Alabama: 2023 Defense Discussion

[CoolBreeze]

I think Campbell will be the player we needed last year and didn’t get. A hot headed thumper

You can tell Coach is recruiting character kids. Seems they are all Dean's Listers or Student Counsel type guys with an attitude.

Alabama LB makes bold proclamation for next season

Alabama football continues with its offseason 4th Quarter Program as spring practice inches closer. Crimson Tide fans are excited to see how its program responds next season after missing the College Football Playoff. Alabama finished 2022 strong with a victory over Kansas State in the Allstate...

tdalabamamag.com

https://www.on3.com/db/jihaad-campbell-61554/

Film room: Highlights of Alabama signee Jihaad Campbell

The Alabama Crimson Tide sees its highest-rated recruit for 2022 finish at No. 16 in the finalized 2022 Top247. Jihaad Campbell can also claim the rights to being the

247sports.com

 

[Tenntiderman]

I just hope the 2ndry has a clue and that each of em stays close enough to the WRs so that they can read their txt messages. Gonna be a lot of PI calls against us I think.

 

[Tenntiderman]

I think Campbell will be the player we needed last year and didn’t get. A hot headed thumper

Yeah..need one of those like Ro or Ryan. Or Reuben. Or Lee Roy.

 

[JustNeedMe81]

In the article: "

There’s a LOT of depth, but very little proven depth.

That threw me off for a loop.

DL- yes, little proven depth
LB- Lot of depth and proven depth.
CB- Lot of depth and somewhat proven depth.
SS and FS- I don't know. LOL

 

[STONECOLDSABAN]

In the article: "



That threw me off for a loop.

DL- yes, little proven depth
LB- Lot of depth and proven depth.
CB- Lot of depth and somewhat proven depth.
SS and FS- I don't know. LOL

The “proven depth” thing cracks me up. sometimes I think Alabama fans confuse football with insurance. You know this isn’t state farm. There are no guarantees of anything.

 

[CoolBreeze]

With ‘no limits’ to Alabama defense, team ‘emphasized’ tackling after camp

The Crimson Tide defense is working on the fundamentals before turning its attention to Middle Tennessee's offense.

www.al.com

 

[TiderJack]

With the buzz around Arnold and Downs with the veteran additions the secondary could be the best it’s been in quite sometime. I also am looking forward to depth at the LB position

Looks like Downs and Key will start out at safety since they were with the1's in both scrimmages and Kool Aid and either Arnold or Amos at CB and Malachi at star. Key brings a ton of experience at safety.

 

[Windsortide]

Looks like Downs and Key will start out at safety since they were with the1's in both scrimmages and Kool Aid and either Arnold or Amos at CB and Malachi at star. Key brings a ton of experience at safety.

I love the versatility with that group and they are experienced. Now let’s crank up that pass rush and get back to being a brick wall against the run!

 

[gtgilbert]

In the article: "



That threw me off for a loop.

DL- yes, little proven depth
LB- Lot of depth and proven depth.
CB- Lot of depth and somewhat proven depth.
SS and FS- I don't know. LOL

Not so sure about the LB spot. Yes to depth LOTS of depth, but very little proven depth.

At OLB we have a total of 2 guys who have taken meaningful reps in a game. that's it. Quan got some clean up and special teams and past that, guys were barely getting mop up reps. Koht also running with the 2s has barely played (injuries). that said, every single one of our 3rd and 4th line guys are 5* players.
Side note: the talent level at this spot is ridiculous - we literally have SIX 5* guys and 2 high 4* guys (running with the 2s now) competing for essentially 1.5-1.75 roles (assuming we play more of our 3-3 grouping versus the 2-4 grouping Golding favored) since one of the OLBs isn't a full time on the field role. I'd be really surprised if we didn't see one or two of them change positions (Russaw or Pierre to ILB, or Alexander to DL for example) over the course of their career.

At ILB, we've got ONE with real game reps, then 2 (Campbell and Blackshire) who've had decent mop up time and a lot of ST time, and 1 (murphy) who really got the scraps of mop-up stuff last season. I know Marshall has 35 games with uga and that should translate pretty well since there is a significant degree of overlap in the schemes, but he was a reserve there...

 

[TiderJack]

At ILB, we've got ONE with real game reps, then 2 (Campbell and Blackshire) who've had decent mop up time and a lot of ST time, and 1 (murphy) who really got the scraps of mop-up stuff last season. I know Marshall has 35 games with uga and that should translate pretty well since there is a significant degree of overlap in the schemes, but he was a reserve there...

Marshalll was a reserve 2nd team player behind some highly drafted players. Tough to crack that line-up. I think he is going to be a big part of our D this year especially against the run which we are going to see more of this year than we have seen in the past 4-5 seasons.

 

[CoolBreeze]

Alabama freshman Caleb Downs has ‘came’ in and ‘snapped’

Alabama football’s freshman defensive back, Caleb Downs has earned the respect of the Crimson Tide’s star outside linebacker, Dallas Turner. Downs is a former five-star out of Mill Creek High School in Georgia. He is one of Alabama’s freshmen, who enrolled as an early enrollee in January. Turner...

tdalabamamag.com

 

[gtgilbert]

Marshalll was a reserve 2nd team player behind some highly drafted players. Tough to crack that line-up. I think he is going to be a big part of our D this year especially against the run which we are going to see more of this year than we have seen in the past 4-5 seasons.

No debate on him likely being a significant contributor. I think it's between him and Campbell on who gets the most snaps at the other ILB spot. It's just that he's not really "proven" due to his reserve and special teams status at uga.

 

[Power Eye]

i am curious to see how the D Line under Steele's tutelage is going to perform. I mean, coach is a fiery guy. A veteran leader coordinating the defense like him should raise the level of play for everyone in the rotation. Maybe that is the light switch that dudes like Latham, Goodwine and crew need to ramp up trench warfare for the good guys.

Oatis I am not at all worried about, but if Eboigbe can stay healthy, T. Smith play consistent, and if Keenan has really emerged, then I think we will be very good on the D line. James Smith, Payne, Latham and Goodwine we need to be good contributors. I just long for the days of the 2015 and 2016 defensive lines where everyone was a future NFL starter.

 

[CB4]

I did like Coach Saban’s comment when asked about Tim Keenan’s progress. He said (paraphrasing) that he was was doing very well and “practicing like a starter”…

Given that Saban doesn’t like to talk about “starters”, he must be pretty happy with what we have in Keenan..

 

[CoolBreeze]

Oatis I am not at all worried about, but if Eboigbe can stay healthy, T. Smith play consistent, and if Keenan has really emerged, then I think we will be very good on the D line. James Smith, Payne, Latham and Goodwine we need to be good contributors. I just long for the days of the 2015 and 2016 defensive lines where everyone was a future NFL starter.

Keep your eye on Payne as well. Heard he is also really coming on.

 

[JustNeedMe81]

Here is a little ditty from just a few weeks ago:

Projecting Alabama football's starting defense entering fall camp 2023

August has arrived and that means the start of the college football season is just around the corner. It also means that Nick Saban and the Alabama football team will begin fall camp in just a few days. With fall camp just around the corner, now is a good time to preview…

rolltidewire.usatoday.com

This isn't quite accurate on what defense will looks like.

Not so sure about the LB spot. Yes to depth LOTS of depth, but very little proven depth.

At OLB we have a total of 2 guys who have taken meaningful reps in a game. that's it. Quan got some clean up and special teams and past that, guys were barely getting mop up reps. Koht also running with the 2s has barely played (injuries). that said, every single one of our 3rd and 4th line guys are 5* players.
Side note: the talent level at this spot is ridiculous - we literally have SIX 5* guys and 2 high 4* guys (running with the 2s now) competing for essentially 1.5-1.75 roles (assuming we play more of our 3-3 grouping versus the 2-4 grouping Golding favored) since one of the OLBs isn't a full time on the field role. I'd be really surprised if we didn't see one or two of them change positions (Russaw or Pierre to ILB, or Alexander to DL for example) over the course of their career.

At ILB, we've got ONE with real game reps, then 2 (Campbell and Blackshire) who've had decent mop up time and a lot of ST time, and 1 (murphy) who really got the scraps of mop-up stuff last season. I know Marshall has 35 games with uga and that should translate pretty well since there is a significant degree of overlap in the schemes, but he was a reserve there...

You narrowed it down to who's a starter and who's a reserve in terms of experience. It doesn't matter.. if you know defense, and you played enough in the game, then that's experience.

1 Jahmyr Gibbs 12/11
1 Kool-Aid McKinstry 13/13
2 DeMarcco Hellams 13/13
2 Jase McClellan 13/4
3 Jermaine Burton 13/12
3 Terrion Arnold 11/7
4 Jalen Milroe 8/1
5 Roydell Williams 13/0
6 Trey Sanders 10/0
6 Khyree Jackson 9/1
7 Eli Ricks 9/5
7 Ja'Corey Brooks 13/8
8 Tyler Harrell 6/0
8 DeVonta Smith 9/0
9 Jordan Battle 13/13
9 Bryce Young 12/12
10 Henry To'oTo'o 13/13
10 JoJo Earle 8/5
11 Traeshon Holden 10/5
11 Kristian Story 13/0
12 Christian Leary 10/0
12 Antonio Kite 2/0
13 Malachi Moore 13/1
13 Aaron Anderson 1/0
14 Brian Branch 13/12
14 Thaiu Jones-Bell 3/0
15 Dallas Turner 13/9
15 Ty Simpson 4/0
16 Will Reichard 13/0
17 Isaiah Bond 13/1
18 Shazz Preston 5/0
19 Keanu Koht 4/0
19 Kendrick Law 11/0
20 Earl Little 3/0
21 Jake Pope 0/0
22 Tre'Quon Fegans 0/0
23 Jahquez Robinson 6/0
24 Emmanuel Henderson 12/0
25 Jonathan Bennett 1/0
26 Jamarion Miller 13/0
29 Elijah Crockett 1/0
30 Jihaad Campbell 9/0
31 Will Anderson Jr. 13/13
32 Deontae Lawson 11/4
34 Quandarrius Robinson 13/0
35 Jeremiah Alexander 4/0
36 Ian Jackson 3/0
36 Bret Bolin 1/0
37 Demouy Kennedy 5/0
40 Kendrick Blackshire 8/0
41 Chris Braswell 13/0
42 Jaylen Moody 10/8
43 Shawn Murphy 5/0
44 Damon Payne Jr. 5/0
44 Charlie Skehan 1/0
45 Robbie Ouzts 13/3
47 Byron Young 13/13
48 Kneeland Hibbett 13/0
50 Tim Smith 13/7
51 Tanner Bowles 12/0
52 Tyler Booker 12/1
54 Tyler Steen 13/13
55 Emil Ekiyor Jr. 13/12
56 Seth McLaughlin 11/8
57 Elijah Pritchett 2/0
58 James Brockermeyer 2/0
59 Anquin Barnes Jr. 0/0
60 Kendall Randolph 13/3
62 Jackson Roby 1/0
65 JC Latham 13/13
69 Terrence Ferguson II 6/0
70 Javion Cohen 12/11
71 Darrian Dalcourt 7/5
74 Damieon George Jr. 2/0
76 Tommy Brockermeyer 2/0
77 Jaeden Roberts 3/0
78 Amari Kight 12/0
80 Kobe Prentice 13/3
81 Cameron Latu 11/11
84 Amari Niblack 10/1
85 Elijah Brown 0/0
86 James Burnip 13/0
87 Danny Lewis 4/0
88 Miles Kitselman 6/0
91 Jaheim Oatis 12/10
92 Justin Eboigbe 4/0
93 Jah-Marien Latham 12/0
94 DJ Dale 12/0
95 Monkell Goodwine 1/0
95 Jack Martin 2/0
96 Tim Keenan III 2/0
97 Khurtiss Perry 0/0
98 Jamil Burroughs 11/0
99 Isaiah Hastings 1/0

Alabama's season-long participation chart, redshirt candidates (247sports.com)

 

[mdb-tpet]

I'm just plain excited to see an Alabama defense again that I KNOW can stop an opposing team when they have to.

 

[CoolBreeze]

This isn't quite accurate on what defense will looks like.

Obviously, that piece was written almost a month ago. Posted it for perspective and for the write up on some of our players.

 

[gtgilbert]

This isn't quite accurate on what defense will looks like.

You narrowed it down to who's a starter and who's a reserve in terms of experience. It doesn't matter.. if you know defense, and you played enough in the game, then that's experience.

1 Jahmyr Gibbs 12/11
1 Kool-Aid McKinstry 13/13
2 DeMarcco Hellams 13/13
2 Jase McClellan 13/4
3 Jermaine Burton 13/12
3 Terrion Arnold 11/7
4 Jalen Milroe 8/1
5 Roydell Williams 13/0
6 Trey Sanders 10/0
6 Khyree Jackson 9/1
7 Eli Ricks 9/5
7 Ja'Corey Brooks 13/8
8 Tyler Harrell 6/0
8 DeVonta Smith 9/0
9 Jordan Battle 13/13
9 Bryce Young 12/12
10 Henry To'oTo'o 13/13
10 JoJo Earle 8/5
11 Traeshon Holden 10/5
11 Kristian Story 13/0
12 Christian Leary 10/0
12 Antonio Kite 2/0
13 Malachi Moore 13/1
13 Aaron Anderson 1/0
14 Brian Branch 13/12
14 Thaiu Jones-Bell 3/0
15 Dallas Turner 13/9
15 Ty Simpson 4/0
16 Will Reichard 13/0
17 Isaiah Bond 13/1
18 Shazz Preston 5/0
19 Keanu Koht 4/0
19 Kendrick Law 11/0
20 Earl Little 3/0
21 Jake Pope 0/0
22 Tre'Quon Fegans 0/0
23 Jahquez Robinson 6/0
24 Emmanuel Henderson 12/0
25 Jonathan Bennett 1/0
26 Jamarion Miller 13/0
29 Elijah Crockett 1/0
30 Jihaad Campbell 9/0
31 Will Anderson Jr. 13/13
32 Deontae Lawson 11/4
34 Quandarrius Robinson 13/0
35 Jeremiah Alexander 4/0
36 Ian Jackson 3/0
36 Bret Bolin 1/0
37 Demouy Kennedy 5/0
40 Kendrick Blackshire 8/0
41 Chris Braswell 13/0
42 Jaylen Moody 10/8
43 Shawn Murphy 5/0
44 Damon Payne Jr. 5/0
44 Charlie Skehan 1/0
45 Robbie Ouzts 13/3
47 Byron Young 13/13
48 Kneeland Hibbett 13/0
50 Tim Smith 13/7
51 Tanner Bowles 12/0
52 Tyler Booker 12/1
54 Tyler Steen 13/13
55 Emil Ekiyor Jr. 13/12
56 Seth McLaughlin 11/8
57 Elijah Pritchett 2/0
58 James Brockermeyer 2/0
59 Anquin Barnes Jr. 0/0
60 Kendall Randolph 13/3
62 Jackson Roby 1/0
65 JC Latham 13/13
69 Terrence Ferguson II 6/0
70 Javion Cohen 12/11
71 Darrian Dalcourt 7/5
74 Damieon George Jr. 2/0
76 Tommy Brockermeyer 2/0
77 Jaeden Roberts 3/0
78 Amari Kight 12/0
80 Kobe Prentice 13/3
81 Cameron Latu 11/11
84 Amari Niblack 10/1
85 Elijah Brown 0/0
86 James Burnip 13/0
87 Danny Lewis 4/0
88 Miles Kitselman 6/0
91 Jaheim Oatis 12/10
92 Justin Eboigbe 4/0
93 Jah-Marien Latham 12/0
94 DJ Dale 12/0
95 Monkell Goodwine 1/0
95 Jack Martin 2/0
96 Tim Keenan III 2/0
97 Khurtiss Perry 0/0
98 Jamil Burroughs 11/0
99 Isaiah Hastings 1/0

Alabama's season-long participation chart, redshirt candidates (247sports.com)

uh, no, I didn't.

Braswell wasn't ever a starter last year, but got a lot of meaningful in-position and package reps, so I counted him as one of two 'proven' players at his spot. Lawson only started 4 games, but played a lot in rotation in meaningful, non-mop up snaps, even before that, so that's 'proven'.

I just don't think experience on special teams makes a player 'proven depth' from a positional standpoint and that was the statement made in the prior post.

Quan was almost exclusively on special teams, played really well there and was special teams player of the week a couple of times I think. However, he played very few D snaps and really only in mop up, so, to me, that wouldn't be 'proven' depth. Same with Campbell and Blackshire, they were on special teams, with just a little mop-up duty on the D, so again, not proven at their position, despite having game experience.

That's not to say that special teams doesn't help with experience, and getting used to the speed of the game, etc. It does, and lots of guys contribute early on ST then become major contributors on O or D. It just doesn't make one a 'proven' player from a positional depth standpoint.

Also I want to be clear that I'm not negative on any of the guys I listed. I'm not at all. I think we've got at least 6 ILBs who could all be productive in a role if called on, and an unreal EIGHT guys at OLB who would probably be starting or in a significant package role right now on just about any other team. The potential is outstanding, they just have not (yet) proven what they can do.

 

[tusks_n_raider]

This Defense is going to be LEGIT and MUCH improved by CKS.

I predict that game plans will make sense but also be malleable and open to adjustments.

Players will be in correct position and play with sound fundamentals.

Blitz packages will be less predictable and more effective.

They will regularly get off the field on 3rd and 4th down when the conversion distance favors them.

Scoring D will be the lowest it’s been since 2017 by a good margin.

I’m thinking 12-14 PPG tops.

Bonus Prediction: Golding will give up 25+ PPG at Ole Miss… maybe 30+ PPG