He is the best defensive back on the team, and it wouldn’t surprise many if he moves back to corner. That move could be made if wildcard player
Tony Brown remains a viable option to hold down the Star nickel back position or the safety spots. If Brown can do that, the defensive coach staff would undoubtedly feel much more comfortable in moving Fitzpatrick to corner. Otherwise, look for one of the young defensive backs like
Shyheim Carter,
Aaron Robinson,
Jared Mayden or
Nigel Knott to compete for the spot opposite Averett.
The safeties
Ronnie Harrison is a two-year starter at safety, and he’ll be the guy on the back end of the defense that the young players will look to for an example.
Hootie Jones should keep his spot in dime defenses. The unknown is where Fitzpatrick and Brown end up playing.
Deionte Thompson is another to watch in the competition.
The outlook
It’s a big year for the secondary, which might be counted on a little more this season without as much depth on the defensive line creating pressure on opposing quarterbacks. That might be the secondary needs to provide tighter coverage to give the defensive line time to get home to the passer. Averett had a breakout season last year. Who emerges at the opposite corner remains to be seen. If Fitzpatrick is moved to corner full time, the coaching staff will feel confident due to his experience. If it’s a younger player, as history has taught us, there will be some growing pains.
Linebackers:
Reuben Foster was the best linebacker in the country a season ago. His departure leaves a largo void to fill in the middle of Alabama’s defense. Shaun Dion Hamilton should be healthy following his rehabilitation from a torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered in the SEC Championship Game against Florida. He’ll be the most experienced linebacker for the Crimson Tide this season, and he’ll have to lead a young unit. Both starting outside linebackers are gone too, and both were really extremely productive players in Ryan Anderson and Tim Williams. The good news is that is plenty of talent in the linebacker meeting room. It’s just young in certain spots.
Intrigue level: 3
*Intrigue level is rated on a scale of 1-5 based on competition, number of starting spots available at a respective position and growth needed for a position
The inside linebackers
It all starts with Hamilton, an instinctive glue guy in the middle of the Alabama defense. Hamilton’s play went largely overshadowed on last year’s defense simply due to the amount of talent in crimson and white. His injury in the SEC Championship Game cost him his postseason. Look for him to return ready to go in 2017. Rashaan Evans filled in well for Hamilton during his absence. Evans is a quick-twitch linebacker whose best asset is arguably his speed. His ability to close on a ballcarrier is something to behold. Another inside linebacker to watch out for is Mack Wilson, who made quite the name for himself with big hits on special teams his freshman season. Wilson is a special athlete who could earn a role for himself this season. Ben Davis is also a name to remember. He redshirted last season, but he is physically ready to compete in the SEC. How much he learned the defense last season will help determine how much action he sees this season.
The outside linebackers
Losing the best outside linebacker duo in the country in Anderson and Williams will take some steam out of the unit. But there is talent ready to step in that just needs some seasoning. Anfernee Jennings earned playing time last season and is the first player projected to fill those big shoes. He has the size to play the position at 6-foot-3, 265 pounds. Christian Miller is another quick-twitch linebacker, and he’s worked hard during his time in the program to add size and strength. This could be his breakout year. Terrell Hall is another young player who could see his playing time increased. At 6-5, 251 pounds, Hall has the size and length that could make him a nightmare to block.
The outlook
Alabama lost some really good and productive linebackers in 2016. But the opportunity now exists for other guys to step up and ensure the drop off in play isn’t a factor this season. Hamilton will be the guy that others look to this season, but don’t overlook Evans. Evans is superior athletically to almost anyone he’ll face. He just needs to play more consistently, because the skill is there. Miller and Hall could be difference makers on the outside.
Defensive Line:
It’s without question the biggest position in need of growth and development throughout the spring, summer and fall camp. Not because the talent isn’t there. Only because of the caliber of players lost the last two seasons, including A’Shawn Robinson, Jarran Reed, D.J. Pettway, Darren Lake, Jonathan Allen and Dalvin Tomlinson. Light defensive line recruiting classes the last two seasons leaves Alabama without as much depth as we’ve seen in the past. However, Da’Shawn Hand and Da’Ron Payne are as talented as any defensive line in the country. But where the unit will be measured will be how quickly others can assimilate themselves into the group to provide much-needed depth. The defensive line has been a strength for the team the previous three years. How quickly that unit can develop depth might determine how efficient the defense will be in 2017.
Intrigue level: 5
*Intrigue level is rated on a scale of 1-5 based on competition, number of starting spots available at a respective position and growth needed for a position
The defensive ends
Hand came to Alabama as the top-rated high school football player in the country. The 6-foot-4, 282-pounder has never been shouldered with pressure to help set the tone for the unit. That changes this season. He’ll be the guy the younger players look to when seeking an example. Raekwon Davis is literally the big man in the group at 6-foot-7, 303 pounds. He will be asked to play a bigger role after a freshman season in which he played in seven of 15 games. Grabbing Isaiah Buggs from the junior college ranks for the 2017 recruiting class was a major coup for Nick Saban and the defensive staff. Buggs will try to be as productive as the Crimson Tide’s last junior college defensive lineman to make an impact, Jarran Reed. Redshirt freshman Quinnen Williams is one player to watch to see how much he developed in 2016. Williams has earned positive remarks behind the scenes, and he’ll be needed to play a role this season.
The nose guards
Payne is the best defensive lineman on the team, and, arguably, in the conference. His size, strength and agility set him apart from others. The junior is a force in the middle. He has the ability to take on two blocks to free up his linebackers or use his athleticism to get after the quarterback. The back-up is Josh Frazier who will be asked to log more minutes this season.
The outlook
There’s no getting around it. The depth isn’t where the defensive coaching staff would like it to be. However, there is enough talent for the unit to be quite good this season. It will need such good fortune in staying healthy along with some inexperienced players getting up to speed. Much like Ryan Anderson and Denzel Devall assisted the defensive line in years past with the ability to put a hand down and rush, outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings could provide assistance in the way of another body. Depending on how quickly he develops, Terrell Hall could fit that bit as well. Even with better depth last season, Clemson’s 99 plays ran against the defense in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game showed how a team can never have enough depth. That’s what Alabama will work for this spring and fall.
The skill-position players on offense are a talented group, and, if it’s possible, that adulation is an understatement for the group of running backs, wide receivers and tight ends Alabama has acquired. The names read like a list of freaks, and by and large, they are. Bo Scarbrough is a physical specimen who, when healthy, is among the best running backw in the country. Calvin Ridley is the best receiver on a team full of good receivers. Tight end Miller Forristall began to establish himself in the second half of last season and should be better this season. And that’s just to name three athletes. The actual list is much more comprehensive. The running back position is loaded with absurd talent, an almost embarrassment of riches. There are also a wide variety of talents available among the wide receivers, especially if Robert Foster chooses to stay and is healthy (he openly talked about transferring at the end of last season but remains on the team’s spring roster).
Skill Positions:
Intrigue level: 2
*Intrigue level is rated on a scale of 1-5 based on competition, number of starting spots available at a respective position and growth needed for a position
Running backs
This is the portion of the article where Alabama fans sit back and smile comfortably. The amount of absurdly talented running backs at the offense’s disposal can do that to a fan base. Scarbrough leads the pack as a freakishly big and fast bull of a back that can just easily run away from a defensive back as he can run through a linebacker’s tackle. Damien Harris is a veteran that can do all the little things a team needs. Josh Jacobs is becoming a complete back with a different gear that makes him elusive. He also has great vision. B.J. Emmons showed flashes last season, too, before suffering a season-ending injury. Then there are the incoming freshmen, already on campus, who will compete in a loaded backfield for carries. The first was one of the top-rated high school players in the country, Najee Harris, who has the chance to be special, but remember, he’s a just a freshman. The other is no stranger to those who got a chance to see him play at Hillcrest High School. Brian Robinson is a Tuscaloosa kid and a talented ball carrier in his own right.
Wide receivers
Some have questioned if Ridley went through a sophomore slump in 2016. Far from it. The talented speedster caught more than 70 passes but his numbers dropped a bit due to then-freshman quarterback not being able to get him the ball down the field. Ridley remains just as difficult a matchup for defenders as he did during his stellar freshman season. Behind him are Cam Sims, Trevon Diggs and both will have good chances to earn starting jobs. Foster is a wild card, as most forget he was off to a great start in 2015 before he had a season-ending shoulder injury. A couple of freshmen already on campus who will go through spring practice will also contend for playing time in Tyrell Shavers and Jerry Jeudy. T.J. Simmons and and Derek Kief will also battle for playing time and roles on the team.
Tight ends
Hale Hentges is the veteran of the group but Forristall really began establishing himself last season as a guy who will be hard to keep off the field. Irv Smith Jr. is also a talented guy who brings some versatility to his game. It’s easy to envision Smith Jr. as a player who could play the H-back position as well as tight end. True freshman Major Tennison is a 6-foot-5, 244-pounder who could contend for a role. Then there is the intriguing prospect of Cam Stewart, a 6-8 target who came to the Crimson Tide program after a stint in minor league baseball.
The outlook
Alabama has a list of skill-position weapons that could be a nightmare for defensive coordinators. Some of it (the wide receivers) will depend on how much growth Hurts experiences during the offseason. The running backs could do a lot of damage with a more powerful offensive line, punching holes in the middle of defenses. All in all, the skill positions at Alabama are loaded.
Countdown to spring: Secondary | TideSports.com Aaron Suttles
