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re: Bama Football Tidings
Posted on 7/31/19 at 1:06 am to RollTide66
Posted on 7/31/19 at 1:06 am to RollTide66
Alabama Crimson Tide fall camp previews: Tight ends Tony Tsoukalas • BamaInsider @Tony_Tsoukalas This has to be posted somewhere; but to pull all things Fall Camp to one place.
Nuggets from the look behind the pay wall-
quote:
Football is back in the air. Alabama is set to kick off its fall camp this week as it holds its first practice on Friday. Before the Crimson Tide returns to the field, BamaInsider will take a look at each of the position groups. We continue our series today by examining the tight end position
Biggest question: Will Cameron Latu stick at tight end?
What began as an experiment might develop into a lasting feature in Alabama’s offense. Needing to add depth at the tight end position, the Crimson Tide converted outside linebacker Cameron Latu to the offensive side of the ball. The 6-foot-5, 247-pound redshirt freshman took well to the change and even worked with the first-team offense, pulling in two receptions for 37 yards during the A-Day game.
While Latu was recruited as a defender he also played tight end during high school, recording 10 receptions for 168 yards and a touchdown during his senior season.
“He has great hands,” said Aaron Whitehead, Latu’s high school head coach. “We would do the seven-on-seven tournaments during the summers we had him up on varsity. We’d try to work our offense and go through the progression with the quarterbacks, but any time there was any type of dilemma my quarterback would just set his feet and throw right to Cam. It didn’t matter if he was covered or not, Cam would make it look so effortless.”
Following his successful spring, Latu is now listed as a tight end on Alabama’s updated roster. The switch in positions seems to be even more cemented now that junior tight end Kedrick James has placed his name in the transfer portal. (announced trf to SMU)
“I think people forget, he came in as like a five-star athlete at outside linebacker, so he’s going to be really good at whatever he does,” tight end Miller Forristall said of Latu. “I think he can play tight end, he can play outside linebacker, I wouldn’t be surprised if he stays at tight end. He’s going to be really, really good no matter what he does. He’s done great with his transition to the room, really good guy. I love having him in there.”
Nuggets from the look behind the pay wall-
quote:
How we expect Alabama to line up Latu is Alabama’s most likely option outside of Forristall. Or Major Tennison, who was limited some this spring while going through concussion protocol. 6-foot-5, 248-pound redshirt sophomore with the only other recorded rec's during actual games.
Or redshirt freshman Michael Parker (6-foot-6, 216) or true freshman Jahleel Billingsley (6-foot-4, 228), who joined the team this summer. Both need a big dose of LB's.
Or walk-ons Gile Amos and Richard Hunt. Amos, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound senior got PT in The Citadel game & during spring camp. Hunt, 6-foot-7, 235 pounds, is a former basketball player who started football his sr year of hs. preferred walk-on this spring.
Potential surprise: Miller Forristall develops into a major offensive weapon
If the knee is back to 100 percent, it’s not inconceivable that he could remember he was QB in HS until a long haired guy took over and moved him to TE, so he has smarts to find the opps
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Posted on 7/31/19 at 1:14 am to RollTide66
Alabama Football: Secondary more talented and more experienced by Ronald Evans for BamaHammer
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The Alabama football defense will benefit from a better secondary this season. Better in talent, experience and coaching. The final measurement of the 2018 Alabama football secondary came in a national championship failure. That measurement is not completely fair. An impotent pass rush made the secondary vulnerable against Clemson. At least one player, Josh Jobe, was thrust into a pressure situation in which his playing experience was inadequate. Consider all the above and the results were predictable.
Results should be very different in 2019 (and early 2020) for several reasons. The primary reason is the difference in playing experience going into 2019. At the start of the 2018 season, Alabama football returned three members of the secondary with starting experience. They were Deionte Thompson, Shyheim Carter and Trevon Diggs. Diggs was lost to injury in the sixth game of the season.
While Xavier McKinney had a great season, he was unproven at the start. Saivion Smith joined the team from the JUCO ranks, after a freshman season at LSU. Jared Mayden had mostly special teams experience. Josh Jobe and Patrick Surtain II were freshmen.
Further complicating the championship run was inexplicably inconsistent performance from Deionte Thompson. Those weaknesses in the secondary, coupled with a roster depleted in edge rushers, resulted in an unusually vulnerable Alabama Crimson Tide secondary.
What is different for Alabama football in 2019?
First, it is coaching. Nick Saban has chosen to apply more coaching resources to the Alabama secondary than ever before. Trusted Karl Scott returns but this season, he has the help of more than a graduate assistant. Charles Kelly has been added to coach the safeties while Scott will maintain responsibility for the cornerbacks.
The highest-paid graduate assistant in college football also returns. Nick Saban, of course, will still tutor defensive backs.
In the real Alabama football base defense, the nickel, look for an adjustment in assignments. The Crimson Tide staff has so much confidence in now sophomore Josh Jobe, he is likely to start at cornerback. With Trevon Diggs manning the other cornerback slot, that frees up Patrick Surtain II. Look for Surtain to fill a role similar to what was done with Minkah Fitzpatrick at the Star position.
Surtain is big and welcomes physical confrontations. Having Surtain at Star allows Shyheim Carter to focus on playing safety. No player understands the Nick Saban defense more than Shyheim. At safety, he can help shepherd the entire secondary. Opposite Carter will be the Tide’s most productive defensive back last season. Xavier McKinney was third on the team in tackles. He also had 10 pass breakups, two interceptions, three sacks and two quarterback hurries.
When the Crimson Tide uses its dime defense, Jared Mayden will likely continue as the sixth defensive back. Others who will push for playing time are Daniel Wright, Eddie Smith and Jalyn Armour-Davis. By the second half of the season, summer enrollee, Demarcco Hellams may push his way into the rotation.
A strong pass rush will still be essential. But look for the 2019 secondary to hold up against any passing attack.
Posted on 7/31/19 at 1:20 am to RollTide66
Alabama Football: Coaching staff performance will define ’19 season by Ronald Evans for BamaHammer
quote:.
Assistant coaching staffs play a major role in championship success or failures. Why Nick Saban believes this season’s Alabama football staff is up to the task.
Recruiting, player development and coaching create game performance. As Alabama football fans know, sometimes there is a little luck involved. Game luck is easy to see, especially when it brings fortune to opposing teams.
Last season Alabama football suffered from the bad luck of injuries to key players. Less easy to see was the bad luck Nick Saban had with some assistant coaches.
Saban said recently, there was lack of focus on the staff after the LSU game. The reason was individual agendas getting in the way of team agendas. Saban took some heat for using exiting assistant coaches as an excuse for the Crimson Tide’s poor performance against Clemson. He responded by accepting full responsibility for the Tide’s weaknesses in the national championship game.
There is no value in pointing fingers at any individual coach who chose to leave after the 2017 or 2018 season. More important is the loss of continuity from the sheer number of attrition. Twelve Alabama Football assistants have exited the staff over the last two seasons. The fact close to half (or more) of them failed to meet Saban’s demanding, championship standard does not diminish the negative impact.
Established relationships with players and recruits were harmed by the turnover. Not even the greatest coach in the history of college football can fill such a void.
We should no go further without mentioning who left for good reasons after the 2017 season. Burton Burns was lost to a deserved retirement from coaching. Jeremy Pruitt delayed being fully engaged in his first head coaching job, to lead the Tide defense to a national championship.
Other assistants were nudged out, sometimes not too gently. A few exits were a surprise to Saban.
Looking back at the 2018 staff, Saban may have erred choosing a coach or two for recruiting prowess rather than coaching skills.
What about the 2019 Alabama football staff?
To the extent Nick made mistakes, he learned from them. This season’s staff has a balance between coaching and recruiting talent. A fair comparison is 2017 since that staff was part of a national championship.
The strength of the 2017 staff came from Burton Burns (Running backs), Derrick Ansley (Defensive backs) and Jeremy Pruitt as Defensive Coordinator. Comparing the 2019 staff, there are four positions: Charles Huff (Running backs); Charles Kelly (Safeties), Karl Scott (Cornerbacks) and Pete Golding as Defensive Coordinator.
Golding is no match for Pruitt yet, but Nick Saban believes his young DC can become every bit as good. Based on numbers and experience, the other three 2019 assistants are at least equal to the 2017 pair – and maybe better.
What should not be discounted is the wealth of defensive staff experience aiding Golding this season. Sal Sunseri, Brian Baker and Charles Kelly have extensive knowledge to help with game-planning.
There is even more experience on the offensive side. Few will debate Sarkisian being more proven than Brian DaBoll. Sark also has strong help from Kyle Flood, Jeff Banks, Holman Wiggins and the aforementioned Charles Huff.
It is easy for Crimson Tide fans to believe the 2019 staff is close to being at least as good as the 2017 staff. If Saban is correct about Golding, the 2019 staff could be better than the Crimson Tide’s last national championship staff
Posted on 7/31/19 at 1:26 am to RollTide66
Alabama Football: The Tide just might have a QB battle after all by Dakota Cox for BamaHammer
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We thought the Alabama football quarterback battle would end once Tua Tagovailoa won the job last season. However, there is still a battle.
Nick Saban had to handle one of the largest quarterback battles in Alabama football history last season from every front. Once Tua Tagovailoa officially won the job, I’m sure he believed he could put the quarterback battle thoughts to bed. However, there is still a quarterback battle in Tuscaloosa. It’s just not for QB1.
Last season, Jalen Hurts became the best backup quarterback in college football. Now that he will be the starting quarterback at Oklahoma, the backup quarterback spot is open. The job is more important than most since Tua has injury concerns. If he goes down, the weight of Alabama’s potent offense will go on the shoulders of one of two candidates.
The candidate with the most experience is easily Mac Jones. Jones is entering his third year at Alabama after redshirting his freshman season. However, he hasn’t been higher than the third string quarterback since he joined the team. Most of his reps have involved handing the ball off late in the fourth quarter against FCS opponents. He has shown well in spring games, but that’s very different from games against SEC opponents.
The dark horse candidate is Taulia Tagovailoa, a freshman this season. Taulia is Tua’s brother, and he was one of Alabama’s top prospects in the 2020 class. Although he has a different skill set, he is still incredibly talented.
So far, there hasn’t been a sign as to who will be the backup once the games matter. Mac Jones will likely be the second quarterback on the field against Duke, but that would be more of a nod to his seniority than anything else. We don’t truly know who Saban would start if Tua ever has to miss a game with an injury.
There is also the chance that Saban will only play Taulia in four games in order to save his redshirt, but I don’t believe that is likely. If he’s the future at quarterback, you want him to get playing time whenever he can. The majority of the games that will be lopsided enough to have three quarterbacks on the field are at the beginning of the year are in September. If Alabama walks into October with Taulia already having played his four games, don’t expect him to sit the rest of the year.
Saban will make the right decision when the time comes. However, it will be interesting to see what decision he will end up making.
Posted on 7/31/19 at 8:01 am to RollTide66
AL.com All-Access: How concerned are you about Alabama’s depth on defense? By Creg Stephenson | cstephenson@al.com quote:
Another day, another question mark emerges for Alabama at linebacker.
The news broke Monday that sophomore linebacker Eyabi Anoma, a former five-star recruit, plans to depart the program via the NCAA transfer portal. It’s not entirely clear where Anoma might be headed (perhaps home to Maryland), but what we do know is that it seems almost certain that if he reaches his enormous potential, he’ll do so somewhere other than Tuscaloosa.
And make no mistake, this one hurts. Anoma was being counted on in a major way not only this fall, but in 2020, when Alabama is set to lose as many as four starting linebackers.
Anoma... another blow at a position that has seen repeated attrition since the end of the 2018 season, when rising senior Mack Wilson unexpectedly jumped to the NFL draft. Linebacker has been a position of great strength at Alabama under Nick Saban, but it’s possible it could be a liability in 2019.
Still, two of the four positions are in excellent hands. Junior Dylan Moses holds down one inside position, and is projected as an All-American this season and a likely first-round NFL draft pick next spring.
Senior Anfernee Jennings is steady on the outside, if less spectacular than Moses. Jennings’ 13 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks are the most of any returning player for the Crimson Tide.
But beyond those two, things get dicey. Junior Terrell Lewis on the outside is a potential star and dominating pass-rusher when healthy, but he’s played a grand total of four games the last two years due to multiple injuries.
Sophomore Chris Allen is also coming off an injury, a torn ACL that cost him all of last season. We won’t know for sure what he’ll be able to contribute until we see him on the field next month.
Sophomore Ale Kaho contributed on special teams last year and looked like a solid bet to take over the inside linebacker spot next to Moses during the spring. But he missed the first two practices while (in Nick Saban’s words) “dealing with some issues,” so it’s difficult to depend on him as well.
The other linebackers on the roster are largely unproven, and that includes fifth-year senior Joshua McMillon. If you don’t know much about Markial Benton, Jaylen Moody, Jarez Parks and true freshmen Christian Harris, Shane Lee, Kevin Harris and King Mwikuta, you’re not alone.
Alabama would be helped tremendously if the light would suddenly come on for junior Ben Davis, a former five-star recruit whose father starred for the Tide in the 1980s. People forget that Davis was more highly regarded than Mack Wilson coming out of high school, but he’s shown an inability to get on the field even on special teams, which leads one to wonder what his path to playing time might be.
One cause for optimism is the return of Sal Sunseri to help coach the Alabama linebackers. The veteran assistant was first on the Crimson Tide staff from 2009-11, tutoring all-time program greats such as Rolando McClain, C.J. Mosley and Dont’a Hightower.
And let’s not forget this sort of thing has happened before, not just at Alabama, but at this very position. The Crimson Tide suffered a huge rash of injuries at linebacker in 2017, losing Jennings, Lewis, Moses, Hamilton, Wilson, Christian Miller and Rashaan Evans at various points during the season.
Alabama won the national championship that year. I’m sure Crimson Tide supporters would rather not find out if they can overcome a similar situation this fall, but they just might have to.
Posted on 7/31/19 at 8:05 am to RollTide66
Alabama Football: Linebackers need to make Defense great again by Ronald Moody for BamaHammer
quote:Continued below...
Alabama football fall practice starts Friday, August 2. Dylan Moses, Pete Golding, and Sal Sunseri have to ensure this season’s linebacker group regain its dominance.
Built on dominant defenses throughout its existence, Alabama football leans on the hard-nosed play of top-notch, physical, intimidating linebackers. Alabama linebackers litter All-American teams throughout the past century. The lineage of linebackers under Nick Saban at Alabama is historic. He has rarely whiffed in recruiting at this position. A few of the alpha dogs are Rolando McClain, CJ Mosley, Reuben Foster, Courtney Upshaw, Reggie Ragland, and Donta Hightower.
As teams began running more hurry-up no-huddle offenses, Alabama had to adjust from big run thumpers to leaner, faster and mobile backers. Injuries have ravaged the linebacker corps the past two seasons, robbing the group of reaching its mass potential. Terrell Lewis and Christopher Allen suffered season-ending injuries in fall camp, thus severely limiting the pass rush.
The rushing defense fell to nineteenth (121.27 ypg) in the country after leading the year prior (94.71). In the final three games, the inability to pressure the passer stood out as a glaring weakness for the Crimson Tide. In the championship game, the team produced zero sacks. The losses of Christian Miller, Lewis, and Allen profoundly altered the ability to affect the passer.
Inside Linebackers
Returning to lead the defense, junior Dylan Moses assumes the duty as the defensive play-caller. A Butkus Award finalist, Moses is a commanding presence for new defensive coordinator Pete Golding. Moses led the team in tackles with 86. Destined to be great since he was an eighth-grader, Moses possesses all the tools to become the Tide’s next defensive Alpha Dog.
Replacing the player opposite of Moses, departed junior Mack Wilson, is Joshua McMillon. The senior has a dogfight on his hands as he attempts to hold off hungry Ale Kaho and Shane Lee. The Memphis native recorded 14 tackles last season. During this year’s A-Day, he finished with seven tackles and one tackle for loss.
Shane Lee, one of the top-rated inside linebackers in this year’s class, held his own under the bright lights with eight tackles (six solos) and one interception. Lee earned the Ozzie Newsome Most Improved Freshman Award after the contest.
Ale Kaho transferred to Alabama from Washington. Despite a limited fall camp, Kaho was a special teams demon. Twice named special teams player of the week, Ale expects to bring the tenacity from special teams to the inside linebacker position. Although extremely talented, Kaho needs to exert himself mentally for the preparation it takes to run a Saban led defense.
Two linebackers providing depth are former highly rated linebackers, Markail Benton and Jaylen Moody.
This post was edited on 7/31/19 at 8:13 am
Posted on 7/31/19 at 8:05 am to RollTide66
Alabama Football: Linebackers need to make Defense great again by Ronald Moody for BamaHammer
Continued from above...
Continued from above...
quote:n.
Alabama football fall practice starts Friday, August 2. Dylan Moses, Pete Golding, and Sal Sunseri have to ensure this season’s linebacker group regain its dominance.
Outside Linebackers
OLB coach Sal Sunseri returns to the Capstone. He inherits a talented group, and he will undoubtedly whip them into shape.
Anfernee Jennings leads the charge for the outside linebackers. When fully healthy, Jennings is a disruptive force. Look at the highlights of the 2018 College Football Playoff semifinal versus Clemson. After the spring game, Jennings won the Dwight Stephenson Award (Most Valuable Lineman of the Alabama football, A-Day game). He sets the edge pristinely and can pressure the quarterback (5.5 sacks last season, good for fourth on the team).
Alabama Football
Lewis rejoins the starting lineup after tearing his ACL. Saban sat him out of spring practice and A-Day to ensure Lewis did not reinjure himself. The redshirt junior is a terror off the edge and bludgeons opposing quarterbacks and running backs. Unfortunately, injuries have prevented Lewis from playing and showing the nation his talent.
Redshirt sophomore Christopher Allen returns after suffering a knee injury in a fall scrimmage. Back to full strength, Allen provided three tackles and two sacks in the spring game. Another terror off the edge, Allen will give opposing quarterbacks and tackles nightmares.
One player who was expected to contribute this season, Eyabi Anoma departed. News broke Friday morning that the sophomore linebacker did not enroll in classes for the fall. He no longer desires to remain at Alabama as he re-entered the transfer portal Sunday night. Redshirt freshman Jarez Parks should fill in for Ayoba.
Pray for no injuries to occur during fall camp because it would threaten a dangerous linebacker group that can afflict severe pain to the oppositio
This post was edited on 7/31/19 at 8:12 am
Posted on 7/31/19 at 8:19 am to RollTide66
Alabama Crimson Tide fall camp previews: Defensive line Tony Tsoukalas • BamaInsider @Tony_Tsoukalas
quote:Notes and nuggets: Continue below...
Football is back in the air. Alabama is set to kick off its fall camp this week as it holds its first practice on Friday. Before the Crimson Tide returns to the field, BamaInsider will take a look at each of the position groups. We continue our series today by examining the defensive line.
Biggest question: Will D.J. Dale land the starting spot at nose guard?
Freshman D.J. Dale was perhaps Alabama’s biggest surprise from spring camp. The early enrollee defensive tackle broke into the first-team defense during the second scrimmage and retained his starting role throughout the remainder of camp. He tallied a sack on A-Day while helping to hold Alabama’s first-team offense to 13 rushing yards on 22 carries.
The question is, can Dale maintain that momentum heading into the fall? So far, the three-star defensive tackle appears to taking all the necessary steps to lock down the starting spot. Dale dropped 15 pounds over the summer, bringing him to 308 pounds — the same weight as former Crimson Tide defensive tackle Daron Payne, who the freshman drew comparisons to this spring.
“For a young guy, he plays like he’s been here for a while,” defensive lineman Raekwon Davis said. “He’s a great lineman. You can teach him quick. He came in good with his technique.”
If Dale does win the starting job, he will have giant shoes to fill as he replaces Quinnen Williams at nose guard. The Outland Trophy winner was selected by the New York Jets with the No. 3 pick in the NFL Draft after leading Alabama with 19.5 tackles for a loss and 12 quarterback hurries last season. While those numbers will be tough for Dale to match this season, Williams isn’t putting anything past the freshman.
“I feel like he’s a great person to come in and learn the ropes, learn the process,” Williams said in January. “He’s a very humble person and he’s from where I’m from, so we’ve got that same trait, that same mindset, myself and him.”
Posted on 7/31/19 at 8:21 am to RollTide66
Alabama Crimson Tide fall camp previews: Defensive line Tony Tsoukalas • BamaInsider @Tony_Tsoukalas
quote:
Before the Crimson Tide returns to the field, BamaInsider will take a look at each of the position groups. We continue our series today by examining the defensive line.
Notes and nuggets: ... How we expect Alabama to line up
Key losses QWilliams and Isaiah Buggs — (17.5 sacks and 33 tackles)
Back - Starter Raekwon Davis seasoned contributors - LaBryan Ray (the No. 1 rated state of Alabama player in the 2017 class), will get an increased role after showing plenty of promise during his first two years with the Crimson Tide. Last season, Ray recorded (last yr 39 tackles, 6 for a loss and 2.5 sacks). Competition for the middle - Rs soph Phidarian Mathis (18 tackles and a fumble recovery)freshman Ishmael Sopsher.
Other players to watch:rs freshman Christian Barmore and 5* true freshman, Antonio Alfano.
Potential surprise: LaBryan Ray emerges as Alabama's best defensive lineman
This is shaping up to be a breakout season for Ray. During SEC Media Days, head coach Nick Saban said the 6-foot-5, 292-pounder has gotten bigger and stronger while stating, “he can be a really, really good player for us.”
Ray has been limited by foot and ankle injuries this summer but is said to be back at 100 percent for the start of camp.
This post was edited on 7/31/19 at 12:04 pm
Posted on 7/31/19 at 12:01 pm to RollTide66
Added to this thtead's 1st post:
Predicting Bama's depth chart ahead of fall camp (BamaOnLine)
Predicting Bama's depth chart ahead of fall camp (BamaOnLine)
This post was edited on 7/31/19 at 3:52 pm
Posted on 7/31/19 at 6:51 pm to TidalSurge1
I’m excited about Golding as a DC. He’s young and he’s still learning but he’s a star in the making. That’s what Saban sees anywho and I’ll defer to the GOAT. However, I think it’s a mistake to continue to force him to Coach ILB, a position he is unfamiliar coaching and apparently not completely comfortable doing. I think they should have found a way to let him coach the DBs, the position he’s most familiar with.
I’m still apprehensive about what Sark is trying to do with Tua. Maybe by mid-season Tua is more comfortable reading post snap downfield and he’s still dropping dimes. If not, will Sark adjust? Probably not enough for our liking. Wait and see. Same for the OL hire. Sark vouched for him so he’d better live up to expectations.
All in all, I’m excited about this staff and anxious to see what they put together. But when we hit the meat of the schedule, I hope my concerns about certain aspects of the staff are overblown and we plow through everyone with ease.
I’m still apprehensive about what Sark is trying to do with Tua. Maybe by mid-season Tua is more comfortable reading post snap downfield and he’s still dropping dimes. If not, will Sark adjust? Probably not enough for our liking. Wait and see. Same for the OL hire. Sark vouched for him so he’d better live up to expectations.
All in all, I’m excited about this staff and anxious to see what they put together. But when we hit the meat of the schedule, I hope my concerns about certain aspects of the staff are overblown and we plow through everyone with ease.
Posted on 7/31/19 at 7:43 pm to phil4bama
I really thought last year's coaches had a lot of talent, from all reports they had tons of recruiting talent - as evidenced by the great class of 2019. The on the field coaching, I am not really sure what happened there. Reports of Golding taking over the D play calling and the disaster that often happened with the MLB's not sure if was CG or was it Mack and Moses? Or was it something to do with Tosh? or Goldings lack of experience with the MLB's... forget the fact that during the middle of the meat schedule Bama played with a CB that showed he was not ready for prime time or most any time.
I will be very interested in the start of season and how the Coaches handle the trip to USCe and then aTm. If things looking bad there... oh holy hell... I love the fact that CSS is back and brings a certain intensity to the team...waiting and getting the popcorn ready
I will be very interested in the start of season and how the Coaches handle the trip to USCe and then aTm. If things looking bad there... oh holy hell... I love the fact that CSS is back and brings a certain intensity to the team...waiting and getting the popcorn ready
Posted on 8/1/19 at 9:24 am to RollTide66
Five Alabama players with prime opportunities in fall camp (BamaOnLine)
quote:
Alabama’s 2019 preseason camp begins Friday, Aug. 2, and the 20 practices that follow will be opportunities for several Crimson Tide players to prove why they deserve meaningful snaps this fall.
Here, we break down five Alabama players with opportunities to impress during fall camp.
This post was edited on 8/1/19 at 9:30 am
Posted on 8/1/19 at 9:24 am to TidalSurge1
quote:
QB Mac Jones, redshirt sophomore
No one is questioning who Alabama’s starting quarterback will be this fall. But who will be the backup is still up for debate. Jones exited the spring as the No. 2 signal-caller and should open preseason camp in the same position in the pecking order. In the two scrimmages before the season opener, he will have prime opportunities to solidify that spot. He will have to hold off Taulia Tagovailoa and Paul Tyson, but Jones will have his chances to lock down the backup role.
“Mac has made a lot of improvements,” said Nick Saban at SEC Media Days. “He’s matured very nicely at the position. He’s a very bright guy. He’s got good knowledge of the position. … And his consistency and performance have been very, very good. He did get to play some last year, so this is not going to be totally foreign to him if he has to go in a game and play.
"Hopefully, we’ll have good enough players around him that it will help him have a chance to succeed. But we’ve been pleased with his progress. We’re confident that he's capable. It’s our job to be able to get him to a point where he has enough consistency to be able to play if we need him to.”
This post was edited on 8/1/19 at 9:33 am
Posted on 8/1/19 at 9:24 am to TidalSurge1
quote:
LB Joshua McMillon, redshirt senior
McMillon is the old man in Alabama’s inside linebacker room. He spent the spring practicing at the Will linebacker position with the first-team defense opposite Dylan Moses and should start camp there, too.
This offseason, Saban commended McMillon for understanding “what he has to do to be successful at the position” but whether he can play with the necessary consistency “remains to be seen.”
McMillon will have to hold off younger linebackers like Markail Benton, Ale Kaho, Jaylen Moody and even Shane Lee, but he has a chance to finally crack the starting lineup.
This post was edited on 8/1/19 at 9:38 am
Posted on 8/1/19 at 9:25 am to TidalSurge1
quote:
TE Cameron Latu, redshirt freshman
Latu, a former outside linebacker, spent the spring with the tight ends. But what initially looked like a spring experiment is now looking like a permanent move for the Salt Lake City, Utah, native. That’s because Alabama’s tight end depth is even thinner now than it was in April after the transfer of Kedrick James to SMU.
Miller Forristall will be the No. 1 option at the position, but Latu will have an opportunity to secure the second tight end spot following a productive spring. If he can continue to progress at tight end, the second-year player could claim a spot with the ones.
This post was edited on 8/1/19 at 9:40 am
Posted on 8/1/19 at 9:25 am to TidalSurge1
quote:
CB Josh Jobe, sophomore
Jobe ended the 2018-19 season playing with the first-team defense. He continued to do that in the spring, working at cornerback while Trevon Diggs and Patrick Surtain II split time at corner and Star. If Shyheim Carter lines up at safety, opposite Xavier McKinney, then Jobe will be on the field in UA’s nickel and dime formations. If it’s Carter in the slot and Jared Mayden at safety, then Jobe could join the fray in dime. Regardless, Saban views Jobe as a potential starter at corner.
“Josh Jobe has made a tremendous amount of improvement and has matured very nicely,” said Saban at SEC Media Days. “And we view him as a guy that is a potential starter and a guy that is playing in a way that, throughout the spring, that we have confidence that if he’s a starter, he can be very successful, and we can be very successful with him playing corner for us.”
This post was edited on 8/1/19 at 9:40 am
Posted on 8/1/19 at 9:25 am to TidalSurge1
quote:
LB Christopher Allen, redshirt soph
Allen is coming off an ACL injury that kept him on the sideline all of last season. He was able to practice some last fall and even more in the spring and looks to enter camp 100-percent healthy.
Alabama needs some of its young players to step up and provide quality depth behind starters Anfernee Jennings and Terrell Lewis with Eyabi Anoma entering the transfer portal again, and Allen is the leading candidate to do that. He could be the first outside ‘backer off the bench in 2019.
“He came off injury last year, and I keep trying to uplift him and motivate because he’s going to be a dangerous player,” said Moses at SEC Media Days. “He just has to keep working.”
This post was edited on 8/1/19 at 9:43 am
Posted on 8/1/19 at 11:30 am to TidalSurge1
Eyabi Anoma removed from Alabama's online football roster (BamaOnLine)
This post was edited on 8/1/19 at 11:31 am
Posted on 8/1/19 at 4:16 pm to TidalSurge1
What you need to know before Alabama opens football practice
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The longest offeseason in years is drawing down in Tuscaloosa this week.
Award watch lists are have dried up and it’s time to put on some pads. Practice begins Friday at Alabama with a public preview set for Saturday afternoon at the annual fan day. Considering how last season ended, this day couldn’t come fast enough inside the Crimson Tide locker room and for a healthy radius in every direction.
It’s been a few months since A-Day when outside eyes last caught a glimpse at the 2019 Alabama football team.
We’re here for a refresher course as the summer slow season slingshots past the dark side of the college football moon directed straight to the Aug. 31 opener. A few things to keep in mind before turning the attention to Duke in Atlanta:
The fresh faces
A healthy check of the 2019 signing class was in town in time for spring practice. A few of the bigger names, however, were summer enrollees and it will be interesting to see where they will figure into the plan.
Chief among the recent arrivals is running back Trey Sanders. The top-ranked player at his position was the No. 6 overall recruit in the nation, according to 247Sports. After losing the top two threats in the backfield from 2018 in Josh Jacobs and Damien Harris, there is room for competition. True freshman have contributed at running back previously in the Nick Saban era including Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson and T.J. Yeldon.
Defensive lineman Ishmael Sopsher is another top recruit who’ll experience his first Alabama practice Friday. Saban a few times in the spring said summer arrivals might be counted upon to contribute on the defensive line. Defensive end Braylen Ingraham, a defensive end, and tackle Byron Young also arrived in May.
The transfer wire
A few potential contributors entered the transfer portal while the Tide picked up a graduate transfer from Florida State. Offensive lineman Landon Dickerson will be a redshirt junior when he gets to town after completing his degree in Tallahassee. Starting spots at the two tackle spots seem pretty secure with Jedrick Wills on the right side and Alex Leatherwood on the left side. Matt Womack and Emil Ekiyor Jr. were the starting guards in the spring with Chris Owens at center.
A few recent departures will have an impact on the mythical depth chart. Tight end Kedrick James, who faces a four-game NCAA suspension, left for SMU after competing for time in the spring. Then last week, former five-star linebacker Eyabi Anoma entered the transfer portal for the second time since January.
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Michael Casagrande is an Alabama beat writer for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.
This post was edited on 8/1/19 at 4:40 pm
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