🏈 Is Don'ta our best all-around player?

[firestorm]

What do y'all think? I'm really impressed with him this year, I actually expected some kind of impact from him, but no such as this level. He's a beast, a monster... and he's still sophomore. The best player on the field by far this week against FIU. A heck of a puss-rusher, a disrupt one creating havoc in (hitting the gaps) and off the edge and extremely fast... We've got a tremendous player!!

RTR,

 

[kc]

He has got a nose for where the ball is at and he is making reads a lot faster this year. He is one heck of an LB and I love to see him come up and put his hand down to rush the passer.

 

[firestorm]

I love to see him come up and put his hand down to rush the passer.

Agreed. Love him firing off from a three-point stance...

RTR,

 

[Bama Bard]

I think our best player will prove to be Marcel Dareus. As far as playing a position where our opponents realize from the first play that they are at a disadvantage is Marcel against whoever the poor soul is that is responsible for him. Then they look over and realize that they are already double teaming #62 they have to pick their poison. I love Donta but if there is a chink in the armour is his size and speed against spread offenses. At 6'4 260 he is just too big to contain their Demps and Harvins of the world. Point in case--the face mask penalty that would have stopped Florida in the 4th quarter in the SCCG. Not that that is a fair comparison between him and Marcel, but it is a way to attack him by pitting him against one player. Whereas with Marcel, I don't think anyone player can contain him.

I also think Marcel will lead us in sacks(which will automatically endear him to the fanbase) and will be the one player that is fast enough and strong enough to intimidate Tim Tebow--who's dreams of 3 National Championship will come crashing down around his big halo'ed head in Atlanta this December.

 

[Jseakin]

I think our best player will prove to be Marcel Dareus. As far as playing a position where our opponents realize from the first play that they are at a disadvantage is Marcel against whoever the poor soul is that is responsible for him. Then they look over and realize that they are already double teaming #62 they have to pick their poison. I love Donta but if there is a chink in the armour is his size and speed against spread offenses. At 6'4 260 he is just too big to contain their Demps and Harvins of the world. Point in case--the face mask penalty that would have stopped Florida in the 4th quarter in the SCCG. Not that that is a fair comparison between him and Marcel, but it is a way to attack him by pitting him against one player. Whereas with Marcel, I don't think anyone player can contain him.

I also think Marcel will lead us in sacks(which will automatically endear him to the fanbase) and will be the one player that is fast enough and strong enough to intimidate Tim Tebow--who's dreams of 3 National Championship will come crashing down around his big halo'ed head in Atlanta this December.

While I agree with you that Darius is going to be an absolute terror to deal with on the line I don't think using a face mask penalty in the 4th quarter against the best team in the nation is a fair assessment for Donta's speed or ability. For one as mentioned before it was the 4th quarter and our lack of depth a numerous positions is what got us beat against FL. Plus he now has been through another off season and camp to get more comfortable at his position and in turn is playing much faster this year than last.

All in all I dont know if we have a "best player" but we have a lot of damn good ones that have a TON of potential and many of them are still very young . We project to do pretty well this year and have the potential to be back in Atlanta with another crack at FL but looking at our team right now I think next year is going to be a down right scary team even after losing Cody and Ro to the draft.

 

[Bama Bard]

While I agree with you that Darius is going to be an absolute terror to deal with on the line I don't think using a face mask penalty in the 4th quarter against the best team in the nation is a fair assessment for Donta's speed or ability. For one as mentioned before it was the 4th quarter and our lack of depth a numerous positions is what got us beat against FL. Plus he now has been through another off season and camp to get more comfortable at his position and in turn is playing much faster this year than last.

I didn't say that one play got lost the game. Nor am I discrediting one of the best LB's we've ever had--which Donta will prove to be. I am simply showing one example where players skill set can exploit another player's lack of it. In that one instance it was speed. Coaches can game plan against Donta by pitting him against small, shifty, fast backs--whether it be with speed sweeps, options or quick passes (as you could against most guys that don't run sub 4.5 fortys). It is just a fact that they can't against D Lineman like Marcel. They have to beat him at the line of scrimmage. That is all I am saying.

 

[JoshB]

You know how people say Julio Jones is the prototypical Wide Receiver, that if you describing a receiver to God to make you, Julio is what you would end up with from skills to size, everything. That's how I feel about Hightower. Dude is freaking huge (6'4" and 260 lbs.) plus he's fast as hell, he can cover, he can stop the run, he can pass rush. He's disciplined and diagnoses plays well imo (reads and reacts). I think when it's all said and done, when he's gone from Bama people will talk about him in the same breath as the Demeco Ryans and Rolando McClains and Derrick Thomas' and Cornelius Bennett's. Right now, though, I think Rolando McClain is our best defensive player still.