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re: Rationale Bama fans: how many starters do you bring back?
Posted on 1/20/16 at 11:09 am to narddogg81
Posted on 1/20/16 at 11:09 am to narddogg81
It is really simple with Alabama. What they have is working, it is just a matter of picking the right new pieces.
The trick is the key new pieces to the puzzle have to fit.
Take care of that and Alabama is in good shape.
The trick is the key new pieces to the puzzle have to fit.
Take care of that and Alabama is in good shape.
2
Posted on 1/20/16 at 11:21 am to higgs_boson
Look at the difference between the 2014 and 2015 teams, Totally different offensive identities and yet very successful. It took Saban a couple of recruiting classes and shuffling of personel but we have the right mix on defense to counter power teams and spread teams. Meanwhile we have incorporated spead elements ourselves. All the replacement starters are highly recruited talent and have been in the system and have mostly seen playing time. Not particularly worried about the QB given the skill level of our guys and Kiffin.
Winning another title involves a bit of luck as well..but I expect Bama to be in the mix as usual.
Winning another title involves a bit of luck as well..but I expect Bama to be in the mix as usual.
This post was edited on 1/20/16 at 11:24 am
Posted on 1/20/16 at 11:42 am to higgs_boson
Lets look at it by unit:
QB: Barnett/Cornwell/Bateman
Major question marks here, but Barnett has more upside than anyone Bama has signed at QB under Saban and was hand picked by Kiffin who appears to be returning. Get us early, because if Barnett gets his legs under him he can be as good as we've had in Tuscaloosa.
RB: Scarborough/Harris/Emmons (if he qualifies)
No way we replace Henry and improve at this position. The good news is that all three options were 5* types out of high school. If the OL improves as I expect it to they will be more than adequate assuming no major injuries. Scarborough can be elite, but keep an eye on Emmons as his tape out of high school makes me wonder if he passes Harris as soon as he learns blitz protection.
OT: Robinson/Baldwin/Williams/Greene
Jackson graduating is simply not a loss as anyone who saw him play against Clemson can attest to. Had he been actively trying to lose us the game he couldn't have done a better job than he did. He singlehandedly changed our entire game plan as Kiffin struggled all night to scheme around his failures. Robinson is Outland level and Baldwin & Williams give us an elite JUCO and a 5* TF option at RT with a senior or two as a fallback. This unit should be a strength and an improvement over 2015.
OG: Pierschbacher/Warmack/Taylor/Bozeman/Pettibon
Return all our starters with outstanding depth. This unit should be a strength and an improvement over our 2015 unit.
C: Hassenauer
Cant minimize the loss of Kelly here. Hass is highly thought of but to think we will be ready day one at C is too optimistic for me. The OG will have to be improved or we could spend 2015 running off tackle
TE: Howard
You mightve seen him against Clemson. All-American and major piece of the offense with a young QB
WR: Foster/Ridley/Stewart
As good of a top three group as anyone in the country. Size, strength and speed with experience to boot. Major strength.
DE: Allen/Hand/Tomlinson
Are we as deep as we were last year, no, but those three are elite with two potential first rounders. Strength.
DT: Payne/Frazier
See above, not as good as last year but still an elite level unit.
OLB/Jack: Evans/Miller/Anderson/Williams
This unit is as good as anyone in the country.
MLB: Foster/Hamilton/Holcomb/TBD
Cant lose Ragland and improve, but this unit is still very, very good
DB: Fitzpatrick/Humphrey/Sheffield/Cook
Two returning starters, both 5* who have as much potential as anyone in the country backed up by another 5* and a solid talent in Cook. Elite
FS/SS: Harrison/Brown/Averitt/Washington
One returning TF starter with the wildcard being Brown who is an NFL type at safety but wants to play DB. He is the wildcard and the difference between being good and great IMO. Got sent home from the playoffs due to a bad attitude, will see if he can get on track.
Offensive Summary: QB play and C are the major question marks, but our ceiling is actually higher this year than last.
Defensive Summary: Front 7 is still elite, just not an all-time unit like it was last year with pass rush being the strength. Secondary should be improved significantly with 3 of 4 starters back from the championship game, with the DB's being the cornerstone with two first round types who now have experience.
QB: Barnett/Cornwell/Bateman
Major question marks here, but Barnett has more upside than anyone Bama has signed at QB under Saban and was hand picked by Kiffin who appears to be returning. Get us early, because if Barnett gets his legs under him he can be as good as we've had in Tuscaloosa.
RB: Scarborough/Harris/Emmons (if he qualifies)
No way we replace Henry and improve at this position. The good news is that all three options were 5* types out of high school. If the OL improves as I expect it to they will be more than adequate assuming no major injuries. Scarborough can be elite, but keep an eye on Emmons as his tape out of high school makes me wonder if he passes Harris as soon as he learns blitz protection.
OT: Robinson/Baldwin/Williams/Greene
Jackson graduating is simply not a loss as anyone who saw him play against Clemson can attest to. Had he been actively trying to lose us the game he couldn't have done a better job than he did. He singlehandedly changed our entire game plan as Kiffin struggled all night to scheme around his failures. Robinson is Outland level and Baldwin & Williams give us an elite JUCO and a 5* TF option at RT with a senior or two as a fallback. This unit should be a strength and an improvement over 2015.
OG: Pierschbacher/Warmack/Taylor/Bozeman/Pettibon
Return all our starters with outstanding depth. This unit should be a strength and an improvement over our 2015 unit.
C: Hassenauer
Cant minimize the loss of Kelly here. Hass is highly thought of but to think we will be ready day one at C is too optimistic for me. The OG will have to be improved or we could spend 2015 running off tackle
TE: Howard
You mightve seen him against Clemson. All-American and major piece of the offense with a young QB
WR: Foster/Ridley/Stewart
As good of a top three group as anyone in the country. Size, strength and speed with experience to boot. Major strength.
DE: Allen/Hand/Tomlinson
Are we as deep as we were last year, no, but those three are elite with two potential first rounders. Strength.
DT: Payne/Frazier
See above, not as good as last year but still an elite level unit.
OLB/Jack: Evans/Miller/Anderson/Williams
This unit is as good as anyone in the country.
MLB: Foster/Hamilton/Holcomb/TBD
Cant lose Ragland and improve, but this unit is still very, very good
DB: Fitzpatrick/Humphrey/Sheffield/Cook
Two returning starters, both 5* who have as much potential as anyone in the country backed up by another 5* and a solid talent in Cook. Elite
FS/SS: Harrison/Brown/Averitt/Washington
One returning TF starter with the wildcard being Brown who is an NFL type at safety but wants to play DB. He is the wildcard and the difference between being good and great IMO. Got sent home from the playoffs due to a bad attitude, will see if he can get on track.
Offensive Summary: QB play and C are the major question marks, but our ceiling is actually higher this year than last.
Defensive Summary: Front 7 is still elite, just not an all-time unit like it was last year with pass rush being the strength. Secondary should be improved significantly with 3 of 4 starters back from the championship game, with the DB's being the cornerstone with two first round types who now have experience.
This post was edited on 1/20/16 at 2:58 pm
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