🏈 Defensive Depth and where Bama stands

[TerryP]

And hell, offense for shits and giggles...
QB - Hurts/Tua
RB - D. Harris/Jacobs/N. Harris
LT - Williams/Leatherwood
LG - Pierschbacher
C- Williams/Kennedy
RG - Cotton
RT - Wills
Z - Ruggs
X - Jeudy
H - D. Smith
TE - Hentges
HB - Irv Smith


Be shocked if I'm 50% on this lol

Starting spring I'd say that's spot on with the exception of one position--right tackle.

Just a shot in the dark...
DE - Buggs
NT - Davis/Ray/Dwight
DE - Q. Williams/Ray/Davis
OLB - Jennings/Miller
ILB - Moses
ILB - Mack
OLB - Lewis
CB - Savion Smith
CB - Shy Carter/Diggs
FS - Deionte Thompson
SS - Wright/McKinney
STAR - Shy Carter/Surtain

Here's where we see things differently. For lack of a better word, as fans we're stuck with Dwight at NT when they're in regular. I'm seeing Davis, Dwight, and Buggs for the three down linemen. I'm with you on the defensive backs with the exception of seeing Diggs ahead of Carter at corner giving Bama's back five (nickel) as Carter, Wright, Thompson, Smith, and Diggs.

 

[TerryP]

We very well may play a bit more 4-3 look unless someone can come close to filling Payne's big shoes.

Lost me a bit here, easy. "A little more" than what? The team was in nickel about 90% of the time last season.

 

[TUSKtimes]

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

Rivals had him at 6'4" and 260lbs. And Dareus even as 6'4" was always thick as a tree trunk and he played around 300 lbs as a sophomore. I mentioned Dareus and Robinson at 325lbs came to Alabama as defensive tackles. Ray, did not.

Defensive tackles with good leverage and a nose for the running back we can make it work. Don't see asking a DE with rushing skills to bulk up so he can play NT? It's not like our cup is running over with those guys either.

 

[EasyTider]

Lost me a bit here, easy. "A little more" than what? The team was in nickel about 90% of the time last season.

Nickel 4-2-5?

 

[BamaMD]

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

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.

I agree with this statement 100%. I know personally that awbarn used Hurts inability to pass and him zeroing in on Ridley as a negative recruiting tool. On a different note, it should be interesting to see who leaves first, Fields or Fromm?

 

[bradenob]

Starting spring I'd say that's spot on with the exception of one position--right tackle.

Here's where we see things differently. For lack of a better word, as fans we're stuck with Dwight at NT when they're in regular. I'm seeing Davis, Dwight, and Buggs for the three down linemen. I'm with you on the defensive backs with the exception of seeing Diggs ahead of Carter at corner giving Bama's back five (nickel) as Carter, Wright, Thompson, Smith, and Diggs.

Terry what are the odds we see Diggs at safety a la Eddie Jackson- long, fast, likes to hit.......???

 

[JoshB]

Rivals had him at 6'4" and 260lbs. And Dareus even as 6'4" was always thick as a tree trunk and he played around 300 lbs as a sophomore. I mentioned Dareus and Robinson at 325lbs came to Alabama as defensive tackles. Ray, did not.

Defensive tackles with good leverage and a nose for the running back we can make it work. Don't see asking a DE with rushing skills to bulk up so he can play NT? It's not like our cup is running over with those guys either.

lol Dude, why are you having such an issue with this? Okay, you dont think Ray will play nose. Cool, I said I think we could possibly see it. You wanted to know my reasoning, I gave it. Move on.

 

[JoshB]

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

Dareus 100% played nose in 2010, he played every spot on the line that year.

 

[TUSKtimes]

lol Dude, why are you having such an issue with this? Okay, you dont think Ray will play nose. Cool, I said I think we could possibly see it. You wanted to know my reasoning, I gave it. Move on.

Why does rebuttal bother you so much? Somebody picking on you again? You felt the need to insist on Ray playing NT and replied to my comments specifically. So I simply replied to yours, specifically. Best put those big boy pants on around here.

 

[crimsoncorner]

Saban just basically said we’re opening the offense up with Tua...

 

[OldPlayer]

Saban just basically said we’re opening the offense up with Tua...

I don't like that he catches the ball with his body and not his hands. He'll learn.

 

[JoshB]

Why does rebuttal bother you so much? Somebody picking on you again? You felt the need to insist on Ray playing NT and replied to my comments specifically. So I simply replied to yours, specifically. Best put those big boy pants on around here.

You can "rebut" anything you want, just seems like a pretty ridiculous thing to keep wanting to argue with me over. I didn't "insist" on anything. I said I could see him getting some time there and laid out my reasoning. You laid out your reasoning you dont agree. Lets move on. It's an opinion. And I "specifically" replied to your comments because you "specifically" were quoting me. Quit being weird as hell.

 

[JoshB]

Saban just basically said we’re opening the offense up with Tua...

lol what?! He didn't mention any QB, nor the offense other than saying he can be a good slot receiver and is different than the other receivers on the team.

 

[TerryP]

Terry what are the odds we see Diggs at safety a la Eddie Jackson- long, fast, likes to hit.......???

It's two different scenarios comparing what was going on when the Tide opened the '15 season versus what we're seeing now. If you recall, the team had lost Collins, Perry, and Williams from the '14 team. That '15 team also opened with Geno playing safety (after he'd been moved from corner.)

While we can look at the number of starts in the defensive secondary and see a lack of experience we also have to look at who is coming back. I don't see how Thompson is moved from his spot which leaves the other safety spot open to guys like Wright, Mayden, and McKinney. Out of those three Mayden has the least game experience with Wright (DNP in NC game) and McKinney (DNP against Auburn) both played in 13 games last season.

Diggs did really well in camps and practices at corner but that didn't translate to the field all of the time. It's not a shock he was picked on.

I'm seeing the other safety spot go to Wright or McKinney to open the season. So, no. I don't see a move from Diggs to safety this season.

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

TenBears tells me his sources say Diggs will move back to offense this spring. I concur. The kid is wasting away trying to play defense. We'll see.

 

[TerryP]

TenBears tells me his sources say Diggs will move back to offense this spring. I concur. The kid is wasting away trying to play defense. We'll see.

Ten Bears is high.

 

[JoshB]

TenBears tells me his sources say Diggs will move back to offense this spring. I concur. The kid is wasting away trying to play defense. We'll see.

Well, hell. If TenBears said it, we should take that as gospel.

 

[musso]

lol Dude, why are you having such an issue with this? Okay, you dont think Ray will play nose. Cool, I said I think we could possibly see it. You wanted to know my reasoning, I gave it. Move on.

You're proposing that a true sophomore DE gets put over center when we were repping him at OLB this past season some too. Not gonna happen. What could happen is he gets reps at DT on passing downs with some of our dynamic OLBs sliding down to DE. But Ray isn't playing NG in regular, ever.

 

[JoshB]

You're proposing that a true sophomore DE gets put over center when we were repping him at OLB this past season some too. Not gonna happen. What could happen is he gets reps at DT on passing downs with some of our dynamic OLBs sliding down to DE. But Ray isn't playing NG in regular, ever.

:doh2: