š Alabama football's VIP 25: Difference makers in '14ā#1 Jacob Coker
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bama alum
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Gribble has surprised me. Eddie Jackson at #11.
http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/i...alls_vip_25_alaba.html#incart_related_stories
No. 11: Eddie Jackson
Jackson was more than just a fan favorite when he took the field for spring practice in March. The sophomore cornerback emerged as a favorite of Nick Saban's and Kirby Smart's, as he quickly established himself as the surest thing at a position that lacked anything of the sort in 2013.
And then, he was gone; done for the spring and beyond with a knee injury that required immediate surgery. Optimism, though, was elicited when Saban said Jackson was expected to be ready for the fall.
When that is, exactly, remains to be seen.
There were encouraging signs from Alabama's cornerbacks throughout the spring, enough to believe that the team will be OK if Jackson needs to miss a few games, but his return promises to be one of the most highly anticipated events of September. Without Jackson,
Alabama's looking at a group of cornerbacks led by juniors Bradley Sylve -- one of the fastest players on the team who had a very good spring -- and Cyrus Jones and freshman Tony Brown, one of the Crimson Tide's most promising players on either side of the ball.
Jackson's right there with him. His size (6-foot, 188 pounds) and the knack he has for making plays -- one interception and two fumble recoveries in relatively limited action as a freshman -- combined with a better understanding of the defense could give Alabama the lockdown cornerback it desperately lacked in 2013. He just needs to be on the field.
All signs indicate that Jackson's on schedule, but each player's recovery from a knee injury is unique. Not everyone can be Vinnie Sunseri or Adrian Peterson. If Jackson needs recovery time that stretches beyond the fall, Alabama won't force him into action.
(Saban recently said Jackson had yet to start running but was encouraged with his progress.)
When Jackson's back, Alabama's defensive backfield will be one step closer to regaining the swagger it's had throughout most of the Saban era.
http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/i...alls_vip_25_alaba.html#incart_related_stories
No. 11: Eddie Jackson
Jackson was more than just a fan favorite when he took the field for spring practice in March. The sophomore cornerback emerged as a favorite of Nick Saban's and Kirby Smart's, as he quickly established himself as the surest thing at a position that lacked anything of the sort in 2013.
And then, he was gone; done for the spring and beyond with a knee injury that required immediate surgery. Optimism, though, was elicited when Saban said Jackson was expected to be ready for the fall.
When that is, exactly, remains to be seen.
There were encouraging signs from Alabama's cornerbacks throughout the spring, enough to believe that the team will be OK if Jackson needs to miss a few games, but his return promises to be one of the most highly anticipated events of September. Without Jackson,
Alabama's looking at a group of cornerbacks led by juniors Bradley Sylve -- one of the fastest players on the team who had a very good spring -- and Cyrus Jones and freshman Tony Brown, one of the Crimson Tide's most promising players on either side of the ball.
Jackson's right there with him. His size (6-foot, 188 pounds) and the knack he has for making plays -- one interception and two fumble recoveries in relatively limited action as a freshman -- combined with a better understanding of the defense could give Alabama the lockdown cornerback it desperately lacked in 2013. He just needs to be on the field.
All signs indicate that Jackson's on schedule, but each player's recovery from a knee injury is unique. Not everyone can be Vinnie Sunseri or Adrian Peterson. If Jackson needs recovery time that stretches beyond the fall, Alabama won't force him into action.
(Saban recently said Jackson had yet to start running but was encouraged with his progress.)
When Jackson's back, Alabama's defensive backfield will be one step closer to regaining the swagger it's had throughout most of the Saban era.
Last edited by a moderator:
I'm hoping Jackson can really comeback. Big physical corner we need and with a year under his belt, he understands the system more and there aren't as many mental mistakes. You get a guy like him on one side, start a very talented freshman in Tony Brown, the secondary could be something else.
BAMANEWSBOT
Staff
No. 10: Cam Robinson
He was a cornerstone of possibly the best recruiting class in Alabama history. Now he could be playing the most important spot on the Crimson Tide offensive line in Year 1.
Hoping to become the first true freshman left tackle since Andre Smith, Robinson would have the task of protecting the blind side of another first-year starter. Enrolling early, Robinson left the 15 spring practices atop the depth chart after getting the first-team start on A-Day.
So he'll have a chance to show why every recruiting service rated him a 5-star talent coming out of Monroe, La. At 6-foot-6, 325 pounds, he has the frame to make a difference. Some time with strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran will also help develop a little more.
There will still be competition this fall, though. Junior college transfer Dominick Jackson could present a challenge, but Robinson got a head start with the Alabama playbook this spring.
Alabama coach Nick Saban called Robinson "a work in progress" after spring practice.
"Everyone talks about experience, but how do you get experience? You get experience by making mistakes," Saban said. "We need for (Robinson) to learn from those mistakes, which he will, and he'll develop and improve. He did some good things, and he's done some really good things all spring long, but we have been consistently better on the offensive line when he's playing.
"He's a very good pass blocker, but my expectation would be that for a guy that's a freshman and only been here a couple months, he still has a lot to learn."
Continue reading...
He was a cornerstone of possibly the best recruiting class in Alabama history. Now he could be playing the most important spot on the Crimson Tide offensive line in Year 1.
Hoping to become the first true freshman left tackle since Andre Smith, Robinson would have the task of protecting the blind side of another first-year starter. Enrolling early, Robinson left the 15 spring practices atop the depth chart after getting the first-team start on A-Day.
So he'll have a chance to show why every recruiting service rated him a 5-star talent coming out of Monroe, La. At 6-foot-6, 325 pounds, he has the frame to make a difference. Some time with strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran will also help develop a little more.
There will still be competition this fall, though. Junior college transfer Dominick Jackson could present a challenge, but Robinson got a head start with the Alabama playbook this spring.
Alabama coach Nick Saban called Robinson "a work in progress" after spring practice.
"Everyone talks about experience, but how do you get experience? You get experience by making mistakes," Saban said. "We need for (Robinson) to learn from those mistakes, which he will, and he'll develop and improve. He did some good things, and he's done some really good things all spring long, but we have been consistently better on the offensive line when he's playing.
"He's a very good pass blocker, but my expectation would be that for a guy that's a freshman and only been here a couple months, he still has a lot to learn."
Continue reading...
bama alum
Member
I still think Dominick Jackson wins the starting LT job, but as the season progresses, he might have to fight to keep it.
http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2014/06/alabama_football_vip_5-star_fr.html
No. 10: Cam Robinson
He was a cornerstone of possibly the best recruiting class in Alabama history. Now he could be playing the most important spot on the Crimson Tide offensive line in Year 1.
Hoping to become the first true freshman left tackle since Andre Smith, Robinson would have the task of protecting the blind side of another first-year starter. Enrolling early, Robinson left the 15 spring practices atop the depth chart after getting the first-team start on A-Day.
So he'll have a chance to show why every recruiting service rated him a 5-star talent coming out of Monroe, La. At 6-foot-6, 325 pounds, he has the frame to make a difference. Some time with strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran will also help develop a little more.
There will still be competition this fall, though. Junior college transfer Dominick Jackson could present a challenge, but Robinson got a head start with the Alabama playbook this spring.
Alabama coach Nick Saban called Robinson "a work in progress" after spring practice.
"Everyone talks about experience, but how do you get experience? You get experience by making mistakes," Saban said. "We need for (Robinson) to learn from those mistakes, which he will, and he'll develop and improve. He did some good things, and he's done some really good things all spring long, but we have been consistently better on the offensive line when he's playing.
"He's a very good pass blocker, but my expectation would be that for a guy that's a freshman and only been here a couple months, he still has a lot to learn."
http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2014/06/alabama_football_vip_5-star_fr.html
No. 10: Cam Robinson
He was a cornerstone of possibly the best recruiting class in Alabama history. Now he could be playing the most important spot on the Crimson Tide offensive line in Year 1.
Hoping to become the first true freshman left tackle since Andre Smith, Robinson would have the task of protecting the blind side of another first-year starter. Enrolling early, Robinson left the 15 spring practices atop the depth chart after getting the first-team start on A-Day.
So he'll have a chance to show why every recruiting service rated him a 5-star talent coming out of Monroe, La. At 6-foot-6, 325 pounds, he has the frame to make a difference. Some time with strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran will also help develop a little more.
There will still be competition this fall, though. Junior college transfer Dominick Jackson could present a challenge, but Robinson got a head start with the Alabama playbook this spring.
Alabama coach Nick Saban called Robinson "a work in progress" after spring practice.
"Everyone talks about experience, but how do you get experience? You get experience by making mistakes," Saban said. "We need for (Robinson) to learn from those mistakes, which he will, and he'll develop and improve. He did some good things, and he's done some really good things all spring long, but we have been consistently better on the offensive line when he's playing.
"He's a very good pass blocker, but my expectation would be that for a guy that's a freshman and only been here a couple months, he still has a lot to learn."
The mention of him being like Andre was in his frosh year? :smh:
I don't like it, at all.
The same goes for those that keep wanting Tony or Marlon in our starting rotation at corner.
True frosh make mistakes that often aren't little ones.
BAMANEWSBOT
Staff
No. 9: Trey DePriest
As a freshman, he learned from Dont'a Hightower. In his two seasons as a starter at inside linebacker, he played alongside two of Alabama's top defensive leaders.
DePriest performed as he absorbed, soaking up everything he could from his predecessors -- Hightower, Nico Johnson and C.J. Mosley -- while piling up 59 tackles in 2012 and 65 as a junior. As a senior, he'll be in position to accumulate even more, but how he leads from the middle of Alabama's defense will ultimately dictate how well he follows in the footsteps set before him.
"We need his leadership on defense," Alabama coach Nick Saban said in March. "He's obviously going to become the signal-caller, which I think everyone looks up to. He certainly has the knowledge and experience and maturity to affect other players in a positive way.
"I think that's something that's going to be important for our defensive team that he not only contribute with his physical performance and doing his job well, but how he affects everyone else."
DePriest's importance looms even larger considering that Alabama will be breaking in new starters at most of the positions surrounding him. He'll have some leadership assistance from the likes of Landon Collins, Jarrick Williams and Denzel Devall, but the overall experience level is lower than it was heading into 2013.
Focus it in a little more and that importance grows even bigger when you look at the position DePriest plays. The Crimson Tide's a bit thin -- relatively, of course -- at inside linebacker, as there's little else in proven talent outside of junior Reggie Ragland and promising sophomore Reuben Foster, who has dealt with a number of injuries.
DePriest might not have as high of VORP as center Ryan Kelly, but it's up there. The Crimson Tide will go as far as its top leaders take it, and DePriest will be among those embracing the responsibility.
Continue reading...
As a freshman, he learned from Dont'a Hightower. In his two seasons as a starter at inside linebacker, he played alongside two of Alabama's top defensive leaders.
DePriest performed as he absorbed, soaking up everything he could from his predecessors -- Hightower, Nico Johnson and C.J. Mosley -- while piling up 59 tackles in 2012 and 65 as a junior. As a senior, he'll be in position to accumulate even more, but how he leads from the middle of Alabama's defense will ultimately dictate how well he follows in the footsteps set before him.
"We need his leadership on defense," Alabama coach Nick Saban said in March. "He's obviously going to become the signal-caller, which I think everyone looks up to. He certainly has the knowledge and experience and maturity to affect other players in a positive way.
"I think that's something that's going to be important for our defensive team that he not only contribute with his physical performance and doing his job well, but how he affects everyone else."
DePriest's importance looms even larger considering that Alabama will be breaking in new starters at most of the positions surrounding him. He'll have some leadership assistance from the likes of Landon Collins, Jarrick Williams and Denzel Devall, but the overall experience level is lower than it was heading into 2013.
Focus it in a little more and that importance grows even bigger when you look at the position DePriest plays. The Crimson Tide's a bit thin -- relatively, of course -- at inside linebacker, as there's little else in proven talent outside of junior Reggie Ragland and promising sophomore Reuben Foster, who has dealt with a number of injuries.
DePriest might not have as high of VORP as center Ryan Kelly, but it's up there. The Crimson Tide will go as far as its top leaders take it, and DePriest will be among those embracing the responsibility.
Continue reading...
FAR TOO LOW on DePriest.
There's a good argument to be made he's the most important player returning. The interior of our linebacking corps is a place where we've got very little experience. Bodies? Yes.
I've not looked at the numbers but I'd almost be willing to bet we had more experience starting in our secondary last year than we do in our ILB's this season.
There's a good argument to be made he's the most important player returning. The interior of our linebacking corps is a place where we've got very little experience. Bodies? Yes.
I've not looked at the numbers but I'd almost be willing to bet we had more experience starting in our secondary last year than we do in our ILB's this season.
bama alum
Member
http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2014/07/alabama_football_vip_no_8_has.html
I agree. Being ranked #9 might be too low of a number for Depriest; conversely, I think #8 might be right for Coop.
No. 8: Amari Cooper
This is where the rankings become more of a crap shoot. It could be argued that Cooper is the most talented player on the 2014 Alabama roster.
For this list, however, No. 9 is No. 8.
Now a junior, Cooper is primed for what could be his biggest season at Alabama. If things go as planned, it could be his last one too as the NFL would love to make him a top-10 pick should his trajectory continue.
But Cooper will be important for much more than his raw talent and playmaking abilities this year. Alabama will, of course, be breaking in a new starting quarterback. Cooper could make that transition smooth with his understanding of the offense. With veteran receivers like Kevin Norwood around last year, Cooper didn't have to be as vocal.
He could take another step by becoming an influential voice in the locker room alongside Christion Jones and DeAndrew White.
"I'm older now," Cooper said. "You have to more positive and more talkative so those guys see and gravitate to me. They are watching me. So if I stay positive and do things the right way and talk about things the right way then I think they will follow."
The numbers are there. Cooper's led the Tide in receiving each of the past two seasons. He overcame an injury early in his sophomore year to finish the season with 299 yards in the final two games of the year.
The tweaks in the offense under new coordinator Lane Kiffin also please the star receiver.
"Some coaches and quarterbacks over analyze things at times," Cooper said. "Sometimes it can be pitch and catch, let the play-makers make plays."
I agree. Being ranked #9 might be too low of a number for Depriest; conversely, I think #8 might be right for Coop.
No. 8: Amari Cooper
This is where the rankings become more of a crap shoot. It could be argued that Cooper is the most talented player on the 2014 Alabama roster.
For this list, however, No. 9 is No. 8.
Now a junior, Cooper is primed for what could be his biggest season at Alabama. If things go as planned, it could be his last one too as the NFL would love to make him a top-10 pick should his trajectory continue.
But Cooper will be important for much more than his raw talent and playmaking abilities this year. Alabama will, of course, be breaking in a new starting quarterback. Cooper could make that transition smooth with his understanding of the offense. With veteran receivers like Kevin Norwood around last year, Cooper didn't have to be as vocal.
He could take another step by becoming an influential voice in the locker room alongside Christion Jones and DeAndrew White.
"I'm older now," Cooper said. "You have to more positive and more talkative so those guys see and gravitate to me. They are watching me. So if I stay positive and do things the right way and talk about things the right way then I think they will follow."
The numbers are there. Cooper's led the Tide in receiving each of the past two seasons. He overcame an injury early in his sophomore year to finish the season with 299 yards in the final two games of the year.
The tweaks in the offense under new coordinator Lane Kiffin also please the star receiver.
"Some coaches and quarterbacks over analyze things at times," Cooper said. "Sometimes it can be pitch and catch, let the play-makers make plays."
BamaFan334
Member
I think Cooper is too low and should be in the Top 3. This guy could be the reason we win the National Championship. Stretching the field, him being healthy, and also allowing him to force defenses to leave other options open is more in the Top 3 for me. Yeldon,any cornerback, and Cooper are in my Top 3. He is too dynamic and important to not be Top 3.
There's been some odd rankings throughout this whole series.
In today's #7, I have to agree with this ranking being higher than Coop and Trey.
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BAMANEWSBOT
Staff
No. 7: Adam Griffith/JK Scott/whomever else could be Alabama's kicker
The uneasiness went away midway through the 2012 season
It was at that point when it was clear Jeremy Shelley had figured it out and Cade Foster was consistent enough from long distances for fans to feel confident when Alabama lined up a field goal. The unassuming, 5-foot-10, 165-pound Shelley didn't miss any of his 11 field-goal attempts and none of his extra points while Foster connected on three 50-yarders. The memories of 2011 LSU appeared to be fading.
The 2013 Iron Bowl, of course, eliminated all of that confidence in Alabama's kickers. A-Day didn't help, either, as sophomore Adam Griffith missed more kicks than he made. On top of that, a backup quarterback was handling punts.
Nick Saban didn't sugarcoat the situation in his post A-Day press conference. Griffith, who was one of the nation's top kicker recruits in the class of 2012, wouldn't be handed the job(s) by default.
"Adam Griffith is a really talented guy," Saban said. "Obviously, we would like for him to
be a little more consistent. We recruited a guy that is a very good kicker as well as a punter, and there will be competition in the fall to play the guy who has the most consistency in terms of kicking."
Saban never mentioned the name of the "guy," but freshman JK Scott certainly qualifies. Scott, who hails from Denver, was labeled a punter on National Signing Day, as many presumed he would simply be tasked with replacing the ultra-reliable Cody Mandell. But Scott could be dangerous enough to put some pressure on Griffith at kicker when Alabama opens camp in August.
Preferred walk-on Gunner Raborn is another possibility. As Mandell showed in his battle with Jay Williams four years ago, Saban has no problem picking a non-scholarship player for the job if he proves to be better.
Spain Park's John Pizzitola and Adrian Lamothe, who hails from Monterrey, Mexico, also worked with the team this spring.
Winning these respective competitions is only half the battle. Handling the pressure and anxiety that comes with being a specialist and Alabama doesn't truly kick in until the game is on the line.
Continue reading...
The uneasiness went away midway through the 2012 season
It was at that point when it was clear Jeremy Shelley had figured it out and Cade Foster was consistent enough from long distances for fans to feel confident when Alabama lined up a field goal. The unassuming, 5-foot-10, 165-pound Shelley didn't miss any of his 11 field-goal attempts and none of his extra points while Foster connected on three 50-yarders. The memories of 2011 LSU appeared to be fading.
The 2013 Iron Bowl, of course, eliminated all of that confidence in Alabama's kickers. A-Day didn't help, either, as sophomore Adam Griffith missed more kicks than he made. On top of that, a backup quarterback was handling punts.
Nick Saban didn't sugarcoat the situation in his post A-Day press conference. Griffith, who was one of the nation's top kicker recruits in the class of 2012, wouldn't be handed the job(s) by default.
"Adam Griffith is a really talented guy," Saban said. "Obviously, we would like for him to
be a little more consistent. We recruited a guy that is a very good kicker as well as a punter, and there will be competition in the fall to play the guy who has the most consistency in terms of kicking."
Saban never mentioned the name of the "guy," but freshman JK Scott certainly qualifies. Scott, who hails from Denver, was labeled a punter on National Signing Day, as many presumed he would simply be tasked with replacing the ultra-reliable Cody Mandell. But Scott could be dangerous enough to put some pressure on Griffith at kicker when Alabama opens camp in August.
Preferred walk-on Gunner Raborn is another possibility. As Mandell showed in his battle with Jay Williams four years ago, Saban has no problem picking a non-scholarship player for the job if he proves to be better.
Spain Park's John Pizzitola and Adrian Lamothe, who hails from Monterrey, Mexico, also worked with the team this spring.
Winning these respective competitions is only half the battle. Handling the pressure and anxiety that comes with being a specialist and Alabama doesn't truly kick in until the game is on the line.
Continue reading...
Saban, Kiffin, Coker, and Yeldon. Since they called this "specialist," I'd assume they'll say left tackle instead of Domābut they've already mentioned Cam so who knows.
Smart and the secondary?
I hate to say it because I'm one that believes it's not who you face but how you perform. But I'm guessing that gum smacker is going to be listed.
Smart and the secondary?
I hate to say it because I'm one that believes it's not who you face but how you perform. But I'm guessing that gum smacker is going to be listed.
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