JessN: 2009 PREVIEWS-- Alabama Pre-Fall-Camp Depth Chart

[BamaNation]

ALABAMA DEPTH CHART
2009 PRE-FALL-CAMP

Compiled by Jess Nicholas
August 10, 2009

Disclaimer: This is not an official University of Alabama document. The depth chart is taken from individual practice and game observations, and is color-coded. Seniors are in black, juniors previously on the team are in green, junior college transfers in their junior year are in purple, junior college transfers in their sophomore year are in yellow, sophomores previously on the team are in blue, redshirt freshmen are in DarkOrange, and true freshmen are in red. The “##” character denotes players wearing duplicate numbers; only the primary player with that number is listed with his number on the TideFans depth chart. NOTE: Because Alabama will operate from a three-wide set as often as not, 12 offensive positions are listed.

OFFENSE

POS|#|FIRST TEAM||#|SECOND TEAM||#|THIRD TEAM
SE| 8 | Julio Jones || 82 | Earl Alexander || 88 | Michael Bowman
FL| 80 | Mike McCoy || 4 | Marquis Maze || 83 | Kevin Norwood
WR| 15 | Darius Hanks || 7 | Kenny Bell || 11 | Brandon Gibson
TE| 84 | Colin Peek || 87 | Chris Underwood || 89 | Michael Williams
HB| 17 | Brad Smelley || 85 | Preston Dial || 40 | Baron Huber
RT| 79 | Drew Davis || 67 | JohnMichael Boswell || 68 | Taylor Pharr
RG| 66 | Brian Motley || 65 | Chance Warmack || 60 | David Williams
C| 73 | William Vlachos || 74 | David Ross || 61 | Anthony Steen
LG| 78 | Michael Johnson || 75 | Barrett Jones || 52 | Alfred McCullough
LT| 77 | James Carpenter || 72 | Tyler Love || 76 | D.J. Fluker
QB| 12 | Greg McElroy || 16 | Thomas Darrah || 2 | Star Jackson
RB| 22 | Mark Ingram || 5 | Roy Upchurch || 29 | Terry Grant
PK| 99 | Leigh Tiffin || 94 | Jeremy Shelley || 98 | Heath Thomas

DEFENSE

POS|#|FIRST TEAM||#|SECOND TEAM||#|THIRD TEAM
DT| 97 | Lorenzo Washington || 57 | Marcel Dareus || 92 | Damion Square
NG| 62 | Terrence Cody || 99 | Josh Chapman || 64 | Kerry Murphy
E| 95 | Brandon Deaderick || 96 | Luther Davis || 90 | Milton Talbert
JACK| 32 | Eryk Anders || 41 | Courtney Upshaw || 91 | Alex Watkins
RILB| 25 | Rolando McClain || 35 | Nico Johnson || 2 | Tana Patrick
LILB| 30 | Dont’a Hightower || 36 | Chris Jordan || 51 | Mike DeJohn
OLB| 13 | Cory Reamer || 5 | Jerrell Harris || 55 | Chavis Williams
RCB| 28 | Javier Arenas || 8 | Chris Rogers || 21 | Dre Kirkpatrick
FS| 23 | Robby Green || 26 | Ali Sharrief || 20 | Tyrone King,Jr.
SS| 27 | Justin Woodall || 4 | Mark Barron || 37 | Robert Lester
LCB| 3 | Kareem Jackson || 24 | Marquis Johnson || 1 | B.J. Scott
P| 97 | P.J. Fitzgerald || 98 | Heath Thomas || 91 | Mark Prevost

 

[PDL]

Re: 2009 PREVIEWS-- Alabama Pre-Fall-Camp Depth Chart [**NEW**]

I see that Hanks is listed as a junior, but I thought he received a medical redshirt after the 2007 season. Is this correct?

Also, I see a lot of black on the defensive side of the ball. I think that means good things for our D this year but question marks for next year. We're going to have to build a lot of depth this year and make sure we rotate guys whenever possible to give them playing time. I know we are doing that on the D-Line and some at LB, but I'm most concerned about the DB's. Our young guys will have to step up soon, including the incoming freshmen of 2010.

Look at me, already worrying about next year...:redface:

 

[BamaGreek]

Re: 2009 PREVIEWS-- Alabama Pre-Fall-Camp Depth Chart [**NEW**]

A couple of things stand out to me on the depth chart. 1st: Thomas Darrah as the backup QB. 2nd: Both the freshmen Nico and Tana backing up Rolando at the Mike position.

 

[crimson_blood]

Re: 2009 PREVIEWS-- Alabama Pre-Fall-Camp Depth Chart [**NEW**]

Good stuff. Amazing how much talent there is out there even on the 2nd and 3rd team.

From what I've seen and heard, McCulloch is coming along nicely and seems to be with the 1st group at this point at RG, but that can change...and it seems Coach Pendry is trying guys at different spots to find the right combination. Warmack's still a possibility there at RG...along with Drew Davis (with Fluker at RT possibly?), Boswell and Barrett Jones.

I was awfully impressed with McCarron the other day. His awareness, his arm, his leadership, etc. did not look like that of a true frosh. He looked like he was ready to be the backup QB, although that was observation from only one day of practice.

I also would not be surprised to see BJ Scott and Dre Kirkpatrick move ahead of Marquis Johnson and Chris Rogers in the Dime and Nickel Packages.

I noticed in one 7-on-7 period that BJ Scott and Barron were with the first group (Arenas, KJ, Woodall, and R. Green were the others) in a dime package...but again, this is very early in practice and that doesn't really mean anything. But the point is BJ has improved dramatically...and Dre has shown a lot of maturity and willingness to learn the defense...so I look for both to see a lot of time this year.

 

[JessN]

Re: 2009 PREVIEWS-- Alabama Pre-Fall-Camp Depth Chart [**NEW**]

A couple of things stand out to me on the depth chart. 1st: Thomas Darrah as the backup QB. 2nd: Both the freshmen Nico and Tana backing up Rolando at the Mike position.

I believe this is already outdated, too. Judging from Saban's comments it looks like Star Jackson will probably end up the backup ("he has a role" or something close to that, in a recent statement). As for the LB corps, they're changing every day so don't read too much into it.

These depth charts, at this stage of the game, are just for informational purposes to give you a rough idea.

 

[rgw]

Re: 2009 PREVIEWS-- Alabama Pre-Fall-Camp Depth Chart [**NEW**]

Has Anders made any gains in the weightroom?

 

[JessN]

Re: 2009 PREVIEWS-- Alabama Pre-Fall-Camp Depth Chart [**NEW**]

Has Anders made any gains in the weightroom?

I would assume he has but he's never going to be a really big guy. He just doesn't have the frame.

 

[OakMtn4Bama]

Re: 2009 PREVIEWS-- Alabama Pre-Fall-Camp Depth Chart [**NEW**]

I am kind of warming to the idea of DDavis at right guard with Tyler Love/Big Flu @ RT.

 

[crmsnrevelation]

Re: 2009 PREVIEWS-- Alabama Pre-Fall-Camp Depth Chart [**NEW**]

Thats alot of blue on the left side....

 

[Alanbama27]

Re: 2009 PREVIEWS-- Alabama Pre-Fall-Camp Depth Chart [**NEW**]

The fact is that DJ Fluker hasn't yet practiced at 3rd string, so I have no idea where that is coming from. It is frankly very likely that DJ ends up starting at RT and Carpenter at LT. However, the one thing that is almost a guarantee is that DJ plays in the first game in a second string position...likely RT...however he IS NOT 3rd string on any depth chart or practice that I've heard about.

 

[derek4tide]

Re: 2009 PREVIEWS-- Alabama Pre-Fall-Camp Depth Chart [**NEW**]

Wow, I thought Nico would be 2nd at JACK. Also, I read this on TideSports about RS Barrett Jones:

Redshirt freshman Barrett Jones ran drills at right guard in a group that included Mike Johnson, Drew Davis, William Vlachos and James Carpenter. For the majority of fall practice, sophomore Alfred McCullough has been running at right guard with that group.

http://www.tidesports.com/article/20090811/NEWS/908119991

I guess there may be more changes to come with the 1st team OL. Interesting stuff, Jess. Thanks for posting.

 

[JessN]

Re: 2009 PREVIEWS-- Alabama Pre-Fall-Camp Depth Chart [**NEW**]

The fact is that DJ Fluker hasn't yet practiced at 3rd string, so I have no idea where that is coming from. It is frankly very likely that DJ ends up starting at RT and Carpenter at LT. However, the one thing that is almost a guarantee is that DJ plays in the first game in a second string position...likely RT...however he IS NOT 3rd string on any depth chart or practice that I've heard about.

The depth chart is labeled "pre-fall camp," meaning this was what it looked like on the first day. The true freshmen were behind all of the returning players and the only place you see true freshmen high up the depth chart on that list is in spots where there were no other options (like MLB). There will be another depth chart posted before the first game.

As for Fluker, I'm not writing him off but really, folks, he played all of one year at OL in high school. No one here knows whether he can even play at the college level or not, sorry. I'm pretty sure he can, but I spent all summer watching people confidently predict he'd displace James Carpenter at LT within the first week of camp, and that's not going to happen.

The only way he starts at RT is if Drew Davis (a) can play right guard, and he's never played guard at UA or anywhere else, and (b) Fluker is a better RT than Motley/McCullough/Jones/Boswell/etc. are at RG. Otherwise, he's in a battle with a much-improved Tyler Love for the reserve swing tackle slot.

The comparisons many people want to make between Fluker and Andre Smith don't apply. Smith was a multi-year star at OL in high school and is built completely differently than Fluker. When Fluker committed to UA, he committed as a nose tackle/defensive end and didn't move to OL until his senior year of HS. People saw all those freakazoid pictures of Fluker standing next to smaller players and their mouths started watering.

Early indications from camp is that Fluker has proven he can run-block with the best of them already, but even Alabama's third-team defensive ends are giving him trouble in isolation drills. If he can't pass block, he's not going to play much, and certainly isn't going to start -- especially given that Alabama doesn't have Travis McCall anymore at TE and will be breaking in new players there.

 

[JessN]

Re: 2009 PREVIEWS-- Alabama Pre-Fall-Camp Depth Chart [**NEW**]

Wow, I thought Nico would be 2nd at JACK. Also, I read this on TideSports about RS Barrett Jones:



Offensive line continues to evolve in practice | TideSports.com | The Tuscaloosa News | Tuscaloosa, AL

I guess there may be more changes to come with the 1st team OL. Interesting stuff, Jess. Thanks for posting.

They've worked five different guys with the 1s at that position in seven days.

Trying to peg the first-game depth chart at this point is almost lunacy. I almost didn't even send Brett a depth chart to post because I knew this would come up.

Dre Kirkpatrick, for instance, is probably with the 2s right now.

 

[Alanbama27]

Re: 2009 PREVIEWS-- Alabama Pre-Fall-Camp Depth Chart [**NEW**]

I didn't realize the Pre-Fall-Camp distinction was there...sorry about that. As for Fluker, my point is that he came in to camp a bit overweight for the coaches liking, but he's still going to see a lot of time and will likely back up potentially three spots right off the bat; LT, RT & RG. It is also possible he could back up LG but right now he is a solid #2 at RT and there is every likelihood that he plays against Virginia Tech regardless of the score at some point in the game. From what I'm hearing the coaches know he's got a way to go but that he can handle just about everything they are throwing at him and his size makes up for some of what he doesn't do very well yet. As for Drew Davis, he did a good job but hardly a great job last year. The reason he held the spot had more to do with the fact that we had almost no "real" depth behind him and he was the best there was. There is no way the coaches leave a kid 6'6" - 360lbs (right now, he reported at 370) on the bench if there is any way around it. He made the guys lining up against him in the high school All-Star game look like chumps! I know it was other high school players but the point remains...he's better than a true freshman. I personally believe they would love it if Davis or Fluker could play RG because our two guards and two tackles would average 6'6" - 315lbs! Our problem right now is that we've got a 6'1" - 294lb Center and 6'2" - 289lb RG! That's a bit weak up the middle over the right side and I'm sure the coaches want to at least bulk up the RG position!

On the comparison front of Smitty, that's not even close at this point I agree. Smitty was a phenom coming out of high school and I agree DJ has a little ways to go, but he's so big and has great feet that once his technique gets solid he could easily be as good! The reason Carpenter is where he is, is 100% due to technique from what I hear! He is not more athletic than DJ, he just has a much better grasp of the assignments and the college technique that DJ doesn't. Look for DJ to step up during the year and play a lot! I do believe he'll eventually start by years end and possibly sooner. Just my personal opinion of course!

 

[kayakerjess]

Re: 2009 PREVIEWS-- Alabama Pre-Fall-Camp Depth Chart [**NEW**]

Just watched the interview of Vlachos on TideSports.com. Very impressive young man, and seems to be taking hold of that Center position.

One correction: he is a Jr., but listed as a Soph on this list.

 

[JessN]

Re: 2009 PREVIEWS-- Alabama Pre-Fall-Camp Depth Chart [**NEW**]

Just watched the interview of Vlachos on TideSports.com. Very impressive young man, and seems to be taking hold of that Center position.

One correction: he is a Jr., but listed as a Soph on this list.

He's listed as a junior because he played one game in his true freshman year, got hurt and then his medical redshirt appeal hasn't been worked out yet. Darius Hanks apparently got his year back (but didn't have it back at this same time last year). Alabama has gotten a lot tighter with the info regarding who does and doesn't get their medical years back but I've been told Vlachos has two more years after this one. We'll see how it plays out.

 

[RamJamHam]

Re: 2009 PREVIEWS-- Alabama Pre-Fall-Camp Depth Chart [**NEW**]

No matter how big Fluker is, how much he looks the part, or how much we would all like to see him out there as a true freshman just like Andre Smith, JessN pointed out the obvious in that he has not played a lot of OL. I would expect that he would be OK in run blocking, as JessN said, but would struggle in pass blocking, as JessN also said. If he is struggling in practice against third-string DLs. he is certainly not ready to play LT in the SEC.

This is not a knock on DJ in any way, as I think he will eventually be a fine football player and probably a LT. It just won't be right away. Andre Smith was not only an athletic freak, but he had also played OL his whole life and knew more about the position. As someone once told me, never underestimate the importance of actually knowing what you are doing.

 

[rgw]

Re: 2009 PREVIEWS-- Alabama Pre-Fall-Camp Depth Chart [**NEW**]

Yeah, and guys like Andre Smith are truly rare. You simply don't see too many true Freshmen come in and start on the OL. And then you have to consider what he came into in 2006 and what DJ has committed to in 2009. In 06, we would have been supportive of cloning technology because we desperately needed two Andre Smith's to man each tackle position. In 09, we have a much deeper talent pool along the OL. It would be hard for anyone - maybe even Andre Smith - to come in and take a spot in year one.

No one can doubt Fluker's potential. To me, he might have a higher ceiling than even Andre. He's taller, has longer arms, and looks to have less body fat than Smith and that is without a year in the conditioning program. He may be more purely physically gifted than any linemen we have on the roster, but they simply have him beat on executing the techniques taught. That is the area where not playing OL for 4 years probably gets him. When the light comes on, watch out.