🏈 Defensive Starters vs Louisville

[Tidestalker]

Might as well go there!

DE: Isiah Buggs
DT: Quinnen Williams
DE: Raekwon Davis
OLB: Terrell Hall / OLB: Anfernee Jennings
ILB: Mack Wilson
ILB: Dylan Moses
CB: Trevon Diggs
CB: Savion Smith
Star: Shy Carter
Safety: Dionte Thompson (what ever happened with his legal issues?)
Safety: Daniel Wright

2 Deep:
DE: LaBryan Ray
DT: P. Mathis
DE: Jonny Dwight
OLB: Christian Miller / OLB: Chris Allen
ILB: M. Benton
ILB: Josh McMillon (Holcombe if he plays)
Star: Kyriq McDonald
CB: Patrick Surtain jr.
CB: Nigel Knott
Safety: Xavier McKinney
Safety: Jarod Mayden

Lots of guessing in that 2 deep.... Also can't remember who stood out the most this Spring between McKinney/Wright/Mayden... Or if Mayden was playing CB or safety. Obviously the freshman are a huge wildcard especially the DB's. Could be another Minkah in the midst between PSJ, JAD, and Jobe.

Could see Stephen Wynn jr in front of Dwight... Don't have a ton of confidence in that JUCO DT... But time will tell.

Thoughts? RTR

 

[JoshB]

I think you're pretty spot on there, at least until we see/hear more during camp. What legal situation with Thompson? The fight at spring break? Isnt that like two years old and nothing ever came from it? I thought there was a video that proved he didn't actually jump in the fight?

 

[yellowhammer86]

According to Deiontes father, that is all over with. PSjr will be our starting nickel.

 

[TUSKtimes]

Mayden, Mckinney, Ray, Mathis, and even Benton who was one of the few that redshirted could all start football games this year and it wouldn't surprise me. On the true freshmen side, I believe Surtain will be a sight to behold and will threaten a few jobs before the season is over.

 

[Tidestalker]

Mayden, Mckinney, Ray, Mathis, and even Benton who was one of the few that redshirted could all start football games this year and it wouldn't surprise me. On the true freshmen side, I believe Surtain will be a sight to behold and will threaten a few jobs before the season is over.

I'm extremely high on Ray... His issue is that he has 2 high level NFL prospects in front of him at DE

 

[JoshB]

Mayden, Mckinney, Ray, Mathis, and even Benton who was one of the few that redshirted could all start football games this year and it wouldn't surprise me. On the true freshmen side, I believe Surtain will be a sight to behold and will threaten a few jobs before the season is over.

I'm extremely high on Ray... His issue is that he has 2 high level NFL prospects in front of him at DE

I know everyone wants to jump on me when I say this but couldnt we see Davis play more at nose this year, especially if Quinnen (or the freshman) isn't up to snuff? Allows Ray to get more snaps, too. 6-7 may be a tad bit too tall for nose maybe?

 

[BamaFan334]

Mayden, Mckinney, Ray, Mathis, and even Benton who was one of the few that redshirted could all start football games this year and it wouldn't surprise me. On the true freshmen side, I believe Surtain will be a sight to behold and will threaten a few jobs before the season is over.

I'm extremely high on Ray... His issue is that he has 2 high level NFL prospects in front of him at DE

Ray could have been All-Freshmen SEC due to not playing as much at the beginning of the season. He stepped in during the injury filled season and was shot out of a cannon. I am expecting a lot out of him myself and think he will be terrific.

Plus he looks a ton like Da'Ron Payne

 

[Tidestalker]

Mayden, Mckinney, Ray, Mathis, and even Benton who was one of the few that redshirted could all start football games this year and it wouldn't surprise me. On the true freshmen side, I believe Surtain will be a sight to behold and will threaten a few jobs before the season is over.

I'm extremely high on Ray... His issue is that he has 2 high level NFL prospects in front of him at DE

I know everyone wants to jump on me when I say this but couldnt we see Davis play more at nose this year, especially if Quinnen (or the freshman) isn't up to snuff? Allows Ray to get more snaps, too. 6-7 may be a tad bit too tall for nose maybe?

I was thinking that Davis would for sure step in at DT before this Spring... But it seems like Saban wants him at DE. I guess QW is a better fit? Davis has leaned up quite a bit since getting on campus, one of the few guys at that position that doesn't pack on lbs

 

[Tidestalker]

Mayden, Mckinney, Ray, Mathis, and even Benton who was one of the few that redshirted could all start football games this year and it wouldn't surprise me. On the true freshmen side, I believe Surtain will be a sight to behold and will threaten a few jobs before the season is over.

I'm extremely high on Ray... His issue is that he has 2 high level NFL prospects in front of him at DE

Ray could have been All-Freshmen SEC due to not playing as much at the beginning of the season. He stepped in during the injury filled season and was shot out of a cannon. I am expecting a lot out of him myself and think he will be terrific.

Plus he looks a ton like Da'Ron Payne

View attachment 9163View attachment 9164

I'm with all of that!!! Agreed... But he's still got Buggs and Davis ahead of him... And if they find another DT than you can add Q Williams to that list.
To me Ray is the best NFL prospect of the whole bunch but just younger and less experienced... Good problem to have though

 

[JoshB]

Mayden, Mckinney, Ray, Mathis, and even Benton who was one of the few that redshirted could all start football games this year and it wouldn't surprise me. On the true freshmen side, I believe Surtain will be a sight to behold and will threaten a few jobs before the season is over.

I'm extremely high on Ray... His issue is that he has 2 high level NFL prospects in front of him at DE

I know everyone wants to jump on me when I say this but couldnt we see Davis play more at nose this year, especially if Quinnen (or the freshman) isn't up to snuff? Allows Ray to get more snaps, too. 6-7 may be a tad bit too tall for nose maybe?

I was thinking that Davis would for sure step in at DT before this Spring... But it seems like Saban wants him at DE. I guess QW is a better fit? Davis has leaned up quite a bit since getting on campus, one of the few guys at that position that doesn't pack on lbs

I'm thinking it may be the size thing. I'm sure it would be difficult for a 6-7 nose tackle to gain the leverage needed for that spot. I wanna say Josh Chapman was 6-1, Cody was 6-4, Robinson was 6-4, Payne was 6-2. Williams just seems so undersize, weight-wise, to be the go-to guy there. Maybe he's just freakishly strong and we haven't heard about it.

 

[colbyjacks]

I wonder if that will mess with the opposing qb's line of sight. I mean, usually your taller O-lineman are at the tackle positions, right? What happens when you put a tall nose guard in there? Just a thought, maybe not even a good thought at that.

 

[JoshB]

I wonder if that will mess with the opposing qb's line of sight. I mean, usually your taller O-lineman are at the tackle positions, right? What happens when you put a tall nose guard in there? Just a thought, maybe not even a good thought at that.

Well, that's where my thinking is coming from with the height. You want to get lower that your opponent to get that extra leverage. A center is typically going to be in the 6-1 to 6-3 range, so it wont be hard for him to get leverage on a bigger nose tackle. In pass pro that's gonna be less of an advantage, obviously, and probably easier for that big 6-7 nose to get his hands up to bat a ball down, too (also alot easier for a center to pop him in the gut as he tries it).

 

[footballer]

Strength, quickness and balance, three neccessities of a nose.