🏈 Reloading for next year...and not just players....

[Southern Bama]

The probability of losing Smart and McElwain after this year is pretty high. Both will most certainly be on the radars of several programs. If this is the case, any thoughts on possible replacements ? I also think its safe to say the possibility of losing Ingram, Jones, Barron and Dareus is high also. Some big shoes to fill there for some new guys.

 

[Strick]

I think Barron stays no way he will be ready for nfl combine...I also think r offensive cordinator stays...Smart may go depends on what is out there....I think Hightower may stay(he wouldn't go first round)....Upshaw may go...I wish Julio would stay...and Ingram should go for sure...Don't believe there will be any drop off at running back..Dareus has had his bags packed since last yr national championship game imo..He did show a little sign of life yesterday though..anyways if the lockout happens who knows...I still say Dareus and Ingram go with lockout...no one else though imo

 

[joeman546]

I am just hooping Maze stays. Dareus may go, Barron might stay because of last game, and I read that he tore a pectoral muscle during the game, which led him to being "off"

Jones will stay unless he projects high, hed probably go in the middlerounds though I think.

The usual being gone, I juost hope Maze stays pretty much.

 

[Nothing_But_A_Winner00]

Julio is gone, no way around it

 

[BAMA JAMMA]

Isn't julio prospected as #7 top players for nfl picks. No way he'll stay. It would be nice but he's going to the pros. Same for ingram and dareus even though he wouldn't go in the first few rounds.

I really don't want kirby to go anywhere. But he almost left last year. Schools will pay top dollar for him to leave. I have mixed feelings on if mcelwain leaves. Part of me will be kind of relieved to get some new identity and pulse for the offense.

 

[Strick]

I think julio dropped on mock draftslate first early second maybe...i know ingram dropped to 15 maybe and dareus is still top ten 8 I think..but loke argo says ....they don't draft on stats they draft on needs..

 

[Strick]

I think julio dropped to late.first round ....ingram dropped to 15 I believe.Dareus is only one stayed solid top ten whole yr.

 

[Crimson&WhiteGecko]

LEAVING EARLY
Dareus is gone. J Jones is gone. Ingram is gone. I'd be totally shocked if any of them stayed.

Baron & Hightower are much like K Jackson last year as far as they are projecting right now. Jackson had a stellar Junior season that made up for his sophomore year but this season didn't do Baron & Hightower too many favors. They should stay another year IMHO.

GRADUATING
Carpenter, Dial, & McElroy. Who else am I missing?

 

[sec.ular]

i'm not trying to be mean or anything but based on the demeanor of the team this year i'd be a bit surprised if many of the nfl prospects returned. i'd sure like to see them back though

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

Look for 4 or 5, and maybe as many as 6, to make the jump. As for the possible looming "lockout", that kind of thing isn't going to matter with guys like Julio, Dareus, and Ingram. From what I understand, it won't matter to Hightower either. Oh, and if Barron is healthy, he is more than ready for the NFL as well.

 

[joeman546]

I was looking at our recruits for next year, and holy crap, this might be as good a class as 08. Not in number, but high quality guys.

It isnt entirely full either, we are still in the race for other big names this year. We could be alot better next year, but I think 2012 will be another huge year.

EDIT: Alot better ='s SEC Contention and possible BCS game.

2012- Hard to say we wont be in the NC Hunt

 

['65 Cobra]

Isn't julio prospected as #7 top players for nfl picks. No way he'll stay. It would be nice but he's going to the pros. Same for ingram and dareus even though he wouldn't go in the first few rounds.

I really don't want kirby to go anywhere. But he almost left last year. Schools will pay top dollar for him to leave. I have mixed feelings on if mcelwain leaves. Part of me will be kind of relieved to get some new identity and pulse for the offense.

I agree about McElwain. We do have a NC with McElwain, but between Ingram and Richardson, we ran the ball just over half as much as last year. Plus, I think all too often, he got too conservative after the half with big leads and it bit us big time against AU. He is poor at half-time adjustments and doesn't know have the killer instinct while playing with a lead. This year we were supposed to come out slinging and piling on the points. We had a decent per game average, but we also had some games (San Jose, Duke, Ga. St. - even UT) where we really padded the numbers. We held LSU to 24 and AU to 28 - this vaunted offense should have been able to score on both accounts. USCe dropped 35 on us, it would have been nice to score that much, but whatever...

I would just like to see a more aggressive offense and one that can make adjustments during the game and at half-time. I would also like to see us respond better when opposing defenses figure out our prototypical plays and throw some wrinkles in there. Also, what good is GMac split out wide in the wildcat if he is absolutely no threat or if our RB is no threat to pass? I hope we get to see Trent and Eddie in the backfield together for some option plays and then also Philllip Sims split wide in the wildcat as a possible throw-back passing threat or even a receiving threat. Just something creative - I think this year we were very predictable and relatively easy to gameplan for because our offense was so conservative and static.

 

[ColoradoTide]

The problem with replacing McElwain is that we're going to have a new QB next year. Let's say it's AJ. AJ's been in the "system" for what three years now? And then we're going to change the OC and give a new QB a new system to learn under fire. Sounds like a lot to ask and be successful.

I'm not saying keep McElwain just for status quo reasons, but don't be so quick with the hook either.

 

[JoshB]

I am just hooping Maze stays. Dareus may go, Barron might stay because of last game, and I read that he tore a pectoral muscle during the game, which led him to being "off"

Jones will stay unless he projects high, hed probably go in the middlerounds though I think.

The usual being gone, I juost hope Maze stays pretty much.

Julio middle rounds? in what alternate universe? hes a top 10 prospect.

 

[LBS]

I'm mpre concerned with losing coaches than the players.

McElwain leaving is not a sure thing, unless he is quietly wanting out. Our Offense has not been sexy enough year for a big enough program to hand the job to a Offensive coordinator. A school can'r sell McElwain to its fanbase at this time.

Kirby Smart, to a lesser degree, is in the same boat but he is still one of THOSE names.

Malzone(Auburn) and Ellis Johnson (S. Carolina) are the big targets this season.

 

[joeman546]

Julio middle rounds? in what alternate universe? hes a top 10 prospect.

I meant B.Jones

 

[ExiledTidefan]

Kirby Smart is a guy who should get a chance very soon to take over a program or become the "coach in waiting" somewhere like UGA or maybe South Carolina/Virginia Tech. IDK about losing McElwain right now unless he just wants out and puts his name out there.

I'm more concerned with losing quality players after this season. I see a lot of juniors on this team that are going to either turn pro or have some NFL scout tell them that they will go high and make a lot of money, and be disappointed. Also, we need to be careful this year more than ever, about anyone talking to an agent and then coming back to bama for a senior season. Lots of sharks in the water for guys like Ingram, Jones, Hightower, Dareus (who's probably pretty well schooled on this already).

I thought 10 could have easily been as good as 09 was. I knew we had some holes on defense, but I thought the offense would be so much better, by leaps, than most of our competition that it wouldn't matter. SC beat us. We should have beaten LSU and Auburn though. We'd be playing in Atlanta and sitting about #2 in the BCS right now.

Shoulda, coulda, woulda......

 

[Kozlowski]

If Hightower ever sees an NFL field Ill be suprised

 

[rammerjammer]

When it comes to a new OC, it doesn't matter if McElwain stays or goes as far as learning a new offense.

Saban has stated in interviews, and I remember Ron Middleton confirming this when he left to join Cutcliffe at Duke: The offense, defense, and special teams are Saban's. The coordinators have some say so and are allowed about 30% of their "own" style or stamp to be placed on their respective area's of coaching. This way you don't have a fall off in production or a complete change in nomenclature, etc when a coach moves on greener pastures. Steele leaves for Clemson and we win an NC. Applewhite (I think was more or less fired) moves on to Texas and we go 12-0 the next year. One thing I think folks are forgetting is that apparently McElwain is pretty darn good with his QB's. Think back to JP Wilson's 07 campaign verses his 08. Do we need a coaching shake up? I don't know. I do know this. Saban has it all under control and has a plan for everything. His job is not in jeopardy and one thing I have noticed is he allows the coaches to "save face" and not fire them or embarrass them. ie, Major Applewhite leaves the OC position to go coach RB's at his alma mater???