🏈 What Will the 2014 Crimson Tide Look Like? Part 1 - Seniors and Early Departures

[It Takes Eleven]

As we wait for bowl opponent, let's ponder 2014. Bama loses from this year's team a large number of long time contributors on both offense and defense. AJ has hooked up with Kevin Norwood and Kenny Bell for a number of clutch, exciting plays. Clearly, they will be missed. McCarron holds almost every positive record as a passer, and he has earned a place of mention on a short list of all time Bama QB greats. His departure will result in less complexity and risk taking in the passing area, and will place greater responsibility on next year's running game. Bell and Norwood's role in AJ's success is less noticeable. With Julio and Cooper in the mix during Norwood and Bell's time at the Capstone, it's difficult to fully consider their contributions to the passing game. Neither Bell nor Norwood led the team in receiving in any season, yet they account for 25 percent of McCarron's passing yardage as a starter. Two big uglies will be sorely missed. Kellen Williams has been a valuable lineman to the team, and Anthony Steen has a been a multi-year, championship star.

Defensively, C.J. Mosley is as much of a field general as AJ is on offense. He also holds a place as an all-time great. Stinson's workmanlike style has proved valuable, and Tana Patrick's run support (not to mention one play in particular against LSU) served an important role on the team. Belue developed well as a serviceable DB, and I'm hearing Nick Perry may make it back for a redshirt senior season.

Cody Mandell has developed into a star punter, improving each year as a multi-year contributor. In some respects, it's a shame Bama didn't punt enough this year for him to be considered for NCAA records. Despite two poor performances in two big games, Cade Foster has been a good kicker for Bama. Placed in a difficult spot as the "long kicker" early in his career, his statistics suffered. Despite three misses (one blocked) during the aubrun game, his full time role this year ended with him going 11 for 15 for FG and a perfect 56 for 56 with PATs (which is I believe a season PAT record for Bama kickers). He has also been the best tackling kicker since Lane Bearden.

Potential early departures - See my list below. What are your thoughts?

RTR,

Tim


Senior Offense
Kellen Williams
Anthony Steen
Kevin Norwood
AJ McCarron
Kenny Bell

Senior Defense
Ed Stinson
Tana Patrick
Nick Perry (does he get a medical redshirt?)
C.J. Mosley
Deion Belue

Senior Special Teams
Cody Mandell
Cade Foster

Potential Early Departures/Defections/Transfers?
Either Kouandjio brother - I think neither are ready, but Cyrus is the most likely to go
Jeoffrey Pagan and Adrian Hubbard are the most ready D-linemen
Clinton-Dix is best positioned in the secondary to leave

<tbody>
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]

[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]

[TD="align: right"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]

[TD="align: right"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]

[TD="align: right"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]

[TD="align: right"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]

[TD="align: right"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]

[TD="align: right"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]

[TD="align: right"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]

[TD="align: right"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]

[TD="align: right"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]

[TD="align: right"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]

[TD="align: right"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]

[TD="align: right"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]

[TD="align: right"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]

</tbody>

 

[JoshB]

Cyrus will go, I think Arie stays. Pagan stays and Hubbard leaves, pretty sure Hubbard already graduated too. Dix is probably gone but god it would be nice for him to stay like Barron did. Pretty sure Dix is the only player thats eligible to jump that would.

 

[bamanaf]

Gonna need a good Leader on offense to step up, especially with AJ leaving. I'm guessing Sunseri will fill that role on defense.

 

[JoshB]

Gonna need a good Leader on offense to step up, especially with AJ leaving. I'm guessing Sunseri will fill that role on defense.

That one is a little bit worrisome. You cant expect everybody to be like AJ but hopefully someone like Amari or Yeldon or even Sims can step up as a leader on offense.

 

[Crimson&WhiteGecko]

The next QB better be a leader. I think Simms is the best to replace. Spring is gonna be fun.

 

[PhillyGirl]

The next QB better be a leader. I think Simms is the best to replace. Spring is gonna be fun.

Agreed, I think Sims may surprise us. I fully intend to make it down to A Day this spring.