re: ***Official WE TALKIN' BOUT PRACTICE Thread***

I wouldn't count Ivory out as NG starter. Juco's are brought in to compete for a starting spot but it doesn't always work out that way.

1st time I've been up in this thread...and I read through all 9 pages this morning (slipping I know, work has been a lot busier this year)

My boy dreaux is right on the money on Cy Jones, here's my thoughts on a few things posted and I separated it by personnel :

CB - Wow a lot of varying thoughts lol, Dreaux and ABDIW are correct from what all I read. Cy Jones should show improvement this year as he learns a lot more of the technique improvement and I believe last years serious weakness on D becomes a strength. Here's why:

- Cy Jones biggest weakness was off snaps staying in the hip, he could make up ground well and adjust to balls thrown in the air and it is the reason why he was tied for the lead in INTs but like ABDIW said those kind of plays and Saban commented is a CB making an athletic play after being beat and recovering on a play. The only issue with off snap Cy would get pushed around by most physical WRs and the SEC is full of them, we are lucky we played UK instead of Vandy Jordan Matthews might've had just as many yards receiving as Evans did. So off the snap if you don't have the proper technique to withstand a move or a bump from a WR you get left behind that WR and are trying to make up the ground after that. It takes technique off snap playing man in the SEC at boundary corner and Cy has the speed and recovery skills for damn sure and for a guy in his first year at the position after a position change in the SEC he still did a good job and he will improve. Eddie Jackson was way more physical off snaps and wouldn't get manhandled and as a result didn't need as much recovery, Belue was the same he just didn't have the size or recovery speed but again didn't need it as much and his technique was probably the best out of all the CBs last yr. Fulton never had the technique or speed I actually expected his whole career at Bama for him to be converted to S because of how aggressive and physical he was at times but he really struggled once he was beat and he got beat A LOT.

Now all that said, Tony Brown breaking the rotation even as a starter from Game 1 wouldn't surprise me because of his size/speed and his physicality all scream boundary shut down corner. He is track speed at his size and already one of the biggest CBs on the team and unlike both Dre and Dee who struggled both as TF learning the technique, TB has a lot more speed and recover ability. He might establish himself early as the best CB Saban has coached at Bama and it wouldn't surprise me one bit, sky is absolutely the limit with him.

If he can earn one if the starting CB spots, Cy Jones at an inside CB slot would be a drastic improvement to Bama's secondary IMO, he's a lot better read and react in zone like he was used against OM.

Like I said there is a chance secondary (CBs) becomes a strength for this defense.

LBs - I'm excited about the versatility of Dillon Lee he's definitely a playmaker and could be a "Hightower" type cog for the LB unit. I like the fact that already working with Steele he really hasn't named a clear cut favorite other that DePriest. As a result Reuben Foster seems to have responded and lost some bad weight and got chiseled up trying to earn a starting spot...that is the right gameplan to get the most out of RF I think. I also believe we will see DJ Pettway and Denzel Devall (who sort of got lost last year) rotate at Jack backed up by Tim Williams and we will see some of him too.

DL - We signed Reed to be a 1-gap penetrating DL in both sets and he comes in at that position as the best on roster already IMO. You can still have a 1-gap in a 4 man front (most obvious NFL example is HOFer who made that position famous "Mean" Joe Greene for Pittsburgh), but he adds versatility in both formations. I believe with Coach Bo Davis back coaching the proper 3 man front techniques and gaps etc we will see more of a 3 man front in formations. When we go to a 4 man it will likely be DJ Pettway moving down to DE and allow A'Shawn to play inside and Allen to slide outside. A lot of versatility and hopefully we see Da'Shawn Hand in backing up Allen

Offense - The rest of the SEC fricked....I'm excited to see the changes and how Kiffin will use the pieces at WR

He has a big bruising RB/FB hybrid similar to LenDale White in Jalston Fowler

He has more than 1 sub 4.4 speed WR

Just gotta figure QB out and Jacob Coker can't get here soon enough

Interesting to see the grouping on OL including Shank on the 1st team but he was a mauler on the OL every bit of tape I watched on him and his technique as a NG wasn't good at all so that's a move that has benefited him. I expect a knock down drag out all hands on deck WAR for that LT spot

what was that for?

Good stuff Bucc. I'm personally looking forward to the versatility in the front 7 and seeing how we use who and where we use them. If anyone thinks the following is homeristic, I understand, but basing my opinion solely on upside/talent alone, we have quite the number of potential first rounders in the front 7:

Jon Allen
A'Shawn Robinson
Da'Shawn Hand
Reuben Foster
Rashaan Evans


Some of them have proven absolutely nothing, but I am solely basing my opinion on potential/upside.


And a 3 man line of Hand-Robinson-Allen would be crazy good.

quote:

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Good stuff Bucc. I'm personally looking forward to the versatility in the front 7 and seeing how we use who and where we use them. If anyone thinks the following is homeristic, I understand, but basing my opinion solely on upside/talent alone, we have quite the number of potential first rounders in the front 7: Jon Allen A'Shawn Robinson Da'Shawn Hand Reuben Foster Rashaan Evans Some of them have proven absolutely nothing, but I am solely basing my opinion on potential/upside. And a 3 man line of Hand-Robinson-Allen would be crazy good.

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if dalvin tomlinson would stop injuring himself he might figure into that as well. I believe he is back to the front of the drill rotations and is moving well. He appears to be the quickest DL despite being almost 300lbs now, from what i could see in the DL line drill videos that have come out this spring

During Reed's recruitment, which player did we take over him?

I can't remember but I feel like him and Daniel McCullers(UTk) would've been cornerstone pieces for the 3-4 defense the past few recruiting cycles. Just curious as to which players we took instead of them.

I think Liner is often overlooked, and hopefully that fuels him. I don't see him as first round potential though, but that is just me. That isn't to say he isn't a very good talent, because he is.


As for Tomlinson, if he's recovered well from his injuries and can stay healthy, I have to believe he could see some work getting after QBs. Despite being up to 300 pounds, his hand usage and understanding of leverage is special. He's still a pretty quick twitch guy. Most interior OL wouldn't have the athleticism to handle him.

i could see Evans developing into a player similar to K.Mack. great first step, great pursuit, very sure tackler.

man, im still glad that Auburn didnt get that guy

Yep me too especially since he would've been a day 1 starter at their hybrid S position and it likely would've stunted his growth similar to what happened to Jadeveon Clowney such damn talent and no passion or drive...watching film for the draft was like scratching nails on a chalk board for me I just couldn't stand a guy to have that much athletic ability and talent and not even try 85 - 90% of the time

This way he gets to grow and develop into Saban's scheme and his position. The other thing I hope Evans develops that Mack has is football smarts and read/reaction skills like against tOSU Mack had a FR for a TD and deflected a pass and caught it and returned it for a TD, he was a one man wrecking crew constantly beating Jack Mewhort who will be a serviceable NFL OT taken somewhere between 2 - 3rd round in the Draft this year. He was the best player on the field that day against Ohio State. That is the type of player Rashaan Evans can develop into at Bama.

You have to just love this class.


You've got two guys with lockdown Corner potential. Marlon has to bulk up a bit, but he will.

You've got two Safeties (Hootie 6'2" 220lbs and Clark 6'3" 215lbs) who will probably never be that first round FS, have big time college potential as Strong Safeties.


You've got front 7 talent out the arse. Da'Shawn Hand, Rashaan Evans, and Christian Miller. Basically three 5 star pass rushers who can also be all around players. You've got two talented JUCO DL in Pettway and Reed. Plus a guy like Josh Frazier who in a few years can be good for us. Other players provide depth.


You've got two big, possession WRs. Cam Sims is 6'4" and Kief is 6'5". Sims already looks pretty stout, I'm really excited about the type of player he's gonna become.


You've got another five star RB in Bo Scarbrough. 6'2" 225lbs of man who can also play WR, Slot, and H-Back if you wanna move him around.


You've got an INSANE OL class. C-Rob can become a top notch LT. Dom Jackson could be a top notch RT. Then you have guys like Casher and Hassenauer inside with loads of talent. Plsu Piersbacher is no slouch and McBride provides depth.


Ty Smith gives us another solid option at TE.


You've got a QB with insane upside in Cornwell. He may have only been ranked 4th amongst QBs, but if we're talking about upside, Cornwell has to be 1st.


I mean it's a complete class and every position has guys who will have the floor of being All SEC and the ceiling of setting records come CFB Award Show.