musso
Member
then I remembered something remarkable. Perhaps some of you might have more specifics to offer, but I dare say we have lost a historic number of NFL early-rounders on defense since the 2015 season. I remember thinking (and also hearing from pundits) every preseason after our 2015 title that our D would take a step back due to our significant departures. And yet, we have continued to remain strong on D despite all of our personnel losses every season. A key to our sustained success has obviously been stellar recruiting, but in particular signing recruits who are able to contribute earlier and earlier.
Now Saban remarked repeatedly last season how he had never before experienced such attrition from injuries in a single season. And it was remarkable that we still won the natty last season in spite of all those injuries. But then came last year's recruiting class, considered by many to be a disappointment, particularly in the D front. Then we have early injuries again this season to critical players expected to contribute significantly: OLBs Allen and Lewis, and perhaps our only gameday ready DL signee Wynn. Furthermore, when you review our whole signing class from last year, it seems that we've had the least meaningful contribution from the fewest number of incoming signees than we've had in recent seasons. I see only three players who have been able to contribute meaningfully on gameday: Waddle and the two cornerbacks Surtain and Smith.
All this to say that it has been even more impressive to put up relatively great defensive statistics YET AGAIN on the way to a natty YET AGAIN, after early injuries to critical D front personnel YET AGAIN, but this time WITHOUT real contributions from a disappointing recruiting cycle in the D front.
Now Saban remarked repeatedly last season how he had never before experienced such attrition from injuries in a single season. And it was remarkable that we still won the natty last season in spite of all those injuries. But then came last year's recruiting class, considered by many to be a disappointment, particularly in the D front. Then we have early injuries again this season to critical players expected to contribute significantly: OLBs Allen and Lewis, and perhaps our only gameday ready DL signee Wynn. Furthermore, when you review our whole signing class from last year, it seems that we've had the least meaningful contribution from the fewest number of incoming signees than we've had in recent seasons. I see only three players who have been able to contribute meaningfully on gameday: Waddle and the two cornerbacks Surtain and Smith.
All this to say that it has been even more impressive to put up relatively great defensive statistics YET AGAIN on the way to a natty YET AGAIN, after early injuries to critical D front personnel YET AGAIN, but this time WITHOUT real contributions from a disappointing recruiting cycle in the D front.
