IF We Stay Healthy...

Gotta win the whole thing to even match that 2012 team as well.

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On the DL there is Davis,Buggs,and ?????

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I'll be honest I was really impressed with Williams at NT. He looked very dominant. He has been 1 team since the first scrimmage and hasn't been moved at all from consideration.

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Terrell Lewis,Dylan Moses,Mack Wilson,and Christian Miller.

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Also Jennings.

Mack Wilson, Dylan Moses, Christian Miller, Anfernee Jennings, Terrell Lewis, Christopher Allen, Jamey Mosley, Keith Holcombe, VanDarius Cowan, Markail Benton...

Also, we still have Jarez Parks listed as a linebacker on the official roster, I thought he was definitely going to be on the line?

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Yet all it took was one elite QB and a good supporting cast to dismantle that 2016 D

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Clemson had 17 drives- 5 TDs, 2 fumbles, 1 turnover of downs, and 9 punts. In what world is that dismantling?

If anyone dismantled our defense, it was our inept offense and Sark who decided it was a good idea to throw 32 times and only give the ball to a running back 23 times.

I'm not sure there's a coach that has gotten more good positions without accomplishing anything than Sark. The guy constantly fails upwards. It's incredible.

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Jesus Christ. Clemson ran 100 plays and averaged 5.1 YPP a season low. Dismantle my arse

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Yeah, they were on the field for 100 plays. That has a lot to do with their efficiency V our D on 3rd down AND our O's inefficiency. Maybe you don't like the term dismantle but our D was gassed and could not stop them when it counted the most, in the 4th Q.

My point is the OP says this could be the greatest of all time because of elite players everywhere. There were elite players everywhere in 16 too...and as proof in the 16 NCG it takes more than that to be an all time great.

I'm really not too concerned with the DL, especially with the new coach. Last year, particularly early in the season, I think we saw the effects of losing so much talent on the DLine, but by years end the unit was nearly as good as '16 IMO. I have no doubt that the starting DL will be elite; the big question for me is how long will it take for the second unit to give us meaningful snaps and quality depth (like you said).

The key for our defense, and for any defense for that matter, is 1) can we stop the run with 4 and 2) can we get to the quarterback consistently rushing only 4. The 2015 defensive line was exceptional at stopping the run and very good at getting to the qb without blitzing. The 2016 DL was even better in both areas. With one of the greenest secondaries under Saban's tenure here, it is crucial that the DL/OLB can get pressure without having to bring extra guys. I'm expecting #99 to have a Jon Allen type impact for us this year (not necessarily the same production/stats, but commanding double teams and still causing havoc in the backfield).

Holy shite this turned into another Jalen thread lol.

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Don't sleep on LaBryan Ray. Also Eyabi Anoma and a whole new batch of playmakers have yet to even arrive.

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It’s going to be very difficult for Anoma, or any incoming freshman for that matter, to see the field on defense this year. Incoming DBs seem to have the easiest path to playing time right now given the current situation in the back end of the D.

Im NOT saying it’s impossible for the incoming freshman to rotate into the first team front 7, because under Saban we typically have a handful of freshman see the field their first year, but Anoma has some cats with serious potential and experience ahead of him at OLB right now. If I had to pick an incoming defensive player to see meaningful snaps this year, I’d guess Barmore at DT given the depth (or lack of depth) situation at the position.

ETA: I was talking about making an impact in the front 7. At DB, Saivion Smith will make an impact (probably start) and I can see Surtain Jr. pushing for PT (purely speculating on hype; could very well end up like a Marlon Humphrey type situation where he redshirts year 1, balls the frick out for 2 years, and dips for the NFL)