A conversation we'll call "off the record." Well, in this case, after the report was done and I didn't/don't really feel like going back and editing it...
I have a friend of mine that is in the coaching profession, not in state, but in the north part of Georgia that is at the clinic this weekend.
He hasn't attended any camps at Bama since Shula's second year. The first year under Shula was a disappointment and he went back thinking "maybe it'll improve in the second year."
The last time I was with him at a clinic I was living in T-town and we attended one of Fran's camps together. So, hearing his take on what he's witnessing this season is interesting, and quite frankly exciting as well.
Just to recap the phone call from early this morning...
After spending a good five minutes listening to him bitch about his wife "choosing" to have their son last year at the first of April (his words, not mine - first of April was last year's camp) he got down to a few nuts and bolts of what he was seeing.
He came up through the high school ranks as a defensive guy. Now, as a HC, he's a bit like Saban preferring to spend practices working with the defensive unit.
His description of the defense was a little hard to follow...not because I couldn't understand what he was saying, but the pregnant pauses I had to deal with when he was catching his breath from laughing.
Laughing, not as what he saw was funny...but the kind of laugh you get when you see something that really excites you. You know the laugh - you experience it when you see one of our linebackers lay a player out and all the time y our saying "ouch" but loving what you are seeing.
Sort of an unbridled excitement?
He spent a few minutes talking about our defensive front. TC and Chapman man-handling our OL but even with their dominance how the staff wasn't pleased. Well, not pleased isn't the best way to describe it...firey, demanding more and more out of the group.
His words, not mine.
"People are going to have a HARD time scoring on this defense next year. I have never, and that's including clinics at (he went on to list a half of a dozen southern schools) seen so many athletes on the field at one time."
With emphasis on "it's only one day" he thought that our QB position is fine...we'll be in good hands. He went on to mention that he thought Greg looked better overall, but followed that quickly with "it's only one day."
Colin isn't 100%. Looks like the staff is bringing him along, but choosing where they use him and where they don't based on his continuing rehab.
Some of his other observations I covered in the brief write up...but, he did mention he was impressed with the leadership he's beginning to see develop. Specifically, he was talking about on the vocal end singling Rolo and Julio out on each side of the ball.
On a lighter note...he said those that spoke with Joe Montana said he was highly impressed with the practice. That doesn't shock me, and it didn't shock him either. Mainly, because it is a practice session where the coaches are in control and it's very apparent...he said someone that hadn't attended a practice before in their life would think it was choreographed.
I didn't get a chance to talk with him about the OL...hopefully, I'll catch him this afternoon or tomorrow and get a little more detail.
I thought it was a nice phone call...thought I'd share it...
