re: What’s our biggest liability going into this season?

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biggest weakness may be the guy coordinating the defense. He has a lot to prove.

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I gotta disagree with you there. Sure, he's a young coach without a long, proven track record, but he's sharp as a tack and was heavily coveted by P5 programs this off-season for DC positions. He also should be credited with preventing our 2018 defensive season from coming completely off the rails.

Similarly, Saban went out and hired 2 former DCs as position coaches and gave them Associate Head Coaching titles, which in reality makes them the 2 chief guys to support and help Golding. We also brought in Baker at Dline and kept Scott in the secondary, the point being that Golding has an elite group of athletes as well as coaches, and if a chef is only as good as his ingredients, then Golding is in a much better position to succeed than his predecessor.

I'm very excited about our defense and the direction it's headed.

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None of which are proven in SEC games.

So, again, our issues are relative, but when choosing between a 1st year starting senior and young kids with no game experience, I'd consider that an unknown. Which for us, luckily, is considered a "liability", where elsewhere its like 9th on a list of concerns.

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I disagree. I think Jobe and Wright are very much "proven", as I have seen them play a lot of good football for us.

However, I have a big, big issue with this notion of "proven". Proven to whom? Fans? That's doesn't mean piss. Also, "proven in SEC games"? That also doesn't mean that much. Last time I checked, Alabama was an SEC team, and a pretty good one at that. I suspect - no, I know for a fact - that what Alabama simulates in practice is just as good or even better preparation for games that what many players see come game time. Not only are we known for that by reputation and can be seen and reported by insiders, but copious former Bama players have repeatedly stressed how Bama practices differently and that they were prepared well before they set foot on the field.

Simply put, a small amount of game experience is necessary so that these kids get acclimated to playing in front of 100,000 screaming fans, and coaches need to see and verify that certain players play at the same level that they practice, but after that, nearly all of a players development can and will be done at practice. And just because you, the fan, aren't privy to it doesn't mean it's not happening.

"Proven against SEC Teams" is a crap concept. A kid is good or he isn't. He's developed or he isn't. Simple as that.

EDIT: No offense meant here. I just feel strongly about this issue.

Proven to themselves that they are good enough in games under pressure situations against teams scheming their weaknesses and having to make reads and pattern matches in real time.

I think our roster and coaches prepare them as well as can be done, but there is a reason young kids generally take a year or two to play at full speed. It's about in-game repititon that cannot be fully simulated on the practice field. A handful of guys get it immediately (Minkah), but most take a bit to fully grasp everything and make assessments and decisions in real time. Saban talks about it all the time.

Kids can prove they are the most ready on the field and in the film room - but not having experience gets you beat on 3-4 plays a game because you haven't seen something before or are a split second late in a decision. That's just part of it, but it's still a "concern" with any young player.

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EDIT: No offense meant here. I just feel strongly about this issue.

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None taken. And I'm not saying a kid needs to be "proven" to play - it's not even possible! You prove to yourself you can play at that level by actually playing. And that's fine, that's how the whole thing works. However, if I'm asked to pick which area has more concerns : NFL talent with 2 years experience vs NFL talent with 0 years experience, there seems to be a pretty clear answer.

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We're gonna care if we can't develop an H and/or can't in-line block worth a damn.

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In-line blocking... The two I would use are Giles Amos on the LoS and Cam Latu at H-back. Miller Forristal and Major Tennison do not have the base (butt and legs) to be knock your dick in the dirt blockers.

If it is short yardages and you have to move the LoS to finish out a score or the game, I would move Landon Dickerson to the on-the-line TE and Cam Latu at H-back. If we need to go heavy, Cam and Landon on the LoS with DJ Dale and/or Justin Eboigbe in the HB spots.

Cam has the best hips and slide-&-strike agility of the TE group and he is better in using his hands in trench warfare.

Kicking and punting . . . again.

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Tw1st3d

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We need you to post more

We're very good at having guys get injured outside of scrimmages too.

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What’s our biggest liability going into this season?

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tendons

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tendons

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Ligaments: "Hold my beer."