🏈 Tide linebackers the meat of the defense

[BAMANEWSBOT]

It’s the heart of any defense, and that includes at Alabama, where defensive coordinator Kirby Smart runs a 3-4 scheme highlighted by an array of talent in the middle.

The linebackers are undoubtedly the meat of the Crimson Tide’s defensive unit, where the second level often becomes the most versatile single position group, be it against the run or the pass.

Despite graduating two seniors in middle linebacker Trey DePriest and outside linebacker Xzavier Dickson, the Tide could be even more talented this season, with the likes of athletic former four- and five-star prospects Rashaan Evans and Shaun Dion Hamilton.

The biggest offseason change among the linebackers was Smart moving over to coach the middle linebackers after working with the secondary the past few years. It’s not a major change, but it’s one that could make a difference for the players, who will undoubtedly have a better feel for what their defensive coordinator wants on any given play after working side-by-side with him at practice every day.

Projected fall 2015 depth chart

Jack outside linebacker

Starter: Tim Williams, junior

Backup: Rashaan Evans, sophomore

Will middle linebacker
Starter: Reuben Foster, junior

Backup: Shaun Dion Hamilton, sophomore

Mike middle linebacker
Starter: Reggie Ragland, senior

Backup: Denzel Devall, senior

Sam outside linebacker
Starter: Dillon Lee, senior

Backup: Ryan Anderson, junior

The rest: Keith Holcombe, redshirt freshman; Christian Miller, redshirt freshman; Jamey Mosely, redshirt freshman; Gussie Busch, redshirt freshman; Paden Crowder, senior; Walker Jones, sophomore.

Newcomers: Adonis Thomas, freshman; Joshua McMillon, freshman; Keaton Anderson, freshman.

Overview
Madison’s Reggie Ragland is the unquestioned captain of the defense and is the leader among the linebackers, taking full command of that role while helping younger linebackers find their way with the positional group.

He is not alone, with fellow seniors Dillon Lee and Denzel Devall and unproven juniors Reuben Foster and Tim Williams. Devall sat out the spring while recovering from offseason foot surgery but is expected to return this fall. Talented sophomores Shaun Dion Hamilton and Rashaan Evans, both highly recruited additions a year ago, turned heads in the spring drills and are in line to make a much bigger impact. Given the serious depth among the linebackers, where they’ll fit in with so many options is unclear.

Question
Can junior Reuben Foster, the highly touted 2013 prospect, finally become the player he was recruited to be? Foster came to Alabama as the nation’s No. 1 overall linebacker from Auburn High, flipping to the Tide after a contested recruiting battle with the Tigers. But since then, he has not lived up to his lofty rankings. He contributed as a bit player his first two seasons. With more opportunities, it’s believed Foster live up to his hype.

The unknown
How will Denzel Devall respond after sitting out all spring recovering from offseason foot surgery? With so much experience and talent at linebacker, Devall’s absence has allowed others, such as gifted sophomores Hamilton and Evans, to see considerable and significant reps during practice, each showing they’re capable of contributing in a major way. Whether or not they’ve done enough to supersede Devall is yet to be seen though.

Quotable
“I think for sure there’s a role for everybody. There’s always a role for everybody. You’ve got to have everybody working towards one goal. And I think, switching to the outside linebackers, we’ve got a bunch of guys that can do a bunch of different things and help our team, whether it’s passing rushing or dropping or playing the run.” — Dillon Lee
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Decatur Daily—Continue reading...

 

[TerryP]

@uagrad93 How messed up is this one?!?! Geez.:doh2::smh:

Coming out of spring camp here's where they were on the rotation:

JACK:
Anderson
Williams

WILL:
Ragland
Jones

MIKE:
Foster
Hamilton

SAM:
Devall
Lee

Hell, the majority of the reps Evans took were at SAM.

 

[BamaFan334]

Move 'Em around creating issues for the offense! We are so loaded at linebacker that no one in the country should be able to compete with us at the position. I'm looking for a killer blitz and rush package this year to help take some pressure off our secondary. I am very very excited to watch all these boys run.

 

[TerryP]

We are so loaded at linebacker that no one in the country should be able to compete with us at the position.

I can't agree with you there, my friend.

UGA, returning Jenkins and Floyd, will be very good. While there's a change in coaching at LSU overall with Steele taking the DC and LB position, they return more starters from last year than Bama and UGA: Beckwith, Louis, and Alexander.

Then there's a handful of other teams to keep an eye on as well. As I recall, FSU is returning their entire LB corps. OU is fielding a strong group as are another handful of teams.

I'd readily agree with Bama's linebackers will be able to compete with anyone in the nation.