Alabama: Rank the positions that need the most work in the offseason

Joefus

All-SEC
Jan 3, 2021
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This was your worst special teams season in every way in a long time.
Haven’t checked the stats but I don’t recall anything egregious that would be his. Fault- punting good, fg kicking- when in his range limited attempts but nothing terrible, our best option at kick returns was out most of this year and didn’t have an answer afterwards. Not a great look but again nothing that stopped us from winning games. No one is returning kick offs much and both kick coverage units were “ok”. Of all the coach gaffes this year he doesn’t strike me as the prob but maybe ive forgotten something. I have tried blocking most of this year from my memory
 

gtgilbert

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Aug 12, 2011
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The problem may be that Coach DeBoer is the quarterbacks coach. He's good, but may not have the time a designated assigned QB coach would have to work with them.
That's like saying saban didn't have enough time to work with db's.

It just doesn't work like that.

There are strict rules that limit practice time with coaches. Every minute is planned; from individual, to groupings to team. Plus, sheridan is listed as the QB coach so we've got two guys with eyes on that spot so plenty of coaching bandwidth.

The real concern is that because the staff is having to dedicate so much time to working around JMs limitations that they are not even getting to install the full offense that the rest of the qbs will be expected to run going forward.
 
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4Q Basket Case

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That's like.saying saban didn't have enough time to work with db's.

It just doesn't work like that.

There are strict rules that limit practice time with coaches. Every minute is planned; from individual, to groupings to team. Plus, sheridan is listed as the QB coach so we've got two guys with eyes on that spot so plenty of coaching bandwidth.

The real concern is that because the staff is having to dedicate so much time to working around JMs limitations that they are not even getting to install the full offense that the rest of the qbs will be expected to run going forward.
I've read varying percentages of what the coaches want to run but can't, so I don't know the exact number. But I'm satisfied that we're running only a portion of what DeBoer wants to run.

Why that's the case is another question for another thread.

My focus in the offseason will be any changes DeBoer makes in the staff. As in, does he get a new OC? Also, does he get a Special Teams coach (right now, it's a Senior Analyst). And does any other program want any of our coaches?

Under Saban, until the 2021 season, we were forever losing senior assistants to HC positions, and staff to coordinator positions. Beginning with the 2021 season, Saban began to have trouble recruiting quality staff, and that didn't happen as much.

It's a delicate balance. Too much turnover leads to instability. Too little leads not only to stagnation but might also be an indication that other HCs don't think you have a staff worth poaching.

We have an interesting month ahead, wholly apart from actually preparing for and playing football games -- whether that might be a playoff or a consolation bowl game.

How much of the committed recruiting class will we hold onto? Who might we poach from other programs? How will DeBoer structure his 2025 staff? Does anybody want any of our assistants enough to offer a promotion? Will we have a dedicated Special Teams coach, or limp along with a Senior Analyst?

Buy popcorn....or bourbon.
 

Ledsteplin

Hall of Fame
Nov 20, 2013
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I hope we do. I want to think Ty will be able to come in and run CKD offense, but who really knows? Ty hasn't had any real, meaningful playing time since he left high school. I don't count the UCF game because of LANK.
Nearly everyone here have been singing Ty's praises for months. He's the man, they said. I haven't always agreed. But anytime I've seen him play, he does pretty well. Lonergan has looked good as well. Even Austin Mack looked good in what little we saw. One of them should be able to take the bull by the horns come September.
 

Ledsteplin

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That's like.saying saban didn't have enough time to work with db's.

It just doesn't work like that.

There are strict rules that limit practice time with coaches. Every minute is planned; from individual, to groupings to team. Plus, sheridan is listed as the QB coach so we've got two guys with eyes on that spot so plenty of coaching bandwidth.

The real concern is that because the staff is having to dedicate so much time to working around JMs limitations that they are not even getting to install the full offense that the rest of the qbs will be expected to run going forward.
Well, I haven't noticed any glaring issues with the quarterbacks. Their development has come along nicely. They do need game experience.
 

gman4tide

All-American
Nov 21, 2005
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Agree. I would have to look it up the it seemed as if every point or kick return was called back for a penalty. Kick and punt coverage did well though.
Every punt or kick return for everyone is called back for a penalty. I don't understand why anyone returns ko's? And if you didn't notice saturday, bama was called for a late hit on a runner still in bounds and 2 unsportsmanlikes in one play where a bama player was blocked 10yds outta bounds and 20 barn players left the player box...but none of that drew a flag.
I think our special teams did just fine this year.
 
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Coach D

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Every punt or kick return for everyone is called back for a penalty. I don't understand why anyone returns ko's? And if you didn't notice saturday, bama was called for a late hit on a runner still in bounds and 2 unsportsmanlikes in one play where a bama player was blocked 10yds outta bounds and 20 barn players left the player box...but none of that drew a flag.
I think our special teams did just fine this year.
Ok, that’s your opinion. But no not everyone is has that many penalties.
 

tusks_n_raider

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May 13, 2009
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i agree with pretty much everything, but i’m giving smith a little bit of leeway for how mad he was after getting jumped by a bunch of dudes on the barn sidelines
It could very well be an isolated reaction but there have been too many by various players this year.

My standard is usually... what would Jalen Hurts do in the same situation?

I can't picture him kicking footballs and slinging helmets.

Maybe that's an unfair standard I dunno?
 

92tide

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It could very well be an isolated reaction but there have been too many by various players this year.

My standard is usually... what would Jalen Hurts do in the same situation?

I can't picture him kicking footballs and slinging helmets.

Maybe that's an unfair standard I dunno?
i get what you are saying and agree, i don’t like seeing that and i don’t think what you posit is an unfair standard at all. hurts is one of my all time favorites, in part because of the way he carried himself. i was specifically talking about that one instance and i have no idea how hurts would react to being jumped by 8-10 barners on their sideline
 
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AWRTR

All-American
Oct 18, 2022
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Offensive Line. I joke with friends Joe Willie and King Henry themselves would be average behind these guys.
The O-lines job has been made harder because of other offensive limitations. Bama isn't running a full play book. This allows defenses to be more aggressive. Have they missed blocks, absolutely! Joe Willie could win a national title with this group, and if he were handing it Henry defenses would wet their pants trying to figure out what to do.
 
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alwayshavebeen

All-SEC
Sep 22, 2013
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The O-lines job has been made harder because of other offensive limitations. Bama isn't running a full play book. This allows defenses to be more aggressive. Have they missed blocks, absolutely! Joe Willie could win a national title with this group, and if he were handing it Henry defenses would wet their pants trying to figure out what to do.
Maybe I exaggerated just a tad using those two, but the point is valid.
 
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Bamabuzzard

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This subtle quote by CKD speaks volumes as to what our wr's had to put up with this season. They were asked to eat a crap sandwich. Hopefully this changes next season. I also wonder if that is the reason Law, Prentice and Odom ultimately decided to transfer? Even though Milroe isn't supposed to come back, they could have possibly lost trust in the staff for next season. Because I KNOW FOR A FACT Law didn't originally intend on transferring. He really liked Simpson as a QB.

1000005260.jpg
 
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Power Eye

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This subtle quote by CKD speaks volumes as to what our wr's had to put up with this season. They were asked to eat a crap sandwich. Hopefully this changes next season. I also wonder if that is the reason Law, Prentice and Odom ultimately decided to transfer? Even though Milroe isn't supposed to come back, they could have possibly lost trust in the staff for next season. Because I KNOW FOR A FACT Law didn't originally intend on transferring. He really liked Simpson as a QB.

View attachment 47749
I will miss Law because it seemed like he did what he was asked and made the best of it, but I don't think he's a true wide receiver. Prentice, I believe, could have been good in DeBoer's system if we ran it this year.

As for the quote, yeah I think it speaks volumes to how they tried to fit a square peg in a round hole this year with the offense. I understand that they probably thought they could at least make the playoffs doing it, but it's time to move on.
 
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Bamabuzzard

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I will miss Law because it seemed like he did what he was asked and made the best of it, but I don't think he's a true wide receiver. Prentice, I believe, could have been good in DeBoer's system if we ran it this year.

As for the quote, yeah I think it speaks volumes to how they tried to fit a square peg in a round hole this year with the offense. I understand that they probably thought they could at least make the playoffs doing it, but it's time to move on.
His quote let's me know things will be different next season. That's all I need to know. It's frustrating watching a nice vehicle run on three round tires and one square. It's time to have four round tires on the vehicle...
 

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