🏈 Replacing Derrick Henry:

[252BAMA]

Replacing Derrick Henry: Who will be the next great RB at Alabama?

Every featured running back at Alabama since 2008 has left school early for the NFL draft. First, it was Glen Coffee. Then Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram and Heisman finalist Trent Richardson followed suit. More recently,Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon declared early and both were taken in the second round.
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So what's that mean for Alabama? How do the Crimson Tide replace Henry's 2,219 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns next fall? It doesn't help that fellow running back Kenyan Drake is also gone.

Replacing Derrick Henry: Who will be the next great RB at Alabama?

 

[Rolltide24]

I made a post a few weeks back, before the Auburn game I think, listing how many career carries our top RB had coming in to each season (under Saban). I'm too lazy to search for it, but I think Coffee had the fewest career carries entering that 2008 season when he was the main RB. And he had quite a few... We just aren't used to entering a season with no proven backs that haven't already toted the rock some. But... Look at how well Ingram, Trent, TJ and Henry (when he finally got carries at the end of the year) did their freshman season. They all had good success. Our key is going to be finding a QB to throw the ball to our 10 receivers. Then the running game will take care of itself.

 

[sean]

the article answers its own question in the first paragraph.

each back that has left early left the TIDE faithful wondering, "how will we replace him?" and that question was answered the following season.

it's almost like everyone outside the program or not a fan doesn't trust Coach Saban to make any good decisions regarding replacing starters and key players.

have they not been watching the past 9 years?

 

[BamaFan334]

Well I think it's more of them seeing a Freshman splitting carries with the upper classman and then that Freshman stepping in. Henry handled a bulk of the load, and Drake handled it the second most. Those two guys are gone, so now we have guys not many outside of the fanbase know about. I don't think they are questioning the talent, just writing about this being the first time in a while that the second leading rusher will not be returning.

 

[rocknthefreeworld]

I expect RB by committee for at least the start of the season. Whomever has the hot hand at the moment will get the most carries.

 

[Che Boludo]

I expect RB by committee for at least the start of the season. Whomever has the hot hand at the moment will get the most carries.

Nope. New twist is coming.

2016 base formation will be the empty backfield, 5 Wide set. BB is the only run game Bama will need.

 

[planomateo]

Someone told me that we have a problem with RB's succeeding in the NFL for 5 years that played at Alabama under Nick Saban.

I responded we've only had two that could have played in the NFL for 5 years - Coffee who quit football to pursue a career of service and Ingram who just completed his 5th year in the NFL...

Gotta love when people talk shit about something they don't know a thing about. Guess Alabama has won so many rings it's like Saban's been there forever...only been 9 years. (They hate when you remind them of that...and I like to remind them)

 

[Rolltide24]

Can we find a way to use 6 WR's this year? Maybe a center, 2 guards, a tackle, and a QB, then 6 WR's. :hurray:

 

[rammerjammer]

Someone told me that we have a problem with RB's succeeding in the NFL for 5 years that played at Alabama under Nick Saban.

I responded we've only had two that could have played in the NFL for 5 years - Coffee who quit football to pursue a career of service and Ingram who just completed his 5th year in the NFL...

Gotta love when people talk **** about something they don't know a thing about. Guess Alabama has won so many rings it's like Saban's been there forever...only been 9 years. (They hate when you remind them of that...and I like to remind them)

I may be wrong on the exact number of years, but I'm almost positive the average number of years a RB lasts in the NFL is 5 years. No matter who they played for. The Adrian Peterson's of the world are few and far between.

 

[planomateo]

I may be wrong on the exact number of years, but I'm almost positive the average number of years a RB lasts in the NFL is 5 years. No matter who they played for. The Adrian Peterson's, of the world are few and far between.

Yeah, it was a bigger discussion about Watson vs Henry. QB vs RB value in the NFL conversation.

 

[UAgrad93]

The average career for any NFL player is 3.3 years and for a RB, 2.57 years.

 

[JoshB]

I think Bo and Damien will make a nice combo next year. Bo is a lot like Henry in the sense that he is scary athletic for a guy his size but also brings that power. Damien is a great all around back that I am really excited to see too tho.

 

[alabama mike]

Not to take anything away from Henry but its next man up.

 

[PhillyGirl]

Bo. 'Nuff said.

 

[Bama Guy]

What happened to that back from Prichard. Flowers? I remember that grades got him, but it he coming back to Bama?

 

[Jseakin]

I think Bo (when healthy) may end up being a slightly upgraded version of Henry. He may not have the long runs that Henry would break off because I think Henry has more top end speed but Bo's first step appears to be quicker which should help with less negative plays. The biggest upgrade I would expect though would be Bo catching the ball out of the backfield. That is one area Henry never picked up and an area that used to be such a strong suit with Ingram, Richardson, and Yeldon. Bo has experience at WR both in HS and throughout the camp circuit.

 

[Bammerboy321]

Bo will be awesome because of his physical ability. Don't overlook what Harris brings to the table. He doesn't get a lot of love because he was often met with 3 fucking defenders in the backfield as soon as he got the hand off. Harris can be a really solid back and best used on the sweep. Let him bulk up some more with Cochran and you'll see him step up.

 

[bamachine]

I think Bo (when healthy) may end up being a slightly upgraded version of Henry. He may not have the long runs that Henry would break off because I think Henry has more top end speed but Bo's first step appears to be quicker which should help with less negative plays. The biggest upgrade I would expect though would be Bo catching the ball out of the backfield. That is one area Henry never picked up and an area that used to be such a strong suit with Ingram, Richardson, and Yeldon. Bo has experience at WR both in HS and throughout the camp circuit.

It wasn't that Henry could not catch the ball, they just almost never threw it his way and the few times they did, he caught it and broke off huge gains. I kept cussing at LK to incorporate more check downs and to stop running to the right.

 

[uofarolltide]

It's all about Bo. Let's hope he can stay healthy. We really need to develop a solid #2 behind him. I don't think Damien is that guy, though I'd be happy to be proven wrong.
Hopefully we've got some young gun coming in who can add some electric playmaking ability to the HB position.

 

[bradenob]

It's all about Bo. Let's hope he can stay healthy. We really need to develop a solid #2 behind him. I don't think Damien is that guy, though I'd be happy to be proven wrong.
Hopefully we've got some young gun coming in who can add some electric playmaking ability to the HB position.

Not sure why you think that - Harris was highly ranked and looked good against Mich St - most of the time we saw him he was getting no blocking from the 2nd string OL.

BJ Emmonds looks great - if he can qualify he will add good depth, but I think Harris will pleasantly surprise this fall.