📡 First Becker-Burgess, Now Mo Smith (UPDATED: Smith still with the program, as of now.)

[bama alum]

Dooooooooo whaaaaaaaaaaaa???

Veteran defensive back transferring out of Alabama

Veteran defensive back transferring out of Alabama

A veteran defensive back is transferring out of Alabama's program.

Senior Maurice Smith, who was in the mix to be the Tide's starting nickel back, is leaving and will join another program as a graduate transfer, a source told AL.com.

The Dulles, Texas native was the first-team nickel back during Alabama's spring game in April, helping the first-team defense hold the Tide's first-team offense to just three points.

While Smith only started two games with Alabama, he was a contributor as early as his true freshman season in 2013 and was a leading contender to be the Tide's nickel back last year before the emergence of then-freshman Minkah Fitzpatrick during fall camp.

Smith ended up playing mostly on special teams season and was twice one of Alabama's special teams players of the week.

Smith is the second defensive back the Tide has lost in recent weeks.

Sophomore Shawn Burgess-Becker decided to transfer earlier this month.

 

[rolltide66]

And now there are 85. (db may be the deepest position, other than !QB!)

 

[OldPlayer]

WTF is Dulles, TX?

 

[Bama Ravens]

Yep, had to get to 85. Hate to lose him, but we will be ok.

 

[Tidestalker]

Ouch. First transfer I can remember in a while that leaves a legitimate role behind.

The only good news I see from this is that it could mean Tony Brown is in the mix. Otherwise, I have no idea why Mo Smith would be leaving. He was a good bet to start in the nickel whether it was at Star or safety.

Obvoiusly the D Backfield is stacked with talent, but experience is important too. Too bad we couldn't put his to use this year.

 

[TerryP]

Semantics, again, ya think?

He was a good bet to start in the nickel whether it was at Star or safety.

who was in the mix to be the Tide's starting nickel back,

I don't know that'd I'd say in the mix. That fifth defensive back is Minkah. And that's assuming—likely incorrectly—that Mo is still in the corner rotation. After Minkah, I'm thinking Averett has that sixth spot. I know AA had a really solid spring.

I'm seeing this as Mo looking at a back-up role playing safety with the option of playing immediately as a grad transfer in a safety or corner role at another school.

He's leaving with several rings and a degree in hand ...

 

[Tidestalker]

Semantics, again, ya think?





I don't know that'd I'd say in the mix. That fifth defensive back is Minkah. And that's assuming—likely incorrectly—that Mo is still in the corner rotation. After Minkah, I'm thinking Averett has that sixth spot. I know AA had a really solid spring.

I'm seeing this as Mo looking at a back-up role playing safety with the option of playing immediately as a grad transfer in a safety or corner role at another school.

He's leaving with several rings and a degree in hand ...

5th DB is Minkah?

I could see Minkah staying at Star, but seriously doubt he wouldn't be the other CB with Marlon the base D.

Who do you have as the other safety opposite of Eddie J?

 

[TerryP]

5th DB is Minkah?

By fifth, going with what you were talking about earlier, I was talking about the STAR position.

I could see Minkah staying at Star, but seriously doubt he wouldn't be the other CB with Marlon the base D

Agreed. I'd have to look at the schedule, but IIRC we won't see the team in base until week six.

Who do you have as the other safety opposite of Eddie J?

Ronnie Harrison.

____

Think about this for a bit.

Pruitt's MO, the one that differs a bit from Kirby, is the way he attacks and with what personnel he's attacking. Combine that with how they are playing the safety position (your bigger corners) and I saw Mo getting back up time to Eddie more than getting the STAR role like some projected.

Consider the speed we see at corner, the speed we see at safety, and then ... where do you put Mo?

How all that shuffled out really wasn't the root of my thought process on the secondary. Call this me jumping up and down and pointing ... Averett is being overlooked going into the fall considering the way he came out of spring camp.

 

[Tidestalker]

By fifth, going with what you were talking about earlier, I was talking about the STAR position.


Agreed. I'd have to look at the schedule, but IIRC we won't see the team in base until week six.

Ronnie Harrison.

____

Think about this for a bit.

Pruitt's MO, the one that differs a bit from Kirby, is the way he attacks and with what personnel he's attacking. Combine that with how they are playing the safety position (your bigger corners) and I saw Mo getting back up time to Eddie more than getting the STAR role like some projected.

Consider the speed we see at corner, the speed we see at safety, and then ... where do you put Mo?

How all that shuffled out really wasn't the root of my thought process on the secondary. Call this me jumping up and down and pointing ... Averett is being overlooked going into the fall considering the way he came out of spring camp.

Well you must be onto something... Otherwise he wouldn't be leaving lol.

To me the main thing this points to is that Tony Brown has to be an option. Otherwise I couldn't see Saban/Pruitt not finding a way to keep Smith around.

Avarett could be in the mix... Has the physical tools for sure... But is he going to beat out Sheffield? Both could be wildcards

 

[OldPlayer]

You have to assume that Tony Brown won't be available, at least early in the season. If he is, it's a bonus. The primary reason Minkah was the star last year was he was a true freshman. Too much to learn but too talented to keep off the field. I expect Minkah to move over to corner primarily, but I also expect multiple players to play multiple positions. This will allow Pruitt to disguise coverage packages which are usually scouted as player groups come on the field.

 

[TerryP]

Well you must be onto something... Otherwise he wouldn't be leaving lol.

To me the main thing this points to is that Tony Brown has to be an option. Otherwise I couldn't see Saban/Pruitt not finding a way to keep Smith around.

While the defense is going to remain the same in concept, I truly believe we're going to see CJP's 'touch' on a few aspects. One of those will probably be described as "attacking" by the pundits in the fall. (I'm not sure I'm willing to buy that moniker yet.) For the sake of this conversation ... using that description ...

When I think about the two defenses at FSU and UGA under CJP the thing that sticks out to me is how active the middle linebackers and secondary were. In recruiting and scheme we've see Saban move to a faster, more athletic secondary as evidence by a guy like Eddie moving to safety. Hell, I suspect Ronnie could play corner for a lot of teams.

Therein ... the reason I was seeing Mo as a back-up safety.

Avarett could be in the mix... Has the physical tools for sure... But is he going to beat out Sheffield? Both could be wildcards

If this shakes out like I suspect it will, I don't know if we'll have an answer to who beats out whom when it comes to some of these packages. When I think about it I'm guessing if I looked at the participation chart (as inaccurate as it can be) there were eight DB's that registered a start last year.

When it comes to AA, I'm seeing this a lot like I saw the Lester Cotton situation before spring camp. Cotton only played in four games last year if I recall correctly. On the offensive line at that. So, when his name was mentioned people saw it but didn't pay it much attention. Anthony played in three (?) games last year so his name is relatively unknown as well. He's had a really good spring camp. Cotton, on the other hand, looked really good in last fall's camp.

In both cases you just see it comin', ya know? Both solid performers that you don't hear mentioned on TV that often—which is exactly what you want from both positions.

 

[BamaFan334]

By fifth, going with what you were talking about earlier, I was talking about the STAR position.


Agreed. I'd have to look at the schedule, but IIRC we won't see the team in base until week six.

Ronnie Harrison.

____

Think about this for a bit.

Pruitt's MO, the one that differs a bit from Kirby, is the way he attacks and with what personnel he's attacking. Combine that with how they are playing the safety position (your bigger corners) and I saw Mo getting back up time to Eddie more than getting the STAR role like some projected.

Consider the speed we see at corner, the speed we see at safety, and then ... where do you put Mo?

How all that shuffled out really wasn't the root of my thought process on the secondary. Call this me jumping up and down and pointing ... Averett is being overlooked going into the fall considering the way he came out of spring camp.

You probably know better than me from aN insider prospective, but why do you not see Minkah as a corner? Feel he has better ability roaming or what? I think he has the ability to cover well with his athleticism. Sure, he was beat a few times, but what true freshman isn't beat a few times? From what I've seen I think he can do what Marlon Humphrey does, especially with Eddie Jackson patrolling back there as well.

 

[Tidestalker]

Not sure Ronnie Harrison would be a corner anywhere in the country... He's like 6'3 215. NFL corners aren't even that big lol.

Well maybe Avvarette can win that dime spot. That position has become a legitimate role since our D forces so many third and longs. Even Jabriel Washington got on the field one season as the 6th DB... That's my prediction for Averrette.

 

[TerryP]

You probably know better than me from aN insider prospective, but why do you not see Minkah as a corner?

I didn't say that.

@Tidestalker made a reference to the nickel package and I said I see Minkah as that fifth player in the nickel. I'm not comparing the two in football terms, but as far as where he lines up I see Minkah in the same role as Javy. In base, playing corner. In nickel, playing STAR.

In that package I'm seeing Marlon and Anthony on the corners, Eddie and Ronnie in the middle, with Minkah 'roaming' (as you put it.)

 

[BamaFan334]

I didn't say that.

@Tidestalker made a reference to the nickel package and I said I see Minkah as that fifth player in the nickel. I'm not comparing the two in football terms, but as far as where he lines up I see Minkah in the same role as Javy. In base, playing corner. In nickel, playing STAR.

In that package I'm seeing Marlon and Anthony on the corners, Eddie and Ronnie in the middle, with Minkah 'roaming' (as you put it.)

Gotcha gotcha. We see it similar then, except where you have Averett, I wasn't sure who would go there.

 

[TerryP]

We see it similar then, except where you have Averett,

Who do you see taking the corner in the nickel?

 

[BamaFan334]

Who do you see taking the corner in the nickel?

To be completely honest, I did not know or even researched it yet. Tony Brown would have been the guy in my eyes, but we have no clue what his status will be. I don't know a lot about Averett.

 

[TerryP]

Quick note: As of this morning, Mo is still in Tuscaloosa. Until he is enrolled in another school, he's still on the Tide squad. I know the staff has been working with him in an effort to keep him in Tuscaloosa.

IF, IF he does stay ...

Based on how the team came out of spring we're looking at Eddie and Ronnie in the middle with Marlon and Minkah on the corners. In spring camp, Mo was playing the STAR position in nickel. Yet, he's still considered to be the third safety. Picture the role Vinnie played.

Assuming that's the case ...

They are still looking for that guy to play the MONEY position (Ronnie's position last season.) Is it Deionte? Or, are they looking at one of the new guys coming in for that position?

 

[Tidestalker]

Quick note: As of this morning, Mo is still in Tuscaloosa. Until he is enrolled in another school, he's still on the Tide squad. I know the staff has been working with him in an effort to keep him in Tuscaloosa.

IF, IF he does stay ...

Based on how the team came out of spring we're looking at Eddie and Ronnie in the middle with Marlon and Minkah on the corners. In spring camp, Mo was playing the STAR position in nickel. Yet, he's still considered to be the third safety. Picture the role Vinnie played.

Assuming that's the case ...

They are still looking for that guy to play the MONEY position (Ronnie's position last season.) Is it Deionte? Or, are they looking at one of the new guys coming in for that position?

Not surprised the staff would want to keep him.

 

[rick4bama]

Once again I get the inform I needed to understand what going on at Bama.