A friend emailed me this.
***notes from Rocky Marciano from Tider Insider***
Ā· I had a discussion last night with someone who is very close to
what is taking place on a daily basis at practice. Some things he
mentioned to me last night.
-DJ Fluker had a rough first few days, but the last few practices he
has really stepped his game up. During one practice he was getting
whipped by Brandon Deadrick. Some felt he was losing his confidence
and then Mike Johnson lit a fire under him. The next play DJ put
Deadrick on his back and that one play seemed to flip the switch on
for him. I asked my source why the switch is just now coming on and he
said some on the staff feel he developed some lazy habits last year in
high school because he was so much stronger than everyone else and
never had to put much effort into blocking anyone. Since the Deadrick
pancake DJ has looked like a starting offensive lineman.
-Chance Warmack is impressing everyone with his work ethic and his
non-stop motor. He gets to the 2nd level as good as anyone on the
offensive line not named Johnson.
-Mike Johnson has become the General Patton of the offense. He is
stepping up and getting into the faces of players like Caldwell did
last year. He has been a great player for us and will be a great NFL
player.
-Andre Smith has said more than once that he wishes he had come back
for his senior year. He still hasnāt gotten over what happened during
the Sugar Bowl and seems to me a lost individual at this point. I know
he will turn it around and become a star in the NFL.
-Michael Bowman has been very impressive. My source said he has looked
like as USC type of receiver. A Mike Williams Dewayne Jarret type of
player. Big, very physical and can catch the ball. He will be hard to
keep off the field.
-Roy UpChurch has looked outstanding thus far in fall camp. If he can
stay healthy he will have a big year this year.
-Mark Ingram is a bowling ball in cleats. The hardest hit thus far in
practice was when Mark and Rolando met on an off tackle play and it
sounded like a cannon went off. It was such a big hit that it got
Coach Saban excited and jumping around. I asked who won that battle
and was told Rolando did but that he knew he had been hit when the
play was over.
-Julio looks like an NFL player right now. He is uncoverable in
practice. Not because of bad DB play but because he is the best WR in
the country. Unlike a lot of players with his talent, he does not take
it for granted. On most days he is up by 5 am running routes by
himself. As of late a few other WR's have joined him as well as Trent
Richardson. Julio is one of the best leaders on the team and does so
without talking.
-Speaking of Trent, he is living up to the hype. He looks like a 4
year veteran of Coach Cochran's brutal program. His only real issue
has been his pass catching. Coach Saban keeps telling him he is going
to make him practice in boxing gloves if his pass catching does not
improve. Like Julio, Trent is a worker and he will improve.
-Greg McElroy is a rock and the unquestioned leader of the offense. If
Johnson is the Patton McElroy is the Eisenhower. He has dinner with
each group of offensive set during the week and some members of the
defense. Greg is just a special player and is destined to do great
things. I have no doubts he will go down as one of the all-time greats
in Alabama football history.
-Look for our offense to mirror OU's offense from last year. We will
run some out of the Spread and our traditional power offense and we
will do it running without a huddle. The feeling is that Greg can run
a no huddle offense. This is not something new. Coach Saban has been
trying to run a no huddle since he has been here.
-Rolando McClain is a football machine. Coach Saban has said Ro is the
smartest player he has ever coached. He just understands defense.
Coach will joke with him and tell him if he doesnāt catch on with an
NFL team he will always have a spot on Coach's staff. I know Brandon
Spikes is getting all the attention, but I feel Ro is the best LB in
the country and it isnt close. He is up to 260 and has a frame that
could handle more weight. He has not lost any speed. In fact, he ran a
better 40 this year than he did last year.
-Hightower is cut from the same mold as Ro. He eats, drinks and sleeps
football. If he is able to move to Jack full time this year he will be
an All American and our pass rush will be much, much better.
-Nico Johnson has been very impressive. Reamer has a game he plays
with the freshman LB's by pop quizzing them on defensive calls.
Johnson has yet to miss a question. He is a Coach Saban LB and early
indications are that he can make a Rolando/Hightower type of impact.
If so, look for Hightower to move to Jack full time.
-Our DL just looks amazing. Its almost unfair when you line Cody,
Deadrick, Washington and Hightower up and when you consider the depth
we have behind them its scary good. It is amazing how quickly we have
gone from the bottom of the SEC in DL play to the top of the league.
-Jackson has been our best looking DB thus far.
-Kirkpatrick has been very impressive. Coach Saban has this game he
plays with the DB's where he will catch them not paying attention and
then throw a ball at them. To this point, Dre has caught every Saban
thrown ball. Coach will say - "I'll get you. Don't worry, I'll get
you" and then storm off.
-Overall I think our defense is going to be the best one we have put
on the field since 1992. We have size, speed, defensive back play and
heart. This group, and this team, has a chance to do something
special.
***notes from Rocky Marciano from Tider Insider***
Ā· I had a discussion last night with someone who is very close to
what is taking place on a daily basis at practice. Some things he
mentioned to me last night.
-DJ Fluker had a rough first few days, but the last few practices he
has really stepped his game up. During one practice he was getting
whipped by Brandon Deadrick. Some felt he was losing his confidence
and then Mike Johnson lit a fire under him. The next play DJ put
Deadrick on his back and that one play seemed to flip the switch on
for him. I asked my source why the switch is just now coming on and he
said some on the staff feel he developed some lazy habits last year in
high school because he was so much stronger than everyone else and
never had to put much effort into blocking anyone. Since the Deadrick
pancake DJ has looked like a starting offensive lineman.
-Chance Warmack is impressing everyone with his work ethic and his
non-stop motor. He gets to the 2nd level as good as anyone on the
offensive line not named Johnson.
-Mike Johnson has become the General Patton of the offense. He is
stepping up and getting into the faces of players like Caldwell did
last year. He has been a great player for us and will be a great NFL
player.
-Andre Smith has said more than once that he wishes he had come back
for his senior year. He still hasnāt gotten over what happened during
the Sugar Bowl and seems to me a lost individual at this point. I know
he will turn it around and become a star in the NFL.
-Michael Bowman has been very impressive. My source said he has looked
like as USC type of receiver. A Mike Williams Dewayne Jarret type of
player. Big, very physical and can catch the ball. He will be hard to
keep off the field.
-Roy UpChurch has looked outstanding thus far in fall camp. If he can
stay healthy he will have a big year this year.
-Mark Ingram is a bowling ball in cleats. The hardest hit thus far in
practice was when Mark and Rolando met on an off tackle play and it
sounded like a cannon went off. It was such a big hit that it got
Coach Saban excited and jumping around. I asked who won that battle
and was told Rolando did but that he knew he had been hit when the
play was over.
-Julio looks like an NFL player right now. He is uncoverable in
practice. Not because of bad DB play but because he is the best WR in
the country. Unlike a lot of players with his talent, he does not take
it for granted. On most days he is up by 5 am running routes by
himself. As of late a few other WR's have joined him as well as Trent
Richardson. Julio is one of the best leaders on the team and does so
without talking.
-Speaking of Trent, he is living up to the hype. He looks like a 4
year veteran of Coach Cochran's brutal program. His only real issue
has been his pass catching. Coach Saban keeps telling him he is going
to make him practice in boxing gloves if his pass catching does not
improve. Like Julio, Trent is a worker and he will improve.
-Greg McElroy is a rock and the unquestioned leader of the offense. If
Johnson is the Patton McElroy is the Eisenhower. He has dinner with
each group of offensive set during the week and some members of the
defense. Greg is just a special player and is destined to do great
things. I have no doubts he will go down as one of the all-time greats
in Alabama football history.
-Look for our offense to mirror OU's offense from last year. We will
run some out of the Spread and our traditional power offense and we
will do it running without a huddle. The feeling is that Greg can run
a no huddle offense. This is not something new. Coach Saban has been
trying to run a no huddle since he has been here.
-Rolando McClain is a football machine. Coach Saban has said Ro is the
smartest player he has ever coached. He just understands defense.
Coach will joke with him and tell him if he doesnāt catch on with an
NFL team he will always have a spot on Coach's staff. I know Brandon
Spikes is getting all the attention, but I feel Ro is the best LB in
the country and it isnt close. He is up to 260 and has a frame that
could handle more weight. He has not lost any speed. In fact, he ran a
better 40 this year than he did last year.
-Hightower is cut from the same mold as Ro. He eats, drinks and sleeps
football. If he is able to move to Jack full time this year he will be
an All American and our pass rush will be much, much better.
-Nico Johnson has been very impressive. Reamer has a game he plays
with the freshman LB's by pop quizzing them on defensive calls.
Johnson has yet to miss a question. He is a Coach Saban LB and early
indications are that he can make a Rolando/Hightower type of impact.
If so, look for Hightower to move to Jack full time.
-Our DL just looks amazing. Its almost unfair when you line Cody,
Deadrick, Washington and Hightower up and when you consider the depth
we have behind them its scary good. It is amazing how quickly we have
gone from the bottom of the SEC in DL play to the top of the league.
-Jackson has been our best looking DB thus far.
-Kirkpatrick has been very impressive. Coach Saban has this game he
plays with the DB's where he will catch them not paying attention and
then throw a ball at them. To this point, Dre has caught every Saban
thrown ball. Coach will say - "I'll get you. Don't worry, I'll get
you" and then storm off.
-Overall I think our defense is going to be the best one we have put
on the field since 1992. We have size, speed, defensive back play and
heart. This group, and this team, has a chance to do something
special.
