🏈 Defensive Depth and where Bama stands

[musso]

My biggest concern is we have literally no one with the protypical build at NG. Maybe it's not as big of a deal with so few teams playing physical anymore. LSU is trying to open things up. Arkansas is now SMU North. But if you look at the play off this past season, Payne and Davis played HUGE roles and made HUGE plays to secure victories over Clemson and UGA. Buggs and Hand too. We now have no one on the roster to even compare with Payne. And how effective Buggs and Davis will be over center is doubtful given their lengthy bodies. Mathis has potential, but we never see top caliber NGs in their first season of playing time. Maybe Saban continues to change with the game by dispensing with the trademark beef in the middle in favor of a more 4-3ish base look.

I also worry about lacking that variety of safety who can be physical against the run. Beginning with Barron all the way to last year's combo of Harrison and Hootie, we've always had that LB/S hybrid. We seem to have lighter and faster safeties now.

 

[JoshB]

:bandhead:

If you think Tua is going to just be handed the QB spot you haven't been paying much attention.

 

[JoshB]

My biggest concern is we have literally no one with the protypical build at NG. Maybe it's not as big of a deal with so few teams playing physical anymore. LSU is trying to open things up. Arkansas is now SMU North. But if you look at the play off this past season, Payne and Davis played HUGE roles and made HUGE plays to secure victories over Clemson and UGA. Buggs and Hand too. We now have no one on the roster to even compare with Payne. And how effective Buggs and Davis will be over center is doubtful given their lengthy bodies. Mathis has potential, but we never see top caliber NGs in their first season of playing time. Maybe Saban continues to change with the game by dispensing with the trademark beef in the middle in favor of a more 4-3ish base look.

I also worry about lacking that variety of safety who can be physical against the run. Beginning with Barron all the way to last year's combo of Harrison and Hootie, we've always had that LB/S hybrid. We seem to have lighter and faster safeties now.

That's my issue at nose, too but that's why I'm thinking we'll see more versatile guys like Raekwon and Ray rotating in there. Wynn has that prototypical body but thats a huge task to ask for a true freshman. I think we'll see a rotation until/if Wynn is able to take over there.

Thompson is extremely physical and will fill that role nicely. Hootie wasn't nearly as physical as he should have been either.

 

[JoshB]

I went back and watched the game again.

Raekwon ran nose at least 4 times with Payne and Hand in the game.

I could see Davis and Mathis run nose and also be in the game at the same time.

Bama ran these formations
1-5-5
1-4-6
2-4-5 (numerous times)
3-4-4
3-3-5

Pruitt ran a myriad of different at Fromm.

Will be interested to see how Tosh uses the front 7.

I think Davis is going to be in that Marcell Dareus/Ashawn Robinson role this year, jumping back and forth between nose, end and tackle.

 

[JoshB]

What makes you say Ray at nose? Just curious. I could see Mathis there.

Size/physicality/nastiness.

 

[Tidestalker]

Size/physicality/nastiness.

Ray played at 270 lbs. Seems like a stretch he takes any snaps at NG. Maybe DT in pass rush packages

 

[crimsoncorner]

If you think Tua is going to just be handed the QB spot you haven't been paying much attention.

Btw, if you think playing Hurts wasn't killing recruiting, then you aren't paying attention.

Waddle was really close to not coming to Bama. Ross didn't.

Here's some facts... WR's didn't want to come watch Hurts take off and run 20 times a game while they blocked.

Also, a fact that if Tua had not played, he was gone. Jeudy and Najee were leaving with him.

Here's some more facts... Ronnie Harrison had to get Calvin Ridley off of Jalen 2 separate times in practice this year, because he was sick of Jalen's inability to throw a pass.

More facts... The WR's along with Minkah and Rashaan went to Saban after the Auburn game throw their support for Tua.

They also went to Saban at halftime of UGa game and told him it was time to change.

Until you know WTF you are talking about, it would be best to keep your antagonistic remarks to yourself.

Have a great day, kid!

 

[TUSKtimes]

Size/physicality/nastiness.

He seems to have a real gift with quickness to the QB. Don't think NT is in his future.

 

[Tidestalker]

Btw, if you think playing Hurts wasn't killing recruiting, then you aren't paying attention.

Waddle was really close to not coming to Bama. Ross didn't.

Here's some facts... WR's didn't want to come watch Hurts take off and run 20 times a game while they blocked.

Also, a fact that if Tua had not played, he was gone. Jeudy and Najee were leaving with him.

Here's some more facts... Ronnie Harrison had to get Calvin Ridley off of Jalen 2 separate times in practice this year, because he was sick of Jalen's inability to throw a pass.

More facts... The WR's along with Minkah and Rashaan went to Saban after the Auburn game throw their support for Tua.

They also went to Saban at halftime of UGa game and told him it was time to change.

Until you know WTF you are talking about, it would be best to keep your antagonistic remarks to yourself.

Have a great day, kid!

Would have been a really easy negative recruiting pitch to show WR's and TE's our non Ridley stats... Painful how little the others produced this year

 

[EasyTider]

Btw, if you think playing Hurts wasn't killing recruiting, then you aren't paying attention.

Waddle was really close to not coming to Bama. Ross didn't.

Here's some facts... WR's didn't want to come watch Hurts take off and run 20 times a game while they blocked.

Also, a fact that if Tua had not played, he was gone. Jeudy and Najee were leaving with him.

Here's some more facts... Ronnie Harrison had to get Calvin Ridley off of Jalen 2 separate times in practice this year, because he was sick of Jalen's inability to throw a pass.

More facts... The WR's along with Minkah and Rashaan went to Saban after the Auburn game throw their support for Tua.

They also went to Saban at halftime of UGa game and told him it was time to change.

Until you know WTF you are talking about, it would be best to keep your antagonistic remarks to yourself.

Have a great day, kid!

All of the above could be 100% accurate (CC obviously has more contacts than most of us fans on this board), but Tua, Najee and Jeudy leaving if Tua didn't play seems a bit dramatic. I wouldn't doubt that Tua would have packed up if it appeared after the Spring that CNS was sticking with Hurts (and assuming Tua had continued to out preform in practices as it was told this past year) for 2018. I also can believe that Najee and Jeudy are team Tua. Najee and Tua are roommates and appear to be great friends and I'm guessing Jeudy is better friends with Tua having come in together in the same recruiting class. But to think they would essentially quit if Tua didn't get made QB1 seems a bit 'over the top'. Would they have all 3 gone to the same school? Quite a transfer package! I will choose to believe that while Tua may have indeed been their boy, they have too much character to quit their team and their coach because they didn't like Hurts at QB.

@Birdman37 , I'm all for having them battle for the position over the spring and summer but other than by injury, I just don't see Hurts out performing Tua and winning the job.

 

[crimsoncorner]

All of the above could be 100% accurate (CC obviously has more contacts than most of us fans on this board), but Tua, Najee and Jeudy leaving if Tua didn't play seems a bit dramatic.

May sound dramatic, but this info on these 3 came straight from his dad, Galu. I have ZERO reason to doubt the man.

@bama alum would know better than I about Taulia since he teaches where he plays , but Taulia was contemplating going back to Hawaii.

 

[Tidestalker]

Seemed like a very rational conclusion for Tua to leave if he didn't get a chance when Jalen was not playing well. I believe that 100%. Also believe there had to be some level of frustration from receivers when the passing offense was that crippled the last 2.5 games... Especially if Tua was doing his thing in practice (which I don't if that was the case)

 

[EasyTider]

DL depth thread and we are on Tua vs Hurts by page 2. I would imagine most of the threads in the next 3-4 months will eventually make their way down the same path. Since we're already here on this one........I have trouble wrapping my head around how next year's offense could be anything but EPIC. As much talent (2deep) on the OL that has ever been assembled during the dynasty IMO, so many (albeit young) dynamic playmakers at WR, dare I say the same for TE if we decide to throw them a few passes? RBs? Negus please!! I for one will be calling for Locksley's head anytime a drive doesn't result in a TD. :wave:

 

[JoshB]

He seems to have a real gift with quickness to the QB. Don't think NT is in his future.

So did A'shawn and Dareus.

 

[JoshB]

Btw, if you think playing Hurts wasn't killing recruiting, then you aren't paying attention.

Waddle was really close to not coming to Bama. Ross didn't.

Here's some facts... WR's didn't want to come watch Hurts take off and run 20 times a game while they blocked.

Also, a fact that if Tua had not played, he was gone. Jeudy and Najee were leaving with him.

Here's some more facts... Ronnie Harrison had to get Calvin Ridley off of Jalen 2 separate times in practice this year, because he was sick of Jalen's inability to throw a pass.

More facts... The WR's along with Minkah and Rashaan went to Saban after the Auburn game throw their support for Tua.

They also went to Saban at halftime of UGa game and told him it was time to change.

Until you know WTF you are talking about, it would be best to keep your antagonistic remarks to yourself.

Have a great day, kid!

Really? All thats facts huh and not just hearsay? I think you might need to reread the definition of facts...

Pretty funny that you were 100% sure Ross was signing with Bama and supposedly he told Saban himself he was coming on signing day. Now, all of a sudden you know as a FACT that he wasn't going to come because of Jalen Hurts. I guess he just needed all of Clemson's QBs mighty fire power through the air, huh? Ridiculous. Brown was 100% coming too and supposedly he lied to Saban, too. Funny that the two big guys you claimed to 100% know were coming, both were liars. Funny how that worked out.

Honestly, I was 100% going to lay off on calling you out about your inside stuff because, No. 1 it seemed like you were at least knowledgable and knew some shit (now Im pretty convinced you just regurgitate shit from TiderInsider) but there is literally not one thing that you posted in that post right there that I believe. Not one.

And remember how you condescending you were in this post before you whine about him, too. What's funny there was literally zero "antagonistic" about me saying that Tua wont have the job handed to him. Not to mention I wasn't even responding to you, jackass.

 

[JoshB]

All of the above could be 100% accurate (CC obviously has more contacts than most of us fans on this board), but Tua, Najee and Jeudy leaving if Tua didn't play seems a bit dramatic. I wouldn't doubt that Tua would have packed up if it appeared after the Spring that CNS was sticking with Hurts (and assuming Tua had continued to out preform in practices as it was told this past year) for 2018. I also can believe that Najee and Jeudy are team Tua. Najee and Tua are roommates and appear to be great friends and I'm guessing Jeudy is better friends with Tua having come in together in the same recruiting class. But to think they would essentially quit if Tua didn't get made QB1 seems a bit 'over the top'. Would they have all 3 gone to the same school? Quite a transfer package! I will choose to believe that while Tua may have indeed been their boy, they have too much character to quit their team and their coach because they didn't like Hurts at QB.

@Birdman37 , I'm all for having them battle for the position over the spring and summer but other than by injury, I just don't see Hurts out performing Tua and winning the job.

Najee Harris, a running back, was going to leave because the receivers weren't getting enough sugar. Makes perfect sense, huh?

I never once have put my horse behind either QB for this coming up season. I have no clue how thats going to shake out, but I know that Saban is going to give Jalen Hurts every chance he can to hold onto his job. He will have to beat Tua, and I don't have to pretend to have any inside info to know any of that.

 

[TUSKtimes]

So did A'shawn and Dareus.

Get back with me when Ray starts closing in on 300 lbs. Marcell and A'Shawn came in as natural tackles. A'Shawn closer to 325lbs. Turning those type guys loose on 3rd and long from the NT has been a tradition even when we had Mt Cody in the middle.

 

[JoshB]

Get back with me when Ray starts closing in on 300 lbs. Marcell and A'Shawn came in as natural tackles. A'Shawn closer to 325lbs. Turning those type guys loose on 3rd and long from the NT has been a tradition even when we had Mt Cody in the middle.

Marcell Darreus (Freshman) - 6'3", 280 lbs.
La'Bryan Ray (Freshman) - 6'5", 272 lbs.

 

[Tidestalker]

Marcell Darreus (Freshman) - 6'3", 280 lbs.
La'Bryan Ray (Freshman) - 6'5", 272 lbs.

Dareus wasn't a nose guard. 3-4 DE, played some DT on passing downs. Nose guard would be for the big boys

 

[EasyTider]

Always prefer a Payne/A Shawn type body over center but like someone has mentioned, we aren't facing the same type of offenses we've seen in the past. We very well may play a bit more 4-3 look unless someone can come close to filling Payne's big shoes.