🏈 Five Alabama signees who could be early contributors

[BAMANEWSBOT]

A consensus No. 1 recruiting class brings impact players, the kind who should make their presence felt early. That should particularly be true in a program that's losing starters to the NFL at several key positions like left tackle, cornerback and defensive end.

Here are five 2014 signees who should contend for starting jobs and could make an early impact in Tuscaloosa.

1. Cameron Robinson. Cyrus Kouandjio is gone and there doesn't appear to be a clear heir apparent on campus. Robinson (6-6, 320), a five-star prospect rated as the top offensive tackle prospect in the nation, should compete for the job. While it's a tough spot in which to put a true freshman, there is some precedent for it at Alabama, where Andre Smith started as a true freshman in 2006 and Kouandjio played quite a bit in 2011 before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

2. Tony Brown. Top cornerback Deion Belue is graduating and no one established themselves as the every-week starter on the other side, so a five-star prospect like Brown should have every opportunity to show he's ready to be on the field, especially since he's already enrolled and will participate in spring drills.

3. Marlon Humphrey. He's another five-star cornerback signee who should get a chance to compete for a job. Unlike Brown, he won't have the advantage of being there this spring, however.

4. D.J. Pettway. The 6-foot-3, 255-pound Pettway is a little small to play end in the Alabama's 3-4 scheme, but the Tide liked him a lot when they signed him out of high school in 2011 and they must still like him a lot to take him back after he was dismissed for his involvement in a pair of on-campus robberies last February. Both of last year's starters, Ed Stinson and Jeoffrey Pagan, are leaving, though promising sophomore A'Shawn Robinson seems certain to emerge at one of those spots.

5. Jacob Coker. It's easy to forget since he's a transfer, but Coker is technically part of the 2014 class. While there will be a competition for the task of replacing 2013 Heisman Trophy runner-up AJ McCarron at quarterback and while Coker won't arrive until this summer, he figures to be a front-runner for the job.

"It comes to a point where I just couldn't sit on the bench anymore," Coker told AL.com recently of his decision to transfer. If he didn't think he had a great chance to win the job at Alabama, he wouldn't have come.





Read More Here...

 

[TerryP]

I agree with two of the five...though, I think all five will see playing time this season. But start? No...

 

[JoshB]

[MENTION=12209]TerryP[/MENTION] is referring to Pettway and Coker... me thinks... inkbiggrin:

 

[ElephantStomp]

I think our QB is either Coker or Cornwell although I think Coker is the starter.

I think Pettway could start, but I'm not sure. Big Cam I think plays plenty, but start I'm not so sure about.

I think Brown starts.

I also think Hand could see significant playing time, but again I'm not sure he starts

 

[TerryP]

<!-- BEGIN TEMPLATE: dbtech_usertag_mention --> @TerryP <!-- END TEMPLATE: dbtech_usertag_mention --> is referring to Pettway and Coker... me thinks... inkbiggrin:

:td: With the caveat of Pettway being in as good of shape as he says, and others have commented, that he is...

I've just got this feeling that he's got a lot to prove and really wants to do so.

I wonder if we see Reed playing an end position at times as well...

---

Just for the hell of it...my five on the guys I think we'll see contribute quickly (not necessarily start.)

Two already pointed out, with Reed three, Flournoy-Smith, and Hand.

 

[bamaraider]

Heard a lot about that kid Keith Holcombe. Think this kid might be the next special teams head hunter.

As for the incoming recruits, I'd definitely say Humphrey and Brown will compete for the starting job at CB. 1st reason is because they're talented, 2nd reason because as they gain experience, the better they get. Ex: Dee Milliner.

 

[rammerjammer]

I would think if Brown has a good spring and summer that he would crack the starting rotation. I know we had a lot of guys play opposite Belue last year, but nobody locked down that spot on a consistent basis. I think with Brown being enrolled already, it gives him a real good shot.

 

[jdpas29]

After watching some of the QB videos (yes they're from high school i know) Cooper Bateman looks very natural with his throwing motion and isn't a bad runner. His build and form are actually kinda like AJ.

Cornwell to me looks like Tebow both in his running style and in his throwing motion. One of these is a good thing...

Alec Morris has looked solid when we've seen him but nothing really stood out to me. I really can't say much about him. I like his tweets?

We somewhat know what to expect with Blake.

I gotta say at this point, Cooper Bateman may be a tough one to pass on. Has anyone heard anything else about him?


*** backed up and watched some tape of Alec Morris. ok throwing motion, but what surprised me is his legs. This kid can run.

 

[bama alum]

Maybe Josh Frazier starting out on the OL? Maybe at LT?

 

[bamaraider]

Miller is another one I believe will have an impact at linebacker.

 

[planomateo]

The big question I have, can Rashaan crack the LB lineup his first year. How many LB's will it take to replace C.J.

 

[rammerjammer]

The big question I have, can Rashaan crack the LB lineup his first year. How many LB's will it take to replace C.J.

I think just one.......Trey Depreist. I think he slides over and then the rotation would be to fill Depreist shoes. IDK, Trey may call defense from his slot and somebody may fill CJ's role, but I look for Trey to be the QB of the defense next year.

 

[JoshB]

The big question I have, can Rashaan crack the LB lineup his first year. How many LB's will it take to replace C.J.

Rashaan, maybe as a designated pass rusher but I think Saban wants to put a little more bulk on him tho that might hamstring his speed... DePriest will take over for CJ as another in the long line of great MIC backers in this defense (Ro, Donta, Nico, CJ).

 

[TerryP]

[MENTION=12303]Birdman37[/MENTION]

I'm curious as to why you refer to the middle linebacker as MIC, versus MIKE.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

I think just one.......Trey Depreist. I think he slides over and then the rotation would be to fill Depreist shoes. IDK, Trey may call defense from his slot and somebody may fill CJ's role, but I look for Trey to be the QB of the defense next year.

I don't think we have anyone as fast as CJ at LB, and there will be an overall dropoff in that position. It's just a matter of how the pieces come together. Depreist will need to speed up his read and recognition to be dominant in that position.

Back to the original topic, I agree Coker and Pettway are most likely to start. Generally, Saban doesn't take transfers unless they're ready to plug and play.

RTR,

Tim

 

[PhillyGirl]

I am most looking forward to Pettway.

 

[JoshB]

<!-- BEGIN TEMPLATE: dbtech_usertag_mention --> @Birdman37 <!-- END TEMPLATE: dbtech_usertag_mention -->

I'm curious as to why you refer to the middle linebacker as MIC, versus MIKE.

Force of habit, in high school on our charts it was listed as "SAM, MIC, BUCK."

 

[TerryP]

Force of habit, in high school on our charts it was listed as "SAM, MIC, BUCK."

BUCK, I appreciate! The other day I mentioned I'd given up on the SAM, MIKE, and WILL when describing our linebackers. If we wanted to really be correct, CJ would have been called our BUCK linebacker last season.

Here's a ramble for a minute...you're probably aware of this.

I've wondered why people don't talk about interior linebackers, in a traditional 3-4, with the titles of BUCK and MACK. Most of your 3-4 defensive coaches use those terms. Throwing a JACK in the mix may be what changes it. This BUCK position is the one that calls the sets and alignments. He's also responsible for filling the gaps against the run and pass coverage in a zone covering the middle. Still, when using BUCK most use MACK instead of MIKE.

I've seen MIC used referring to the player making the call. It seems to be used since that player is the with the call...therefore, holding a mic(rophone.) That's the link between the two I've seen most often, yet it still doesn't fit with what I call normal defensive terminology.

After high school, before attending UA, I lived in Mphs for awhile. They had a coach named Keith Butler who handled their linebackers. While watching one of their spring practices (maybe fall, can't recall now) I first ran across the terms BUCK and MACK. It made me "hit the books," if you will, looking up that position and what it meant. (If you're not familiar with Butler he's the guy who was coaching the defense when Memphis upset a top 10 Tennessee team in Manning's time in Knoxville: 1995-1996 area.)

Two, maybe three years ago I saw a few segments on him and Pittsburgh's (NFL) defense on the ESPN NFL show that comes on Sunday mornings. (The one with Merrill Hodge and Jaworski.) Again, he was using the same terminology except this time I actually recognized the terms.

[/ramble]

 

[JoshB]

BUCK, I appreciate! The other day I mentioned I'd given up on the SAM, MIKE, and WILL when describing our linebackers. If we wanted to really be correct, CJ would have been called our BUCK linebacker last season.

Here's a ramble for a minute...you're probably aware of this.

I've wondered why people don't talk about interior linebackers, in a traditional 3-4, with the titles of BUCK and MACK. Most of your 3-4 defensive coaches use those terms. Throwing a JACK in the mix may be what changes it. This BUCK position is the one that calls the sets and alignments. He's also responsible for filling the gaps against the run and pass coverage in a zone covering the middle. Still, when using BUCK most use MACK instead of MIKE.

I've seen MIC used referring to the player making the call. It seems to be used since that player is the with the call...therefore, holding a mic(rophone.) That's the link between the two I've seen most often, yet it still doesn't fit with what I call normal defensive terminology.

After high school, before attending UA, I lived in Mphs for awhile. They had a coach named Keith Butler who handled their linebackers. While watching one of their spring practices (maybe fall, can't recall now) I first ran across the terms BUCK and MACK. It made me "hit the books," if you will, looking up that position and what it meant. (If you're not familiar with Butler he's the guy who was coaching the defense when Memphis upset a top 10 Tennessee team in Manning's time in Knoxville: 1995-1996 area.)

Two, maybe three years ago I saw a few segments on him and Pittsburgh's (NFL) defense on the ESPN NFL show that comes on Sunday mornings. (The one with Merrill Hodge and Jaworski.) Again, he was using the same terminology except this time I actually recognized the terms.

[/ramble]

See our BUCK was the outside backer to the weakside, outside backer to the strongside was the SAM, and the middle linebacker was MIC. I'm thinking they called it MIC because of what you said abut him making the calls. They made us play mostly 3-3-5 and 5-3-3. Always thought it was a weird combo. In the 3-3-5 the extra DB was usually the "rover" which was really just an extra linebacker. I never understood what the terms were supposed to mean until later on, we just thought he wanted to give every position a weird name.

Def. enjoyed ran this time. :icon_thumright: