🏈 Phil Steele: Projected starting lineups and position group rankings.

[TerryP]

DEFENSE
DE - Raekwon Davis
NG - Johnny Dwight Sr.
DE - Isaiah Buggs
JLB - Anfernee Jennings
WLB - Mack Wilson
MLB - Dylan Moses
SLB - Christian Miller
CB - Trevon Diggs
CB - Savion Smith
SS - Deionte Thompson
FS - Xavier McKinney

OFFENSE
QB - Tua Tagovailoa
RB - Damien Harris
WR - Jerry Jeudy
WR - Henry Ruggs
WR - DeVonta Smith
TE - Irv Smith Jr.
LT - Jonah Williams
LG - Lester Cotton
C - Ross Pierschbacher
RG - Jedrick Willis
RT - Matt Womack

SPECIAL TEAMS
K - Austin Jones Sr.
PK - Skyler Delong.

 

[TerryP]

Quarterbacks (13th)
Running backs (2nd)
Receivers (20th)
Offensive Line (3rd)
Defensive Line (4th)
Linebackers (1st)
Defensive Backs (8th)
Special Teams (53rd)

 

[Tidestalker]

Johnny Dwight Sr... Seems a little unlikely but the rest is cool

 

[TerryP]

Johnny Dwight Sr... Seems a little unlikely but the rest is cool

Not at all unlikely--spot on. Going into spring camp it was Davis, Dwight, Buggs in regular and coming out of spring camp is was the same.

 

[alagator]

Johnny Dwight Sr... Seems a little unlikely but the rest is cool

From February.

Here's where we see things differently. For lack of a better word, as fans we're stuck with Dwight at NT when they're in regular. I'm seeing Davis, Dwight, and Buggs for the three down linemen. I'm with you on the defensive backs with the exception of seeing Diggs ahead of Carter at corner giving Bama's back five (nickel) as Carter, Wright, Thompson, Smith, and Diggs.

 

[BamaFan334]

Who the hell does he have above us at Running Back?

 

[Tidestalker]

Johnny Dwight Sr... Seems a little unlikely but the rest is cool

Not at all unlikely--spot on. Going into spring camp it was Davis, Dwight, Buggs in regular and coming out of spring camp is was the same.

I'm a bettor. Whatcha got on it?

I'm sick of this profile pic anyway... :think:

 

[TerryP]

I'm a bettor. Whatcha got on it?

Logic?

Seriously. He fits what the team has used at NT in regular. He's not ideal, but he is what they have. We're talking about NT, not DT. The guy I'd watch going into fall camp is Musika. If he develops...we should see a rotation between the two.

 

[JoshB]

Dwight seems more like the prototypical nose than Quinnen Williams but we're talking about a guy that's played a grand total of seven games in four years...

 

[TerryP]

Dwight seems more like the prototypical nose than Quinnen Williams

Look over that thread about impact players for '18. It's as if some of the beat writers aren't able to distinguish between NT and DT. I'd bet some would be googling if we started talking about technique(s.) (IE: 1 technique versus 3, etc.)

I think you've nailed it here. At least, that's what I've been thinking/saying since last season ended.

 

[JoshB]

I'm a bettor. Whatcha got on it?

Logic?

Seriously. He fits what the team has used at NT in regular. He's not ideal, but he is what they have. We're talking about NT, not DT. The guy I'd watch going into fall camp is Musika. If he develops...we should see a rotation between the two.

Wynn?

 

[TerryP]

Who the hell does he have above us at Running Back?

Stanford.

 

[JoshB]

Dwight seems more like the prototypical nose than Quinnen Williams

Look over that thread about impact players for '18. It's as if some of the beat writers aren't able to distinguish between NT and DT. (I'd bet some would be googling if we started talking about technique(s.) (IE: 1 technique versus 3, etc.)

I think you've nailed it here. At least, that's what I've been thinking/saying since last season ended.

To be fair to them, though, Alabama did have Williams listed at nose with the one's during A-Day. I'm guessing some just ran with it, not realizing there is very little chance a 280 pound lineman is going to be playing nose in Alabama's base.

 

[TerryP]

I'm a bettor. Whatcha got on it?

Logic?

Seriously. He fits what the team has used at NT in regular. He's not ideal, but he is what they have. We're talking about NT, not DT. The guy I'd watch going into fall camp is Musika. If he develops...we should see a rotation between the two.

Wynn?

I'm thinking Wynn runs with the 3's (based on what experience Musika brings to the table.) He'll be a force in '19 (which I think is going to be Saban's best Bama team in his tenure here.)

 

[TerryP]

To be fair to them, though, Alabama did have Williams listed at nose with the one's during A-Day

Both teams were listed as DL. There wasn't a difference made between DT and NT as I recall. I'd have to look up the rosters to be sure but I'm pretty positive it was listed as DL, LB, and DB's without breaking it down any further.

 

[BAMAneck]

Wide receivers ranked 20th ? There must be some really talented wide receiver corps out there ...

I thought we would be top 10 at that position . I know were young but were Uber talented ..

As far as these linebackers go . I can’t wait to see these guys on the field ... so much talent everywhere.....

That’s why I watch the game on Saturday (like most people watching the ball ) but on Monday I will watch everything else . Well at least when the camera man allows it .

 

[TerryP]

Wide receivers ranked 20th ? There must be some really talented wide receiver corps out there ...

I thought we would be top 10 at that position . I know were young but were Uber talented ..

It's based on returning production. Jeudy is the leading guy and he only had 14 receptions last season.

Steele understands the talent on hand. It's unproven to this point.

 

[Tidestalker]

I'm a bettor. Whatcha got on it?

Logic?

Seriously. He fits what the team has used at NT in regular. He's not ideal, but he is what they have. We're talking about NT, not DT. The guy I'd watch going into fall camp is Musika. If he develops...we should see a rotation between the two.

Logic - He's played minimal snaps in 4 years and Q Williams got moved to that position... Who I believe played significantly more snaps than him last year and has a much higher upside.

Also that L. Ray is a freakish talent and having him at DE and another DL at NT (Davis, Buggs, Mathis, Wynn, etc) is a better and more talented line up than Dwight at NT.

I agree Musika is the best fit... But not impressed with the JUCO tape. Seems shorter and less explosive than the guys we've pulled the last 4-5 years. Certainly I could be wrong but seemed like more of flyer at that point in the process than a sure thing. The JUCO guys contributing right away arent that clear cut anymore... Although Buggs was a terrific addition.

 

[JoshB]

To be fair to them, though, Alabama did have Williams listed at nose with the one's during A-Day

Both teams were listed as DL. There wasn't a difference made between DT and NT as I recall. I'd have to look up the rosters to be sure but I'm pretty positive it was listed as DL, LB, and DB's without breaking it down any further.

Maybe it was just AL.com jumping to conclusions I saw.

Post-spring Alabama projected defensive depth chart

 

[TerryP]

To be fair to them, though, Alabama did have Williams listed at nose with the one's during A-Day

Both teams were listed as DL. There wasn't a difference made between DT and NT as I recall. I'd have to look up the rosters to be sure but I'm pretty positive it was listed as DL, LB, and DB's without breaking it down any further.

Maybe it was just AL.com jumping to conclusions I saw.

Post-spring Alabama projected defensive depth chart

Here's what the University published.