170 days until kickoff!

The way that Bama plays its receivers, this isn’t a battle for one or two spots, but rather for spots in the rotation. We know that Julio Jones will be one of the guys. Or should I say the guy? But behind him is uncertainty. It’s not that Bama lost a lot of receptions here - Nikita Stover and Will Oakley combined for eight receptions 2008. The problem is that Mike McCoy’s 16 receptions led Bama wide receivers not named Julio. So exclude Julio from this conversation… we’re looking for the rest of the rotation.

The Competitors

Mike McCoy - he’s been a practice warrior. The last two spring/summer camps have been filled with talk about McCoy becoming a star, only to see the fall be less than stellar. In 2008 injuries nagged him the entire season, so his 16 receptions for 191 yards and a TD could have possibly been more. The troubling thing is that by season’s end he had lost his starting spot.

Marquis Maze - he was Bama’s deep threat in 2008, though he was only hit for the long ball twice. Getting off of the line in press coverage was his weakness, but one would think time in the system could benefit him there. He ended 2008 with 11 receptions for 137 yards and two touchdowns.

Earl Alexander - he looks like a star at times, and a non-factor at times - sometimes even on the same play. Early in Bama’s win at LSU he made a spectacular catch and run that ended with a fumble into the end zone. He was a frequent wearer of the black no contact jersey in 2008, so staying healthy will be a big key. He still managed eight catches for 121 yards in a lackluster season.

Darius Hanks - It took him most of the season to really break into the rotation, but once he did, the catches were there. He ended the season with eight catches for 88 yards, but has to learn to work harder during the week to make an impact.

Brandon Gibson - Despite scoring huge points in the coaches’ off season conditioning program, he’s struggled to find the field. He played a bit in 2008, but is still looking for his first career reception.

Chris Jackson - after enrolling in January of 2008 and spending last spring as a receiver, Chris spent most of last season playing sparingly on special teams. He changed positions (to DB) several times, before finally landing back at receiver this spring.

What do you need to know?

Consistency is the big thing for every one of these guys - staying healthy, working hard in practice, staying out of trouble, and performing on the field. Not one single one of these guys has managed to be consistent in all of those columns. While explosiveness is needed at this position, the starting job(s) opposite Julio might simply go to the guy who is able to be the most consistent.

That could mean big things for Jackson and Gibson. Neither of these guys are going to run eye-popping 40 yard dashes, nor are they going to drop your jaw with David Palmer-like moves. But they both work their butts off in practice, they are consistently praised by the coaches for their work ethic, and they both play with their heads as as with their hands and feet.

McCoy fits a little into that same category, though as a senior, he’s running out of time. If his injuries last season were worse than advertised, then he could be poised to have a big season. If he’s one of the guys that still hasn’t bought into “the process”, then we probably won’t see him much.

Maze seems the most likely to make the kind of improvement needed, simply because his biggest problem in 2008 might have been strength. Another year in the system can work wonders, and if he can maintain his speed with 10-15 more pounds than the 171 he played at in 2008… well, we saw what he and Greg McElroy are capable of together.

For Alexander and Hanks it’s a matter of things clicking. For Alexander it’s about understanding the role of a receiver better (he was a high school QB). For Hanks it’s about coming out every day at practice and earning the job.

Who wins the spots?

As I said in the opening, all of these guys will see the ball in the spring. Most teams rotate four or five receivers, and Bama will likely do the same. But the starting jobs are the ones that folks love to talk about the most. So… who wins the job at the Z and H spots opposite Julio at the X?

I’m guessing Maze at the Z and McCoy at the H. Neither of those would be major shocks, especially since McCoy was actually listed as the starter at both positions lat year. While I do expect that all of the other guys will push for time, these two guys are the closest thing that Bama has to a “known” quantity.

There is some talent coming in this fall at this position, and I’m sure all of these guys are aware of it. So I expect the practice effort to be better all around. I expect Hanks to be a major part of the rotation, and I don’t expect it to take until week nine or ten.

Some intense observers of the 2008 offense will point out that a lot of the reason for the inconsistency at the receiver position was due to the departing quarterback. For all of the records and that he set, and wins that he led the Tide to in 2008, John Parker Wilson was guilty of “locking on” to a receiver early, and not looking elsewhere.

There is certainly no guarantee that a new quarterback will be any better at going through the progressions. But if McElroy or Jackson are capable, then that certainly gives more guys the opportunity to make plays. Now they have to make them.