🏈 Speed isn't just a movie...though, I think I'll defer to Houston Nutt on this comment

[TerryP]

Some of you guys will remember a comment Nutt made after the 2009 game against Ole Miss when he said he hadn't seen as much speed on the field (Alabama defense) in all his years of coaching.

If I were to recap the text messages I received yesterday with observations made by those watching the scrimmage there's one theme in all of them. They hadn't seen this much speed on a Bama defense in quite some time.

There's not a lot one can draw from a scrimmage in shells. But, when it comes to how quickly a defense is moving? That's an observation I can personally take and believe.

 

[Rolling Tide]

I haven't been this excited about a season in years. Don't ask why with all the great success in the last few years but I am just flat out excited to see what this team can do.

 

[BamaFan334]

I couldn't comment on much speed, because I just didn't think it was a full speed environment in shells like you said. They looked good and the quarterbacks threw some missiles, but I did not see "speed" as they were going more through the motions in my eyes, not busting it to earn a position or a full open practice. I saw about an hour and ten minutes, so I could have missed something. I will say one thing, our guys are massive. We have so much size it's unbelievable. Cameron Robinson, OJ Howard, Vogler, Robert Foster, Cooper looked taller somehow, Henry, Yeldon, and Coker were all just thick and huge. No one under 6'1 -215 pounds on offense from what I saw. Cooper told a buddy he put on about another ten pounds of muscle in the offseason. I'm excited because we're so big and talented that we'll force teams into submission. Coker was everything they said from the eye test as far as appearance. Dude is pretty big. Dillon Lee was looking pretty big and athletic as well.

 

[Bamabww]

Fast, big and hungry. Gonna be a great year.

 

[UAgrad93]

I carried my son down for one of Coach Sabans' camps in June. We made it into the practice facility often before the players finished with their 4th Quarter Conditioning Program. They have either cut some baby fat or have added 5-10lbs of muscle. They look thicker!! You could see some leadership from guys that may have been lacking last year or they felt now, it is their time! I was excited to see several players, jump out there and show these young kids the ropes and proper way to do each drill. Jacob Coker IS every bit of 6'4" 235+!! My son worked with the QBs and Coker is right beside them leading the way! Austin Shepard is showing linemen all of the proper stances, techniques, and drills as well. I was astonished at the sheer knowledge that the linemen group had working with them. Cristobal, Chris Samuels, and John Hannah all working with them! ALOT of ALL AMERICAN KNOW HOW!! Willie Carl Martin was with them as well and he wasn't too bad either!!

 

[TerryP]

I couldn't comment on much speed, because I just didn't think it was a full speed environment in shells like you said. They looked good and the quarterbacks threw some missiles, but I did not see "speed" as they were going more through the motions in my eyes, not busting it to earn a position or a full open practice. .

You bring up something here I find interesting—judging what's happening through someone else's eyes.

When I read these guys talk about the speed they were seeing I interpret their comments as how quickly the players were reading the play, reacting to the play, and then reaching the point of attack. If you see what appears to be the defensive guys not moving at full speed that tells me that what you were seeing was effortless—they weren't catching up to the play itself.

Just as an analogy. Imagine a wide receiver running a go route. He's got his head down, arms flailing, and he's "getting it with all he's got." There are a lot of people that would look at that and comment on how fast the guy was running.

On the other hand you've got players like Amari who would be running side by side with that guy, head up, arms and legs in a very controlled motion. Those same people wouldn't have the same comment because it was what appeared to be natural.

Anywho...seeing these messages from these guys, all talking about speed, tells me it's going to be a quick group.

 

[JoshB]

One thing I'm lookin at is the outside backers. Dillon Lee and Rashaan Evans a bit different than what we're used to see, little smaller with more speed. But when you have legit track stars on the defense speed is something you would surely expect to get better.