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Which incoming freshmen match up with open positions to make an impact next year?
Posted on 12/3/19 at 9:30 am
Posted on 12/3/19 at 9:30 am
For those of you who seriously follow the specifics of the guys we recruit, which of these guys have a reasonable chance to step in and make a difference next year?
Obviously the biggest spots opening up would appear to be at WR and OLB.
- Chris Braswell (DE/OLB) (6-3, 220 lbs) (5-star, #18 Overall)
- Drew Sanders (ATH/OLB/TE) (6-5, 223 lbs) (5-star, #23 overall)
- Quandarrius Robinson (OLB) (6-5, 217 lbs) (4-star, #32 overall)
- Demouy Kennedy (ILB) (6-3, 205 lbs) (4-star, #52 overall)
- Thaiu Jones-Bell (WR) (5-11, 187 lbs) (4-star, #81 overall)
Obviously you never want to rely on a huge batch of freshman, especially not at key positions (as we all know from this year). However, our better teams generally have 2-3 freshman plug in at spots and give us quality minutes. Who are the candidates out of that group above based on their readiness/mental toughness from what everyone knows/has read?
Obviously the biggest spots opening up would appear to be at WR and OLB.
- Chris Braswell (DE/OLB) (6-3, 220 lbs) (5-star, #18 Overall)
- Drew Sanders (ATH/OLB/TE) (6-5, 223 lbs) (5-star, #23 overall)
- Quandarrius Robinson (OLB) (6-5, 217 lbs) (4-star, #32 overall)
- Demouy Kennedy (ILB) (6-3, 205 lbs) (4-star, #52 overall)
- Thaiu Jones-Bell (WR) (5-11, 187 lbs) (4-star, #81 overall)
Obviously you never want to rely on a huge batch of freshman, especially not at key positions (as we all know from this year). However, our better teams generally have 2-3 freshman plug in at spots and give us quality minutes. Who are the candidates out of that group above based on their readiness/mental toughness from what everyone knows/has read?
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Posted on 12/3/19 at 9:32 am to SummerOfGeorge
Does Trey Sanders count?
Posted on 12/3/19 at 9:35 am to East Coast Band
quote:
Does Trey Sanders count?
I was thinking the kids coming in from High School, but yea I think Sanders is clearly going to make an impact.
And we also have a bunch of kids who are freshman this year who could compete at those spots (K. Harris, Mwikuta).
I was more just curious if those who are a little more in tune to the specifics of this kids had a feeling for which of them were "immediate impact" type guys as opposed to "raw talent, need a year or two" type guys.
This post was edited on 12/3/19 at 9:36 am
Posted on 12/3/19 at 9:43 am to SummerOfGeorge
From looking at TSurge's recruiting list on page 1 of the thread, it appears most of those you listed in your initial post are going to be arriving soon (early enrollees). That will definitely help. Does anyone have any idea which ones are really intelligent? With Saban's system being rather complex, the ability to pick it up and understand assignments is critical. Our recent setbacks at OLB seem to be with recruits that are either unable to understand or just don't think they have to.
Posted on 12/3/19 at 9:44 am to SummerOfGeorge
Other then RB and WR, hopefully none of them are asked to do too much.
Posted on 12/3/19 at 9:45 am to SummerOfGeorge
I expect Sanders to start at one of the OLB spots.
I won't be totally surprised if Braswell starts at the other
I don't think Kennedy will start, but I think he'll play a lot later in the year. He's still a true freshman and he's still light in the pants. I think Harris and Lee or Kaho open up the season at ILB.
We will be replacing both safeties. Battle is a safe bet at 1 spot, Wright and Hellams will have the leg up at the other, but Branch is a name to keep an eye on as far as newcomers.
At WR I expect Shavers, Metchie, Waddle to be the base 3. Bell will have to beat out Bolden to backup Waddle. Holden could be the one to keep an eye on here since neither Metchie or Shavers are really proven on the outside.
We'll have a cornerback spot open with Diggs departing, but I don't expect a TF to come in and win that job because I don't really see a great one committed
My best guess at a defensive starting 11 right now (making assumptions on JRs leaving early):
DE- Ray
DT- Dale
DE- Barmore
OLB- Allen
ILB- Lee
ILB- Harris
OLB- Sanders
CB- Surtain
CB- Armour-Davis
N- Jobe
FS- Battle
SS- Hellams
This may sound facetious but i'm not going to be totally shocked if Ben Davis is on the field for our first defensive snap next season at OLB. I think just looking at that rough depth chart and correlating it to the talent coming in, Branch probably has the best crack at winning a starting job because A) he looks really good on film and B) he's competing with guys with very little experience back there. Branch looks like a Mckinney clone to me.
I think they'll experiment some with Quan Robinson- I know we look at Kennedy as that ranging, fast middle linebacker type- but Quon was playing safety in his sophomore year and his speed isn't far behind Kennedy. Same could go with Sanders really. I won't be surprised if one of those 3 ends up in the middle between Sanders, Robinson, Braswell
I won't be totally surprised if Braswell starts at the other
I don't think Kennedy will start, but I think he'll play a lot later in the year. He's still a true freshman and he's still light in the pants. I think Harris and Lee or Kaho open up the season at ILB.
We will be replacing both safeties. Battle is a safe bet at 1 spot, Wright and Hellams will have the leg up at the other, but Branch is a name to keep an eye on as far as newcomers.
At WR I expect Shavers, Metchie, Waddle to be the base 3. Bell will have to beat out Bolden to backup Waddle. Holden could be the one to keep an eye on here since neither Metchie or Shavers are really proven on the outside.
We'll have a cornerback spot open with Diggs departing, but I don't expect a TF to come in and win that job because I don't really see a great one committed
My best guess at a defensive starting 11 right now (making assumptions on JRs leaving early):
DE- Ray
DT- Dale
DE- Barmore
OLB- Allen
ILB- Lee
ILB- Harris
OLB- Sanders
CB- Surtain
CB- Armour-Davis
N- Jobe
FS- Battle
SS- Hellams
This may sound facetious but i'm not going to be totally shocked if Ben Davis is on the field for our first defensive snap next season at OLB. I think just looking at that rough depth chart and correlating it to the talent coming in, Branch probably has the best crack at winning a starting job because A) he looks really good on film and B) he's competing with guys with very little experience back there. Branch looks like a Mckinney clone to me.
I think they'll experiment some with Quan Robinson- I know we look at Kennedy as that ranging, fast middle linebacker type- but Quon was playing safety in his sophomore year and his speed isn't far behind Kennedy. Same could go with Sanders really. I won't be surprised if one of those 3 ends up in the middle between Sanders, Robinson, Braswell
This post was edited on 12/3/19 at 9:49 am
Posted on 12/3/19 at 9:49 am to Riseupfromtherubble
quote:
Riseupfromtherubble
Good stuff rise, really good stuff
Posted on 12/3/19 at 10:17 am to SummerOfGeorge
I actually think Bryce Young has a chance. Whether that is a good or bad thing I don't know. I think Mac from an experience standpoint has the edge and is capable, but his arm has limitations and his overall athleticism in terms of simply escaping trouble or extending plays is not very good. He's probably on par with a McElroy (maybe slightly better arm but slightly less accurate), which was good enough in 2009 but I'm not sure it is in 2020.
Edit - I didn't read close enough and didn't realize you wanted to limit it to those guy. Apologies.
Edit - I didn't read close enough and didn't realize you wanted to limit it to those guy. Apologies.
This post was edited on 12/3/19 at 10:19 am
Posted on 12/3/19 at 10:18 am to Bham Bammer
quote:
I actually think Bryce Young has a chance. Whether that is a good or bad thing I don't know. I think Mac from an experience standpoint has the edge and is capable, but his arm has limitations and his overall athleticism in terms of simply escaping trouble or extending plays is not very good. He's probably on par with a McElroy (maybe slightly better arm but slightly less accurate), which was good enough in 2009 but I'm not sure it is in 2020.
Yea me too - I was more thinking of other spots outside of QB. I'm guessing we'll talk about that one quite a bit over the next 6 months
quote:
Edit - I didn't read close enough and didn't realize you wanted to limit it to those guy. Apologies.
No problems at all
This post was edited on 12/3/19 at 10:19 am
Posted on 12/3/19 at 10:43 am to SummerOfGeorge
The ILB from Muscle Shoals.
Dude looks like a pasty Reuben Foster
Dude looks like a pasty Reuben Foster
Posted on 12/3/19 at 10:44 am to SummerOfGeorge
That is another thing that also hurt us this year: we didn't have any key true freshman step up this year. Almost every NC/playoff season that we've had there is a true freshman(men) that makes a big play/big plays. Christian Harris might have been that guy but he was forced to take on way too much with the injuries.
Posted on 12/3/19 at 10:49 am to Funky Tide 8
quote:
That is another thing that also hurt us this year: we didn't have any key true freshman step up this year. Almost every NC/playoff season that we've had there is a true freshman(men) that makes a big play/big plays. Christian Harris might have been that guy but he was forced to take on way too much with the injuries.
Stepping up is what Lee and Harris did.
Posted on 12/3/19 at 10:55 am to Shaft Williams
We are generally very good at putting young kids in positions to succeed.
We just weren't really afforded that opportunity this year.
We just weren't really afforded that opportunity this year.
Posted on 12/3/19 at 11:05 am to Funky Tide 8
quote:
That is another thing that also hurt us this year: we didn't have any key true freshman step up this year. Almost every NC/playoff season that we've had there is a true freshman(men) that makes a big play/big plays. Christian Harris might have been that guy but he was forced to take on way too much with the injuries.
What defensive player stepped up this season? How many All-Americans are they selecting on this year's defense? How many first-team All-SEC players on defense? How many first-round NFL draft picks get picked off this defense?
If the answer is slim to none, I would suggest that our coaching let these guys down big time.
Posted on 12/3/19 at 11:33 am to Shaft Williams
quote:
Stepping up is what Lee and Harris did.
I agree, they did. Maybe a bad choice of words. but you get what I am saying.
Posted on 12/3/19 at 11:37 am to bamameister
quote:
What defensive player stepped up this season? How many All-Americans are they selecting on this year's defense? How many first-team All-SEC players on defense? How many first-round NFL draft picks get picked off this defense?
If the answer is slim to none, I would suggest that our coaching let these guys down big time.
Surtain had a really good season. Mckinney was solid besides getting posterized in both of our big games. Besides that, yeah. But that kind of goes back to injuries. Ray, and Moses could have been those guys, who knows.
I agree though that the coaching has lacked. The best example of this is how incredible and promising Deonte(sp?) Thompson looked at the end of 2017 with Pruitt coaching, and how underwhelming he was under the new defensive staff in 2018.
Posted on 12/3/19 at 11:42 am to Funky Tide 8
I thought Evan Neal stepped up pretty big this year. Maybe you're referring only to the defensive side.
Posted on 12/3/19 at 11:42 am to bamarep
Sure hope you are right
quote:
Dude looks like a pasty Reuben Foster
This post was edited on 12/3/19 at 11:48 am
Posted on 12/3/19 at 11:47 am to Bham Bammer
quote:
I thought Evan Neal stepped up pretty big this year. Maybe you're referring only to the defensive side.
No, you are right. Forgot about him.
Posted on 12/3/19 at 1:24 pm to Funky Tide 8
I think all of those are examples of guys who fit the "put in a good position" bill. Neal was on a line with a bunch of veterans. McKinney was on the field with vets. Surtain was on the field with vets.
The guys this year were relied upon to be the guys, those guys weren't. Pretty huge difference IMHO.
The guys this year were relied upon to be the guys, those guys weren't. Pretty huge difference IMHO.
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