Here is a email that is starting to circulate around. I guess is pulled from a message thread.
------As I've scanned all the Bama Boards there have been several posts calling Cristobal just a recruiter ala Lance Thompson or even stronger, he needs to go. Let's take a closer look at their premise and why that has many holes in
it. Don't get me wrong, I personally expected a stronger performance from the
new group through the first third of the season but am more patient and understanding because of these basic facts:
-anyone who knows college football realizes that most OL prospects usually
take more time to develop than almost all positions. So, like the group we
all measure future OL's against, 2012, the chemistry and physical development
of the guys didn't happen overnight but they had been in the system other
than Cyrus for some time and developed.
-What do these names have in common?
Isaac Luatua, Caleb Gulledge, Brandon Hill, & Grant Hill.
Answer: they are the core especially the Hills, of a dangerously lightly
recruited area considering its' importance who are not even in the
program for varying reasons. We all know the OL position is very
hard to evaluate but compounding this fact was how few OL we signed
over 2 years which would have been the foundation of the group over
the last 2 seasons. Was Cristobal on staff, no, it was Nick Saban,
Jeff Stoutland & Joe Pendry as the primary consultant.
-Saban has invested heavily in quickly developing the position with outside
minds offering years of knowledge. Not only has Pendry who we all know has
an extensive pedigree & Saban's trust but one of Saban's coaching buddies,
longtime NFL OL legend, Hudson Houck. As many of you may remember, he was
the coach engineering many of the Dallas Cowboys greatest OL's. Houck has
dropped by during the Spring session only to my knowledge for input.
-For those of you perplexed why Cam Robinson seems to have regressed or is
going through the infamous "sophomore slump" keep in mind he is slightly
hampered with knee & shoulder issues.
-Well, I'll take Stoutland over Cristobal any day plus Sundays. Stoutland
did an outstanding job in '11 & '12 but what about the inherited talent?
What has happened to Stoutland's genius when Evan Mathis showed age & now
is no longer on the roster among other issues? How is DeMarco Murray doing?
-Stoutland as a recruiter?
his top signee was a big one, Amari Cooper. I agree that it's more than
recruiting with OL coaches especially but it matters. As for Amari, the
hidden truth is that even his 1 big hit, Amari, was very close to staying
in Florida due to pressure from his mom which is why Stoutland & Groh
asked Cris Carter, who had known Amari for years while working with the NFL
wr's Coop worked out with in the off-season, to help solidify him.
-It's always about the players:
*Cyrus/Cam (hurting)
*Warmack/Piersbacher (still getting stronger but has nice potential)
*Jones/Kelly (scoffed when posted that Kelly would be the stronger NFL
center prospect which is materializing)
*Steen/Shank Taylor (converted NT who is struggling)
*Fluker/Jackson (both are true OG's as evidenced by where DJ is playing
with the Chargers due to footwork making them liabilities vs DE's) DJ
was one of the most dominant run blockers at OT in years anywhere.
Should we have expected the '15 OL to be a dominant force especially early
on even though quite frankly, several staffers were even talking them up to
others including people I talk to?
-Michael Williams loss? basically having a 3rd OT at TE was a huge advantage
for UA & how about now?
The season is only a third old & there is potential with this group but before we armchair fans proclaim our highly coveted OL coach a failure, let's consider the facts. It doesn't matter anyway because Nick Saban knows
the deal and hopefully, understands his personal role in why we're not where
we want to be.