🏈 Random question about next year's OL

[musso]

Does anyone else expect Taylor to move to nose guard? I have to believe we have enough matured talent by next season to plug in a better person in his spot.

And will we see Pierschbacher and Cotton competing at right tackle?

 

[psychojoe]

Young Warmack intrigues me. Big brother is one of our all time greats, and he seems to be poured into the same mold. He may supplant Taylor at right guard anyway. Taylor does not have a position on defense other than nose guard, and we return Paine and Frazier at that position.

 

[bradenob]

Does anyone else expect Taylor to move to nose guard? I have to believe we have enough matured talent by next season to plug in a better person in his spot.

And will we see Pierschbacher and Cotton competing at right tackle?

I guess I keep hoping SOMEONE replaces shank - he doesn't pull well, and that's a key - he doesn't hold his blocks great - but I truly believe they ain't starting him if someone ELSE is better. Maybe he loses his job this spring or next fall, but Bozeman tried this last year to do so and failed. Cotton has been mentioned for several positions. I think Pierschbacher came in as a possible tackle, but is probably resigned to his position at guard. And that's not a bad thing. I think, again, Saban has had a level of frustration with the competition not being great, therefore the signing of JuCo Baldwin.

 

[rick4bama]

I guess I keep hoping SOMEONE replaces shank - he doesn't pull well, and that's a key - he doesn't hold his blocks great - but I truly believe they ain't starting him if someone ELSE is better. Maybe he loses his job this spring or next fall, but Bozeman tried this last year to do so and failed. Cotton has been mentioned for several positions. I think Pierschbacher came in as a possible tackle, but is probably resigned to his position at guard. And that's not a bad thing. I think, again, Saban has had a level of frustration with the competition not being great, therefore the signing of JuCo Baldwin.

I hope Bradley improve this summer, he was on the FG unit some this year.

 

[UAgrad93]

I don't know if Shank would be moved over or not to be honest. We have recruited well the last several years on the Oline and I believe outside of Cam, Saban and Co. would rather all of his guys redshirt.

Tackles- Cam Robinson, Lester Cotton, Brandon Greene, Matt Womack, Korren Kirven, plus JUCO signee Charles Baldwin, and early enrollee Jonah Williams

Guards- Ross Piersbacher, Dallas Warmack, Alphonse Taylor, Bradley Bozeman, Richie Petitbon, plus commits Chris Owens and Deonte Brown

Centers- JC Hassenuer, Brandon Kennedy, Josh Casher

I think next year's group boils down to finding the right combination, with a true leader at the Center position.

 

[musso]

I'm expecting both Allen and Robinson to declare. And with other DL Reed, Lake, and situational DEs Pettway and Devall gone too, we could see significant losses on our DL. Moreover, other situational DEs Anderson and Williams might be gone too. My point is that circumstances might require OL tweeners like Kirven and Taylor (yes, he's a starting guard but played DT in high school and has reached his ceiling on the OL) to return to the DL. We have signed too much OL talent, particularly on the interior, in recent years to keep these two guys from filling our needs on the DL: Kirven at DE and Taylor at NG.

This is how I see our OL shaping up.

LT: Robinson, Baldwin, Williams
RT: Pierschbacher, Cotton, Womack
Guard A: Bozeman, Warmack, Brown
Guard B: Casher, Petitbon, Owens
C: Hasseneur, Kennedy

 

[Tidestalker]

Does anyone else expect Taylor to move to nose guard? I have to believe we have enough matured talent by next season to plug in a better person in his spot.

And will we see Pierschbacher and Cotton competing at right tackle?

Highly unlikely. Taking a guy who started every game on the OL and moving him the next season doesn't seem realistic.

I will say this for Shank... It didn't help that his partner at RT was extremely inconsistent. Shank should be better and hopefully the next RT will be more consistent.

 

['65 Cobra]

I'm just glad Dominic Jackson is gone. He was horrendous all year but especially in the national championship game.

 

[musso]

Oops, I also meant to add moving Dwight back to DL too. We are going to need all hands on deck to replace the talent, size and experience lost in our front 7.

 

[musso]

Highly unlikely. Taking a guy who started every game on the OL and moving him the next season doesn't seem realistic.

Agreed, under ordinary circumstances. I just think this is an extraordinary situation. I just don't see him beating out again next season the maturing youngsters behind him, and with such a mass departure in our D-front and his impressive size, I think he'd be more valuable to the team at NG than as a back-up guard.

 

[psychojoe]

DL loses Reid, Pettway, Lake for sure, plus Devall, who is the 'jack'. Robinson, who is likely gone, and Allen and Williams, who are possibilities who have said they are leaning towards staying, may be gone as well. The likely ends next year are Lake and Tomlinson, with Paine and Frazier at the nose. While we have looked at Taylor at the nose tackle in the past, that position seems to be in good hands now, and neither Taylor, Paine or Frazier project at another DL position. I expect that Taylor will still be on the OL come spring, though like many I hope/expect that the young talent will either supplant him or force him to raise the level of his play, but I just don't see a move to defense for him, I don't have any inside information on this, and right now none of us does. I am sure that when the spring comes several players who have seen the field some will at least be looked at for different positions. Sometimes these changes stick, sometimes they don't.

 

[Tidestalker]

DL loses Reid, Pettway, Lake for sure, plus Devall, who is the 'jack'. Robinson, who is likely gone, and Allen and Williams, who are possibilities who have said they are leaning towards staying, may be gone as well. The likely ends next year are Lake and Tomlinson, with Paine and Frazier at the nose. While we have looked at Taylor at the nose tackle in the past, that position seems to be in good hands now, and neither Taylor, Paine or Frazier project at another DL position. I expect that Taylor will still be on the OL come spring, though like many I hope/expect that the young talent will either supplant him or force him to raise the level of his play, but I just don't see a move to defense for him, I don't have any inside information on this, and right now none of us does. I am sure that when the spring comes several players who have seen the field some will at least be looked at for different positions. Sometimes these changes stick, sometimes they don't.

Lake is definitely a senior.

Only 3 guys back with legit experience are Lake, Payne, and Tomlinson.

 

[psychojoe]

Lake is definitely a senior.

Only 3 guys back with legit experience are Lake, Payne, and Tomlinson.

Assuming that everyone who can leave does so. I have my doubts about that.xperience,

I assume you meant Hand, when mentioning guys with legit experience rather than Lake.

 

[Tidestalker]

Assuming that everyone who can leave does so. I have my doubts about that.xperience,

I assume you meant Hand, when mentioning guys with legit experience rather than Lake.

Sure did. Good catch! My bad.

I'm sure Allen would like to come back... But business wise, it makes NO SENSE. He's had an amazing year and is in good health. Maybe his stock rises 5 spots with another good year but the risks outweigh the reward for an interior DL

 

[psychojoe]

Yeah, doesn't make much sense, but maybe it is not an academic issue with him. A much stronger case for Williams and Anderson to come back.

 

[Tidestalker]

Yeah, doesn't make much sense, but maybe it is not an academic issue with him. A much stronger case for Williams and Anderson to come back.

I can't see Anderson even in that conversation. He's been a real productive player the last 2 years which is great, but his measurables just aren't appealing at that level. He would be too small for a 4-3 DE and not quick enough to cover anyone as an LB.

Honestly I think he's a better overall player than Williams... But Williams is much taller and has more potential because of his speed/size/strength combo.

I think Anderson comes back and has a great senior year then possibly gets drafted in the 6th/7th round afterwards. JMO

 

[Rolltide24]

All of our D-linemen can't go on the first round, can they? Lol We're throwing a lot of names out there. Makes it sound like we're going to have a crap ton of first rounders. Maybe we do, who knows.

 

[Tidestalker]

All of our D-linemen can't go on the first round, can they? Lol We're throwing a lot of names out there. Makes it sound like we're going to have a crap ton of first rounders. Maybe we do, who knows.

3 of them will.... It's damn near a guarantee if no injuries creep up throughout the draft process (Allen, Robinson, Reed)

 

[PhillyGirl]

I'm just glad Dominic Jackson is gone. He was horrendous all year but especially in the national championship game.

That's an understatement ..

Everytime he got touched, he looked like #89 in this gif ..