🏈 The Van de Graaff Projected Defensive starters for Bama 2025

[Kirk Van de Graaff]

If tradition holds (it will) come next month I'll find a moment and end up watching games from last season. It took a minute to understand what Saban wanted out of the JACK. Here, with Wommack, as well. I can't think of the name of the DC who used a ROVER in Columbia for several years with UofSC. So, I got a little "grasp" on the position but still want to watch more.

I call it Strong safety, but hey what do I know. LOL

 

[TerryP]

Possible we see Jefferson at Outside Backer?

BANDIT: Overton.

Kirk has Renaud as the back-up. I think there's a good chance it's the transfer, Collins. I'd call that one an "OR" situation right now: or a 2 A/B. I heard Keon's name mentioned a half of a dozen times or more in spring.

The defense NEEDS outside pressure from this position. Through spring they haven't been getting it as consistently as they want, or should.

 

[Justneedme81]

I call it Strong safety, but hey what do I know. LOL

Kane Wommack and the “Swarm” defense: How will it look at Alabama?

Changing schemes away from the best coach of all time may be scary, but Alabama fans should be excited about the fresh ideas in Kane Wommack’s scheme.

www.rollbamaroll.com

Maybe it helps?

 

[Kirk Van de Graaff]

Bandit I think is more of a hybrid DE/LB is my thoughts.

 

[TerryP]

I call it Strong safety, but hey what do I know. LOL

Saban: "We really don't have a strong and free safety" as we watch guys played the SS and FS positions.

I gave up on that one. Safeties.

 

[TerryP]

Bandit I think is more of a hybrid DE/LB is my thoughts.

JACK in some worlds.

 

[Kirk Van de Graaff]

Kane Wommack and the “Swarm” defense: How will it look at Alabama?

Changing schemes away from the best coach of all time may be scary, but Alabama fans should be excited about the fresh ideas in Kane Wommack’s scheme.

www.rollbamaroll.com

Maybe it helps?

Thanks bro.....

For alll, Year one explanation (Courtesy of justneedme81)

​

Bandit: Defensive end — think Justin Eboigbe. This player can stand up at the line of scrimmage and rush the passer, whether it’s the defensive end or edges such as Chris Braswell and Dallas Turner lining up on opposite sides with two down linemen in between them. (Nose tackle and defensive tackle go by the same names under Wommack.)

Sting — The weakside linebacker, which will be Jihaad Campbell. The Mike (middle) linebacker, Deontae Lawson, has the same name under Wommack.

Wolf — The strongside linebacker/edge defender that Alabama fans know as Sam, which was Dallas Turner’s role last season.

Husky — The Star position, which was manned by Malachi Moore last season.

Rover — The strong safety or Jaylen Key’s position last year. There are times when the strong or free safety is a single-high safety, but the Rover mostly plays closer to the formation and has more man coverage responsibilities.

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

This sudden, immediate jump from the smoldering ashes of UA's baseball season right into the cold deep waters of UA football is like a shock to my system, though a jolt probably needed at this point.


My submission is a best guess as of today... Overall, I'm on the same page with Kirk, just a few minor differences.

DT
Starters: Tim Keenan III (Redshirt Senior), James Smith (Junior)

Back Ups
Edric Hill (Redshirt Sophomore), Jeremiah Beaman (Redshirt Freshman), Isaia Faga (Redshirt Freshman), Steve Mboumoua (Freshman), London Simmons (Freshman)
** Hill and Beaman getting good reviews from coaches..

BANDIT DEFENSIVE END

Starters: Top Two--- LT Overton (Senior), Jordan Renaud (Redshirt Sophomore)

Backups: Keon Keeley (Redshirt Sophomore), Kelby Collins (Junior), Fatutoa Henry

**** Keeley would be next in line is my thoughts and Collins is working at both DT and Bandit

DT- James Smith, Edric Hill, Kelby Collins (will also play some Bandit)
NT- Tim Keenan III, Jeremiah Beaman, Steve Mboumoua
Bandit- LT Overton, Jordan Renaud, Keon Keeley

Wolf- Outside LB
Qua Russaw (Redshirt Sophomore) Jah-Marien Latham (Graduate Student)

Back-ups Yhonzae Pierre (Redshirt Sophomore), Noah Carter (Redshirt Freshman), Justin Hill (Freshman), Kevonte Henry (Freshman)

***** Pierre seems like the next in line

Inside LB
Starter-
Mike-
Deontae Lawson (Redshirt Senior),
Sting-
Justin Jefferson (Graduate Student)

Back-ups-
Nikhai Hill-Green (Graduate Student), Cayden Jones (Sophomore), QB Reese (Redshirt Freshman), Darrell Johnson (Freshman), Luke Metz (Freshman), Abduall Sanders Jr. (Freshman)

*** Reese is turning heads

Wolf- Qua Russaw, Jah-Marien Latham, Yhonzae Pierre
Mike- Deontae Lawson, Cayden Jones
Stinger- Justin Jefferson, Nikhai Hill-Green, QB Reese

Cornerback-
Domani Jackson (Senior), Zabien Brown (Sophomore)

Cameron Calhoun (Redshirt Sophomore), Jaylen Mbakwe (Sophomore)(Has moved from cb to wr, have him here for the moment will change when concrete), Red Morgan (Sophomore), Dijon Lee (Freshman), Chuck McDonald (Freshman)

****Morgan moved back and forth from CB to Safety. I put him here, seems like the odd man out really but his versatility might be a saving grace for him

Husky
DaShawn Jones (Redshirt Senior) Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. (Sophomore),

Safety
Keon Sabb (Redshirt Junior), Bray Hubbard (Junior)

Zavier Mincey (Sophomore), Ivan Taylor (Freshman), Kameron Howard (Redshirt Sophomore)


Feel free to enter your thoughts, Just my leanings on things and means nothing but to have discussion.

CB- Domani Jackson, Dijon Lee
CB- Zabien Brown, Cameron Calhoun
Husky- Da’Shawn Jones, Dre Kirkpatrick Jr.
FS- Bray Hubbard, Ivan Taylor
Rover- Keon Sabb, Zavier Mincey

At some point, I expect Mbakwe to probably move back to DB... IMO, that's his best position (and I think the staff feels that way as well). But, with the talent and numbers they have right now, giving him a shot at WR isn't really hurting anything (other than his development) and it's certainly possible that he could emerge as a WR too (he has the ability). Long term though, I see him as a DB (if he stays at UA)

 

[Kirk Van de Graaff]

This sudden, immediate jump from the smoldering ashes of UA's baseball season right into the cold deep waters of UA football is like a shock to my system, though a jolt probably needed at this point.


My submission is a best guess as of today... Overall, I'm on the same page with Kirk, just a few minor differences.



DT- James Smith, Edric Hill, Kelby Collins (will also play some Bandit)
NT- Tim Keenan III, Jeremiah Beaman, Steve Mboumoua
Bandit- LT Overton, Jordan Renaud, Keon Keeley



Wolf- Qua Russaw, Jah-Marien Latham, Yhonzae Pierre
Mike- Deontae Lawson, Cayden Jones
Stinger- Justin Jefferson, Nikhai Hill-Green, QB Reese




CB- Domani Jackson, Dijon Lee
CB- Zabien Brown, Cameron Calhoun
Husky- Da’Shawn Jones, Dre Kirkpatrick Jr.
FS- Bray Hubbard, Ivan Taylor
Rover- Keon Sabb, Zavier Mincey

At some point, I expect Mbakwe to probably move back to DB... IMO, that's his best position (and I think the staff feels that way as well). But, with the talent and numbers they have right now, giving him a shot at WR isn't really hurting anything (other than his development) and it's certainly possible that he could emerge as a WR too (he has the ability). Long term though, I see him as a DB (if he stays at UA)

Thank you

 

[64Tide]

Saban: "We really don't have a strong and free safety" as we watch guys played the SS and FS positions.

I gave up on that one. Safeties.

Back in the old days, the SS played over the tight end and was responsible for the strong flat, Cover 1, as he played the TE's release. In the old days, defense was set to defend the triple option. A player was assigned dive, another QB, and another pitch.

 

[UAgrad93]

Back in the old days, the SS played over the tight end and was responsible for the strong flat, Cover 1, as he played the TE's release. In the old days, defense was set to defend the triple option. A player was assigned dive, another QB, and another pitch.

We ran this in the mid 80’s at my HS and the SS we had was an absolute DOG!! He led our team in tackles, TFL’s, interceptions, then was also our starting QB. We ran split back veer and he was a leading rusher as well. When he graduated, my HC told me that he was moving me to QB. I told him that I couldn’t even begin to fill those shoes. Told me I didn’t have to, because we were moving to a pro-style passing friendly attack.

 

[mando]

Played SS in high school. Always lined up on the strong side (where the TE was). In those days hardly ever came across a team that split out or did not have a TE.