re: 2014 draft as we look into the future

A top 3-4 OLB has eluded them for a while, so they're gonna abandon as their base for now. I wouldn't be surprised if they look at one of the vet 43 DEs on the market short term.

Datone Jones reminded me of Shaun Ellis, who was pretty damn good in his prime. He was agile enough to play end in both schemes, but dominant inside a 43.

For sure we lose:

Seniors

AJ
Steen
Mosely
Norwood
Stinson
Fulton
Beleu

With good seasons I can see these players leave early:

Cyko
Kenny Bell ...gonna take a huge season for him
Pagan
Hubbard
Depriest
Ha Ha

Most mocks Ive seen show Ha Ha,Cyko and Hubbard leaving early.

Dan Kadar puts 5 in the 1st in his early '14 mock.

LINK

Last one is a bit of a surprise to see...

quote:

---

That's the 2nd mock draft I've seen that had him in the 1st (disclaimer: the other was b/r).

I'm skeptical, but if it happens it will mean our ILBs will have wrecked shite during the season. He just needs to play the way he did against Michigan.

---

It is pretty big projection, I think a lot of it comes from the thought of "Bama always has great LBs"(he says it in the pick). The 1st scrimmage yield some good stats(4 tackles, 2 sack, and 2 INTs), but it was also his last for the Spring. He was 2nd on the team in tackles last year though, and he still plays MIKE from the Spring reports.

I would definitely welcome that level of play...

As of right now, DePriest as a first rounder is a bit off base. CBS does list him as the top ILB in his class, but again, only him and AJ Johnson are really the only two who have played. DePriest's a really smart kid when it comes to football IQ, he's always doing the right thing, not a beast athletically, but he's probably the second best coverage ILB we've had under Saban (not to say he's really good, just second best.) so who knows, I expect him to have as good a year as you can have while playing second fiddle to CJ Mosley, but to be he's gonna need to prove he can be a reliable blitzer and playmaker (couple of INTs, key FFs or something) to have a chance at the first round, but he'll probably stay for a Senior season.

The opposite, Cyrus chose a school based off getting to the NFL the fastest.

He was considering New Mexico because Mike Locksley had been so good to him and Arie.

quote:

---

As of right now, DePriest as a first rounder is a bit off base. CBS does list him as the top ILB in his class, but again, only him and AJ Johnson are really the only two who have played. DePriest's a really smart kid when it comes to football IQ, he's always doing the right thing, not a beast athletically, but he's probably the second best coverage ILB we've had under Saban (not to say he's really good, just second best.) so who knows, I expect him to have as good a year as you can have while playing second fiddle to CJ Mosley, but to be he's gonna need to prove he can be a reliable blitzer and playmaker (couple of INTs, key FFs or something) to have a chance at the first round, but he'll probably stay for a Senior season.

---

Trey isnt flashy but the kid is solid vs the run and as you said has a high football IQ. You dont see him get beat often. Only one ILB was taken in the 1st round of this past draft, so I dont think Trey will go 1st round but with a solid season I can surely see him selected in the 2nd or 3rd. Maybe thats still enough for him to make the leap

Athlon - Early 2014 NFL Draft Rankings

SEC players predicted 1st round.

1. Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina (6-6, 272)*
2. Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama (6-6, 310)*
4. Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M (6-5, 305)
6. C.J. Mosley, OLB, Alabama (6-2, 232)
9. Anthony Johnson, DT, LSU (6-3, 304)*
13. Ha’Sean Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama (6-1, 210)*
16. AJ McCarron, QB, Alabama (6-3, 195)
25. Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia (6-1, 210)*
28. Loucheiz Purifoy, CB, Florida (6-1, 190)*
29. Antonio Richardson, OT, Tennessee (6-6, 332)*

2nd round (top few)

33. Adrian Hubbard, OLB, Alabama (6-6, 252)*
35. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M (6-0, 200)*


out of the first two rounds....

69. Trey DePriest, OLB, Alabama (6-2, 245)*
74. Anthony Steen, OG, Alabama (6-3, 310)