March 3, 2015
Aaron Suttles
TideSports.com Senior Writer
With the start of spring football rapidly approaching (it begins in 10 days), I continue my examination and ranking of Alabama's biggest development needs coming into spring. Alabama lost its sack leader in Sam linebacker Xzavier Dickson and its starting middle linebacker in Trey DePriest from the defense, but perhaps no loss is bigger than Landon Collins' departure into the NFL. With the team continuing to struggle in giving up big-yardage plays down the field, improvement in the secondary is a must.
The No. 2 development need during spring? Solidifying the safeties.
Jabriel Washington's played in 13 games and recorded one interception in 2014.
The Crimson Tide has a new secondary coach in Mel Tucker, who joined the staff shortly before national signing day. Tucker takes over for Kirby Smart coaching safeties as Nick Saban will continue tutoring cornerbacks. Tucker's main task comes in finding a replacement for strong safety Landon Collins, who declared for the NFL Draft. Alabama also lost free safety Nick Perry and Star defensive back Jarrick Williams, who brought a physical element to the secondary. Tucker will also need to find a dependable free safety. Here are the players he'll work with.
Geno Smith: The 6-foot, 197-pound senior has played all over the secondary during his three years, including at Star and Money defensive back and free safety. Smith played in all 14 games in 2014 and was fifth on the team in tackles with 56 tackles. Due to his cornerback experience, Smith plays the ball well but isn't the most physical of players.
Jabriel Washington: The 5-11, 183 pound senior played in 13 games in 2014 and recorded 17 tackles and one interception. Washington's strength is in his speed, a plus at free safety.
Maurice Smith: The 6-foot, 195-pound junior is not a safety, but he has experience at the Star defensive back position and the build to fill in if called upon. He played in all 14 games a season ago, registering 10 tackles, including 0.5 sacks.
Hootie Jones: The 6-2, 221-pound sophomore saw action in back-up duty in 2014, playing in seven games and recording two tackles. Jones' strength comes in his size. He's a physical player that can come down in the box in run support.
Ronnie Clark: The 6-3, 215-pounder redshirted in 2014. He worked in a reserve role as both safety and running back. He tore his achilles during a practice in October, but he is fully healed and ready to go. Given his double duty, Clark's athleticism is the key to his game.
Deionte Thompson: The 6-2, 180-pound true freshman comes into spring as an early enrollee, the No. 3 rated safety in the country in the class of 2015. Given the complexity of Alabama's defense, it's unlikely that Thompson will be a large contributor this season, but going through spring practice is a benefit. Thompson's strength is his athleticism.
Ronnie Harrison: The 6-3, 210-pound true freshman from Tallahassee, Fla., was rated the No. 13 safety in the country in the class of 2015. Like Thompson, he benefits from being able to go through spring practice. Harrison's strength is his size.
RANKING THE DEVELOPMENT NEEDS
No. 1 Quarterbacks
No. 2 Safeties
- See more at: https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1742653#sthash.XdeVLBKc.dpuf
Aaron Suttles
TideSports.com Senior Writer
With the start of spring football rapidly approaching (it begins in 10 days), I continue my examination and ranking of Alabama's biggest development needs coming into spring. Alabama lost its sack leader in Sam linebacker Xzavier Dickson and its starting middle linebacker in Trey DePriest from the defense, but perhaps no loss is bigger than Landon Collins' departure into the NFL. With the team continuing to struggle in giving up big-yardage plays down the field, improvement in the secondary is a must.
The No. 2 development need during spring? Solidifying the safeties.
Jabriel Washington's played in 13 games and recorded one interception in 2014.
The Crimson Tide has a new secondary coach in Mel Tucker, who joined the staff shortly before national signing day. Tucker takes over for Kirby Smart coaching safeties as Nick Saban will continue tutoring cornerbacks. Tucker's main task comes in finding a replacement for strong safety Landon Collins, who declared for the NFL Draft. Alabama also lost free safety Nick Perry and Star defensive back Jarrick Williams, who brought a physical element to the secondary. Tucker will also need to find a dependable free safety. Here are the players he'll work with.
Geno Smith: The 6-foot, 197-pound senior has played all over the secondary during his three years, including at Star and Money defensive back and free safety. Smith played in all 14 games in 2014 and was fifth on the team in tackles with 56 tackles. Due to his cornerback experience, Smith plays the ball well but isn't the most physical of players.
Jabriel Washington: The 5-11, 183 pound senior played in 13 games in 2014 and recorded 17 tackles and one interception. Washington's strength is in his speed, a plus at free safety.
Maurice Smith: The 6-foot, 195-pound junior is not a safety, but he has experience at the Star defensive back position and the build to fill in if called upon. He played in all 14 games a season ago, registering 10 tackles, including 0.5 sacks.
Hootie Jones: The 6-2, 221-pound sophomore saw action in back-up duty in 2014, playing in seven games and recording two tackles. Jones' strength comes in his size. He's a physical player that can come down in the box in run support.
Ronnie Clark: The 6-3, 215-pounder redshirted in 2014. He worked in a reserve role as both safety and running back. He tore his achilles during a practice in October, but he is fully healed and ready to go. Given his double duty, Clark's athleticism is the key to his game.
Deionte Thompson: The 6-2, 180-pound true freshman comes into spring as an early enrollee, the No. 3 rated safety in the country in the class of 2015. Given the complexity of Alabama's defense, it's unlikely that Thompson will be a large contributor this season, but going through spring practice is a benefit. Thompson's strength is his athleticism.
Ronnie Harrison: The 6-3, 210-pound true freshman from Tallahassee, Fla., was rated the No. 13 safety in the country in the class of 2015. Like Thompson, he benefits from being able to go through spring practice. Harrison's strength is his size.
RANKING THE DEVELOPMENT NEEDS
No. 1 Quarterbacks
No. 2 Safeties
- See more at: https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1742653#sthash.XdeVLBKc.dpuf
