🏈 Does Fluker start Day one?

[bamarooski]

He's a monster!

 

[rammerjammer]

I say yes. In everything I have read on the young man he is as heralded and equipped as big Andre when he stepped on the campus 3 years ago.

 

[Guest]

I think he will, but it may not be at left tackle. With James Carpenter coming in as a JUCO transfer and being here in the spring, Fluker may start out at RT and move to LT after Carpenter graduates. There are several other interesting possibilities as well. If we get Massie and/or Moses (BIG IF, but both would be a coup), the OL could be Carpenter - Massie - Vlachos - Davis - Fluker across the front. While it would be inexperienced, it would have the makings of the best OL we have had in a LONG time, possibly EVER. Throw Moses into the mix and it could get really interesting.

Carpenter will start. Saban would not have offered a JUCO OT if he did not anticipate him contributing right away. Fluker is too good to keep off the field, and Moses and Massie are the same.

That front would be MASSIVE, averaging in the 330 range. Depth would still be an issue, but it would be improved when you add in the players already on campus. Love will be in the rotation, as would Boswell. Pharr, Ross, Jones and the others will definately have to push to make the lineup. If Moses is in the mix as well, Road-Grader will be an understatement. That is a lot of talent - even if inexperienced. I would expect to see smash-mouth football for the first part of the season, while they learn pass blocking technique...but as for pur physical "run-over-you-ness," it would be a sight to behold.

 

[Birmingham]

yes

 

[bamafan4ever]

I would say yes too to Fluker starting and until Big_Fan made some good observations, I would have said shoe-in for LT but the Carpenter possibility is there. I still think Fluker gets more than a cursory look at LT though with his natural talent and size. Joe Pendry will know who is doing the better job even in a relatively short evaluation period this Fall camp.

If this is the size of lines that Saban will always recruit, we will need tall QB's like McCarron (6'4") or our line will have to stay in a 3 point stance just for the QB to see over them. LOL!

 

[Bishop]

I thought Carpenter was gonna take Marlon Davis' place at right guard and Fluker would take the LT spot

 

[TerryP]

I thought Carpenter was gonna take Marlon Davis' place at right guard and Fluker would take the LT spot

Everyone has different opinions on how the offensive line will work itself out. What we see after spring camp may not be what we see after fall camp.

I don't see it working out the same way Big_Fan does. That doesn't make either of us right or wrong. After all, we are all just guessing at a starting line-up right now.

Personally, I don't see Drew Davis being moved from the RT position. He's done well there this year.

 

[firestorm]

I think Fluker will be in contention for the blind-side spot for sure, but we just have to hang for a while and see what Carpenter brings on the table for the tackle position. He's gonna be tested by the staff on the spring drills and I'm with the idea that if Saban brings someone out of the juco ranks is because he's gonna contribute right away. We need depth and quality on the tackle position as we all see at the sugar bowl and maybe Carpenter could play tackle. However, it's unquestionable the enormous talent of Fluker and if he's ready technically for college, he'll be the starter IMHO.

RTR,

 

[Guest]

I think he will, but it may not be at left tackle. With James Carpenter coming in as a JUCO transfer and being here in the spring, Fluker may start out at RT and move to LT after Carpenter graduates. There are several other interesting possibilities as well. If we get Massie and/or Moses (BIG IF, but both would be a coup), the OL could be Carpenter - Massie - Vlachos - Davis - Fluker across the front. While it would be inexperienced, it would have the makings of the best OL we have had in a LONG time, possibly EVER. Throw Moses into the mix and it could get really interesting.

Carpenter will start. Saban would not have offered a JUCO OT if he did not anticipate him contributing right away. Fluker is too good to keep off the field, and Moses and Massie are the same.

That front would be MASSIVE, averaging in the 330 range.

Depth would still be an issue, but it would be improved when you add in the players already on campus. Love will be in the rotation, as would Boswell. Pharr, Ross, Jones and the others will definately have to push to make the lineup. If Moses is in the mix as well, Road-Grader will be an understatement. That is a lot of talent - even if inexperienced. I would expect to see smash-mouth football for the first part of the season, while they learn pass blocking technique...but as for pur physical "run-over-you-ness," it would be a sight to behold.

1. Great point. Carpenter has to start. Scholarships are too limited this year to burn one this year and another next in hopes that Carpenter pans out. He plays day one.

2. Depth still and issue? We lose Smitty and AC but gain 3+. Either we have insufficient numbers or we have few who will be ready to play. Even if only Fluker and Carpenter are ready to go the depth issue should be at least another year closer to being better. Have our non-starters not bettered themselves to being ready to be a number 2?

3. I am so looking forward to short yardage situations. Can you imagine going 2-Tight Ends where your TEs happen to be 300+ linemen added to a 330lb line. As a defense, you just have to pucker up don't you? Two Rb's split to take on the rushing ends while our QB reads 7 across/300lb zone blocking. THAT is sick.

 

[Guest]

I think he will, but it may not be at left tackle. With James Carpenter coming in as a JUCO transfer and being here in the spring, Fluker may start out at RT and move to LT after Carpenter graduates. There are several other interesting possibilities as well. If we get Massie and/or Moses (BIG IF, but both would be a coup), the OL could be Carpenter - Massie - Vlachos - Davis - Fluker across the front. While it would be inexperienced, it would have the makings of the best OL we have had in a LONG time, possibly EVER. Throw Moses into the mix and it could get really interesting.

Carpenter will start. Saban would not have offered a JUCO OT if he did not anticipate him contributing right away. Fluker is too good to keep off the field, and Moses and Massie are the same.

That front would be MASSIVE, averaging in the 330 range.

Depth would still be an issue, but it would be improved when you add in the players already on campus. Love will be in the rotation, as would Boswell. Pharr, Ross, Jones and the others will definately have to push to make the lineup. If Moses is in the mix as well, Road-Grader will be an understatement. That is a lot of talent - even if inexperienced. I would expect to see smash-mouth football for the first part of the season, while they learn pass blocking technique...but as for pur physical "run-over-you-ness," it would be a sight to behold.

1. Great point. Carpenter has to start. Scholarships are too limited this year to burn one this year and another next in hopes that Carpenter pans out. He plays day one.

2. Depth still and issue? We lose Smitty and AC but gain 3+. Either we have insufficient numbers or we have few who will be ready to play. Even if only Fluker and Carpenter are ready to go the depth issue should be at least another year closer to being better. Have our non-starters not bettered themselves to being ready to be a number 2?

3. I am so looking forward to short yardage situations. Can you imagine going 2-Tight Ends where your TEs happen to be 300+ linemen added to a 330lb line. As a defense, you just have to pucker up don't you? Two Rb's split to take on the rushing ends while our QB reads 7 across/300lb zone blocking. THAT is sick.

Unless Mike Johnson's injury is much worse than expected, someone will have to play awfully well to take a starting job from him.

 

[TerryP]

Johnson's injury is a high ankle sprain.

It'll be a few weeks before he's back where he needs to be. But, I'd suspect, he'll be able to get into the conditioning drills full time by Feb.

I agree with what you are saying...I look at the RT and LG position as "taken."

FWIW, right now, I'd think the LT and C are the only positions with question marks.

 

[UAgrad93]

I agree with you Terry, LT and C are our biggest holes to fill.

 

[jdpas29]

yes

 

[imported_Porter]

Me still thinks Carpenter ends up at guard, especially if we get Massie as expected.

 

[UAgrad93]

I'll take Massie, Carpenter and Fluker any day. With the young horses we have already, we could have them pulling a rig like the BUDWEISER Clydesdale horses. Depth, that can solve alot of problems. Plus throw in Warmack from this upcoming class at guard. We might be able to pull 2 carts.

 

[Guest]

I'll have to agree that everything is pure speculation here. Until fall, whoever has the quickest feet, best hands and then size will be at LT in my opinion.

I thought our line against Utah was really shown up. Very poor at times. Some of our guys got blew up and pushed into the backfield on running plays. After watching the game several times, I see that the foot speed some of our o-line was very slow compared to the Utes speedy guys. I saw D. Davis get ran around and just plain whipped on many plays. IMO I hope that he develops a whole lot between now and VT. Size don't mean anything if you can't pass protect.

I saw Fluker in the Army game. He looks fairly quick for his enormous size. But I do see him starting.

 

[gumboman]

Fluker will start from day one. If you question this, you have not seen him play and seen how he matches up with his competition. He is an impact player, just as Julio is. IMO, he would have given Andre' a run for his money. Some players are developed into greats and some are simply gifted. This kid is gifted!

On a lighter note, DJ and some others went to Six Flags last week. The park personnel would not let him on the rides due to his size! Poor kid. Too big to get on the roller coaster. I'm glad he's going to be on our team.

 

[imported_Porter]

I saw D. Davis get ran around and just plain whipped on many plays. IMO I hope that he develops a whole lot between now and VT. Size don't mean anything if you can't pass protect.

You have to take that with a grain of salt. Davis got hardly any reps at LT in practice during the season, and going from RT to LT is not nearly as easy as it sounds when one is not accustomed to do so.

 

[TerryP]

There's one thing that needs to be considered/remembered in all of this "Fluker starts at LT" and comparisons to Andre when he came in as a freshman.

Andre played LT for a long time in high school. This is Fluker's first year playing LT.

Therein is one of the reasons why I'm cautious about saying "he starts from day one" when he comes in for fall camp.

 

[Guest]

There's one thing that needs to be considered/remembered in all of this "Fluker starts at LT" and comparisons to Andre when he came in as a freshman.

Andre played LT for a long time in high school. This is Fluker's first year playing LT.

Therein is one of the reasons why I'm cautious about saying "he starts from day one" when he comes in for fall camp.

I agree - as it pertains to the LT position. I do feel that he is too good to sit on the sidelines, and WILL start day one at a position on the OL. My guess would be RT, with Carpenter at LT. Davis moves to guard.

If we get Massie and/or Moses, things get really interesting on the OL in 2010.

Do you think Love will be moved to center - or guard, or battle for playing time at tackle? Again, I think he is probably too good to keep off the field, but I don't think he is good enough to beat out Carpenter or Fluker...or davis. Maybe left guard?

One more thing, have you heard anything about Barrett Jones?