'06 Defense, 7 seniors graduating...

[BigBama]

This years defense has made us all proud. With some saying Ryans might be a first round pick and Harper saving the day against UT I think I speak for the entire Bamanation when I say this is one special group. They outperformed anything anyone said they would do.

Even though we still have several tough games left and we are all excited about seeing how this group of seniors will finish at Bama, how does next years defense compare with this one.

D LINE
With Washington and Fanney coming in plus Greenwood, Lee, Clarke, Adams, Britt, potential freshmen coming I dont see much drop off.

LB's
Most assuredly the LB corp will take a huge hit with Roach and Ryans graduating. Does Prince take over in the middle? Are our second teamers this year getting enough pt this year to be starters next year?

DB's
Harper is a gamer no doubt. But Peprah and Madison have had their share of big plays too. Does the DB take a huge hit with these guys graduating or do Castille, Mitchell, and Keys step in nicely?

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[drsmithofga]

D-line: You're missing Wallace Gilberry

LB: Juwan Simpson and Terrance Jones aren't chopped liver. Waldrop is getting time, too.

DB: Don't forget Ramzee Robinson.

The 2006 version will "show up".

 

[BamaJeff]

Don't forget to put Chris Harris in that D line mix for next year.

 

[rolltide8755]

chris rogers will get alot pt next year. they almost shedded his redshirt a few weeks back but decicded to keep it on

 

[Stephen323]

Eric Gray would probably be the next corner in after Castille. I am more concerned with safety than with CB.

 

[teamplayer]

I still think we will be talented on defense, but the real thing we will miss is the experience. We are seeing this year what an experienced, healthy team can do. I hope we don't look ahead to LSU and Auburn, but I am also optimistic about playing a lot of people the next two weeks. I hope a lot of back-ups get some much needed time on the field. Roll Tide! I noticed the other day that 7-0 and 5-0 looks awfully nice beside our name.

 

[Crimson Hawk]

I still think we will be talented on defense, but the real thing we will miss is the experience.

Experience is one thing, but IMO the real loss will be leadership.

 

[BamaHollywood]

Experience is one thing, but IMO the real loss will be leadership.

Couldn't agree more. This bunch of seniors is probably the most special group of players to ever come through our football program, given all the adversity they've faced. That's why I love this team so much. That's why we simply refuse to lose. That's why, when it's all said and done, next to the name 'Alabama', it'll say "13-0".

 

[RollinOnBayou]

Couldn't agree more. This bunch of seniors is probably the most special group of players to ever come through our football program, given all the adversity they've faced. That's why I love this team so much. That's why we simply refuse to lose. That's why, when it's all said and done, next to the name 'Alabama', it'll say "13-0".

Not bashing you because I agree with you, but Bama fans always say that whatever season it is is the most special group of players ever.

 

[BamaHollywood]

In recent history, the 1992 and 1994 classes were great, as was the 1999 class. I believe this one tops them all though.

 

[bamahuey1]

Don't forget on the D-line next year we have 300 lb. Byron Walton added to the mix, and I think Baron Huber is now working at DE as well. There was also an update posted on another site regarding Curtis Dawson, and the progress he's made. If I'm not mistaken the door is open for him to come back in the winter. He redshirted this year, and is supposedly working very hard to get up to 290 lbs. with dramatic increases in both strength and speed. At LB we'll also have Schreiber(sp?), and Eryk Anders. Anders supposedly is going to be a good one who can bring the lumber once he learns the position, and Schreiber was heavily recruited coming out of Louisana. With the way our staff is going after big, fast DB's I think we'll have some talent there. One thing I do like to see is that the staff seems to be doing what Miami has done for years. That is taking a guy who is a step too slow for DB and converting him to LB, and a guy who is a step too slow for LB and converting to DE. We seem to placing a special emphasis on speed, and that's hard to counter for opposing offenses. I think we may see a few growing pains next year, but, like someone said, I think we'll show up. The future is beginning to look very bright.

 

[LP-HSV]

Is Jeffrey Dukes done after this year?

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Dukes...

is a junior...

 

[TiderinVA]

There is still talent on the D for next year

DT: Jeremy Clark and Justin Britt have played A LOT and/or started some games. Add to the mix Dominic Lee (who has played a fair amount) and redshirt Freshman Byron Walton.

DE: Gilberry returns as one starter there, Chris Harris has played a good bit and Keith Saunders has gotten a little playing time. True freshman Bobby Greenwood has played a fair amount.

Add to the mix at either DE or DT: Zo Washington, Brandon Fanney, Zach Schreiber and Baron Huber.

LB: Terrance Jones has played a good bit and Demarcus Waldrop has played some, albeit mostly on special teams. Eryk Anders is a bit of wild card. He's raw but could be a very good one. Prince Hall needs to get a little bit leaner and stronger but could very well be the starter at MLB. If Toryan Smith commits, he might see a lot of playing time next year. Matt Collins has been a pleasant surprise at MLB and provides some depth. Maybe not the fastest or the biggest but plays hard and with heart.

Safety: My guess is Jeffrey Dukes at one safety. He's played quite a bit. Marcus Carter has played a little at the other safety. The two I'm most intrigued by are Chris Keys and Corey Reamer. Of course, Reamer is coming off knee surgery, so he might redshirt next year. The Tide really needs to sign at least one more safety in this coming class.

CB: Sim Castille is the heir apparent at one CB and Robinson at the other. Castille has played quite a bit. For depth, Eric Gray and Chris Rogers will probably play a lot next year. Gray has played sparingly and Rogers has redshirted but has really impressed the coaches.

My guess is that the D will still be pretty good but some guys are going to have to grow up FAST next year.

 

[Roll Tibe]

the defense will be depleted next year, but they will have a more experienced offense to pick them up. yin and yang baby.

by the way, our offense in 2007 is going to be STACKED. look at who FROM THIS YEAR WILL BE RETURNING: three linemen, all but PRO on the outside, both tight-ends, an experienced TB AND a QB with a year experience (or Tebow).

i think we are top-5 preseason in 07.

 

[Bama-fo-life]

IF you mean prothro when you say all but pro are returning then you are mistaken. Pro is only a JR. I think we are going to have the entire offense coming back except Brodie and JB Closner. Maybe a few fill in o linemen but we know that situation will not be a problem next year

 

[Roll Tibe]

i mean in 07. unless Pro has to take a redshirt next year because of his leg, he will graduate in 06.

in 2007 our offense will be stacked.

 

[Love the Ping]

Our defense will be young, but we will be deeper

We've got a lot of players. Kines and company will put a good defense on the field between these players:


DE - Gilberry, Greenwood, Fanney
DT - Clark, Lee, Walton
DT - Britt, Adams, Washington
DE - Harris, Saunders, Deaderick, Huber
SLB - Jones, Schreiber
MLB - Hall, Collins
WLB - Simpson, Waldrop, Stamps
CB - Castille, Mitchell, Gray
SS - Keys, Carter
FS - Dukes, Reamer
CB - Robinson, Rogers, McDaniel

I would say out of that group, we should be able to field a damn good defense. I think we need to add a LB that is ready to step in and play right now (T Smith).

 

[trenda]

I think we'll be okay on both sides of the ball next year.

IMO, the three biggest issues will probably go hand-in-hand; and those are leadership, experience and schedule.

It will be extrememly hard next season to replace the leaders from this '05 team. The lack of experience will hurt us a little bit; but the schedule will hurt as well. Where this season, all but one of the tough teams are at B-D, next year it will be just the opposite.

 

[gator]

I think you will always see new talent coming into schools like AL, but it is also tough to replace experience and leadership. That is not to say that the next group will not have strong leaders, but that we have no way of knowing early on who is going to rise to the occasion and who is going to need more time. I tend to think 2006 will be tough but should pave the way for a good 2007.