🏈 A good quote to read from Cory Reamer yesterday (re: Dont'a) + a few pratice notes.

[TerryP]

• I know we've seen the subject come up here a few times over spring camp. However, it's one of those subjects that seems to be largely overlooked except for a handful of members who have referred back to it a few times here and there.
  
  On the other hand, a lot of people have talked about how much the defense could improve with a more consistent pass rush.
  
  Early on in our practice reports we talked about Dont'a getting a look at the JACK position. It was one of those things seen when the media viewing sessions were in progress. In those drills, from the third or fourth day on he was back working at the WILL position.
  
  But, just because that was observed in the viewing sessions that doesn't mean that's what's been happening when practice was in full swing.
  
  Note this comment yesterday from Cory:
  
  
  "Don'ta is getting a lot more work at defensive end, working on pass rush because he's got great skill on the edge - he's got great speed -And he's going to do some special things for us."
  
  ​
• Another little jewel that Reamer shared yesterday was Jerrell Harris has been seeing some some time as our dime back (a position called "money" in our scheme, like the nickel back is called "star when we move to a set with six defensive backs. (which is called rabbits in our scheme)
  
  That's a move that has no doubt presented itself because of the speed and athleticism Jerrell brings to the playing field.
  
  Just to put that in perspective, last year Anders was the guy (only one if I'm not mistaken, that was referred to as the "rabbit."
  
• Touching on Reamer's first quote again. The placement of Hightower has been with the grouping of Upshaw, Dareus and Washington. A very interesting grouping for a defensive line.
  
• If you haven't watched the clips from practice yesterday take a few minutes and do so.
  
  They say competition makes a player better. Well, you won't find a group any better than our front seven when it comes to challenging an offensive line. To say the drills were "spirited," is a bit of a misnomer.
  
• Mark Ingram and Mike Johnson weren't wearing the black jersey's yesterday (no-contact) but there is still no definitive word whether or not they'll see action Saturday during the A-day game. A few from Tuscaloosa has said they have heard Ingram may not play - we'll see Saturday.
  
  Upchurch and Alexander were still in black.
  

 

[firestorm]

Nice info Terry, thanks.

I've said it before and I'll say it again; Nico Johnson's gonna step up since day one at Will and Don'ta Hightower will be moved to the Jack. We've seen it at the Sugar Bowl and Saban said it some times as well, Don'ta is one of our best puss-rushers and a heck of an athlete with terrible speed and coverage knowledge. That's my humble bet.

RTR,

 

[HIGHTIDES]

When I first read Reamer's remarks I was grinning from ear to ear. It's going to be insane having that many athletes on the field at the same time.

One thing that has me giddy in that sort of "Hahaha, I told you so kinda way" is that I had joked that if we could get Hightower, Dareus, Upshaw and Washington on the line together, we'd slaughter d-lines... I was totally messing around, and then I read that yesterday. Good times. RTR

 

[TerryP]

When I first read Reamer's remarks I was grinning from ear to ear. It's going to be insane having that many athletes on the field at the same time.

One thing that has me giddy in that sort of "Hahaha, I told you so kinda way" is that I had joked that if we could get Hightower, Dareus, Upshaw and Washington on the line together, we'd slaughter d-lines... I was totally messing around, and then I read that yesterday. Good times. RTR

Assuming we are in a dime....

Put that lineup together. :rofl:

 

[psychojoe]

Nice info Terry, thanks.

I've said it before and I'll say it again; Nico Johnson's gonna step up since day one at Will and Don'ta Hightower will be moved to the Jack. We've seen it at the Sugar Bowl and Saban said it some times as well, Don'ta is one of our best puss-rushers and a heck of an athlete with terrible speed and coverage knowledge. That's my humble bet.

RTR,

Not to diminish Nico's abilities in any way, but we do return all of our starters from a year ago plus several backups. Nico may well be good enough to make Hightower to Jack a full time move, but there isn't any pressure for us to do that. He will play when he is ready, which I agree will be early and often. But we do return some very capable hands at linebacker.

 

[TerryP]

Not to diminish Nico's abilities in any way, but we do return all of our starters from a year ago plus several backups. Nico may well be good enough to make Hightower to Jack a full time move, but there isn't any pressure for us to do that. He will play when he is ready, which I agree will be early and often. But we do return some very capable hands at linebacker.

I'll add this as just a thought. Last year about this time everyone was talking about Jerrell and him contributing a lot last fall. What you didn't see is a lot of people talking about Dont'a.

Now, we see a lot of people talking about Nico and very few (at least I haven't seen one yet) talk about Tana.

If you think about it, there are a lot of similarities between the two stories.

Jerrell was "ranked" higher than Dont'a coming out of high school. Nico was over Tana as well.

Dont'a was one that was described as having the ability to play any of the linebacker positions - Tana as well.

Just a thought to keep in mind...

 

[HIGHTIDES]

I got absolute hell on message boards for saying Don'ta would start well before Jerrell would. For some reason if you said anything except JH was going to be the best linebacker in the country, you got crucified. I didn't think he'd be bad or anything like that, I just knew the day Hightower committed that he would start day 1.... Not because of how many stars rivals gave him. To me, there's not as much separation coming in between Tana and Nico as there was in Hightower's situation. Some people just didn't realize the kind of freak athlete that Hightower is. HOWEVER, I do think that Nico will make an impact before Tana does. I just think Nico is more SEC ready at this point. I feel pretty strongly on that one, but I would have bet my arm last year that Hightower would start before anyone else. Time will tell.

 

[HIGHTIDES]

Assuming we are in a dime....

Put that lineup together. :rofl:

Of course.

And I stand corrected. Apparently my comment was Dareus, Upshaw, Hightower and Cody. Close enough. All sparked from a conversation about me not wanting to DH to jack because I want him and Upshaw on the field together.

 

[TerryP]

Of course.

And I stand corrected. Apparently my comment was Dareus, Upshaw, Hightower and Cody. Close enough. All sparked from a conversation about me not wanting to DH to jack because I want him and Upshaw on the field together.

You missed my point - prolly b/c it was poorly stated.

I was thinking about that front four and who would be the back seven if we were in dime.

Just sort of dreaming on that thought...

Think that front four, Jerrell in the rabbit position, say Barron playing star with Robby and Justin at safety and Javy and Kareem manning the corners...Ro still in the middle.



It's just fun to think about all that size, and speed, on the field.

 

[UAgrad93]

Terry, I imagine CNS and CKS are going to sleep at night with those same visions in mind. It gets one all tingly inside, doesn't it?

 

[TerryP]

Terry, I imagine CNS and CKS are going to sleep at night with those same visions in mind. It gets one all tingly inside, doesn't it?

I do! Especially given what we have on the DL.

Here's the thing...people are starting to talk "reload" and I still see it as rebuild.

As soon as we have 8-10 LB's and the same number of DB's that are interchangeable, then I'll say reload.

Our defense for the next few years is going to be SICK.

 

[UAgrad93]

I'll start saying reload in a couple of years. Like you, I can't wait to see the 8-10 DBs and LBs. The D will no doubt be SICK in the next couple of years. :a:

 

[HIGHTIDES]

You missed my point - prolly b/c it was poorly stated.

I was thinking about that front four and who would be the back seven if we were in dime.

Just sort of dreaming on that thought...

Think that front four, Jerrell in the rabbit position, say Barron playing star with Robby and Justin at safety and Javy and Kareem manning the corners...Ro still in the middle.



It's just fun to think about all that size, and speed, on the field.

Well, dang.. now I'm lost. I understood what you were saying... I think.

Clarify: One night at poker I was saying how crazy it would be to have a formation with Dareus, Upshaw, Cody and Hightower all on the line. Power in the middle, speed on the edges... If I were to have continued that dream scenario it would have included that same back 7 you mentioned. Good lord I love our defense!

 

[TerryP]

We are on the same page.

Hell, may make those beer/drink runs when the offense is on the field next season.

Nothing against those guys...but I'm a HUGE fan of a good defensive team.

 

[HIGHTIDES]

HAHHAHAHAHA! Yeah, I'll know when to time my bathroom breaks now.

 

[ElephantStomp]

Our defense is going to be so sick for the next few years. I think our offense will be pretty good itself.

Cory