Linebacker shift at Bama

[peteswell4]

That is what I was thinking as well. Our MLBs got expoited in the passing game at the end of the season. This could be a move to address that.

This is exactly what I was thinking. It seems like a little bit more speed at LB would have helped against Florida and Utah. Whoever ends up starting, our LB units will be awesome. Assuming someone steps up at safety, opposite Woodall, no one should be able to score on us.

 

[bonehouse81]

The big benefit will just be getting Harris on the field on passing downs. He's probably our best coverage linebacker, and he would never come out of the game.

That's exactly what I was thinking.

We got exposed in coverage at times with McClain and Hightower as our nickel LBs, and Harris could provide a big boost in that area.

As for Harris being too light for the inside, well, he probably is a tad light, but with Cody, Deaderick, Hightower and McClain all around him, I think it won't hurt him that much. Also, I'm expecting he'll add at least a little weight before the season starts.

 

[TommyMac]

Has everyone forgotten about Eryk Anders? He was our best pass rusher last season.

 

[BigEasyTider]

Has everyone forgotten about Eryk Anders? He was our best pass rusher last season.

I don't think anyone has forgotten about him, nor do I think anyone would disagree that he was our best pass rusher last year, but as of yet he has not shown that he can do anything else besides be a situational pass rusher.

I would love to see Anders step up and take one of the outside linebacker spots, but he just has not shown he can play the pass or defend the run well enough to get any playing time on the early downs. He has to be able to do then before he becomes a viable option, and until that he is going to largely going to see playing time only on third and long.

It will be interesting, though, to see if he can make the same kind of improvement this year like he did last year. He went from being a kid last year that many thought should transfer to being our most valuable pass rusher. It would be nice to see him continue to make that same kind of progress.

 

[buzzincuzzin]

I don't see it that way. Moving Harris inside when he is ideally suited for outside looks a little funny to me. I don't think there is enough separation at any of the LB positions except for McClain. The talent level is getting better so everybody gets a look everywhere. Spring will show us something,,, I'm just not sure what.

 

[Elwood Crimson]

My only real concern is at Sam linebacker. I thought Reamer was one of the weak links of the defense last year, and with Harris moving inside, that basically solidifies Reamer's starting job unless either Nico Johnson or Tana Patrick can grab a starting job as a true freshman. I would like to see Chavis Williams step up, but after he spent all of last year in the doghouse, I'm not sure how much we can expect out of him.

I agree BET, Reamer was a bit of a weak link last year, but I was more irritated with the pass rush from Fanney than Reamer's play.
The way I look at it is we stay about the same at the inside with this move (i.e. harris = hightower at the will), and make a big step up at the Jack with Hightower. That leaves the Sam, worst case is it stays the same as last year, but there's a chance of a step up by replacing Reamer with a talented young'en like Nico, Tana, or Upshaw.

I would be shocked if the young guys make it on the field ahead of Reamer. While it's easy to gush over the potential great young athletes, you are forgetting that CNS likes to use combo packages on defense. This usually means that LBs have coverage responsibilities and a combo S/LB player like Reamer is an ideal fit. Besides, Reamer did a nice job against the run (see Clemson game).

 

[NATidefan]

I would be shocked if the young guys make it on the field ahead of Reamer. While it's easy to gush over the potential great young athletes, you are forgetting that CNS likes to use combo packages on defense. This usually means that LBs have coverage responsibilities and a combo S/LB player like Reamer is an ideal fit. Besides, Reamer did a nice job against the run (see Clemson game).

I don't think we are saying Reamer is bad by any means, or that he won't end up back at the Sam. In fact I give him a 75% of keeping the spot. But with Harris moving to the inside, it clearly opens the door for Nico and Tana to compete with Reamer for the spot.

Then again, I could see Tana end up as Reamer's backup, and Nico as either Harris or McLains backup.

 

[twjua]

How about Prince Hall at anything? Use to be a good, natural at LB. You would think someplace in there he could compete over a Soph, a Redshirt Freshman or a true freshman. I thought since he made his way through the Saban doghouse, he came out a better person and in better shape.

:conf2:

 

[bamanut_aj]

How about Prince Hall at anything? Use to be a good, natural at LB. You would think someplace in there he could compete over a Soph, a Redshirt Freshman or a true freshman. I thought since he made his way through the Saban doghouse, he came out a better person and in better shape.

:conf2:

not sure if Hall fits in......

 

[BigEasyTider]

How about Prince Hall at anything? Use to be a good, natural at LB. You would think someplace in there he could compete over a Soph, a Redshirt Freshman or a true freshman. I thought since he made his way through the Saban doghouse, he came out a better person and in better shape.

:conf2:

Hall just doesn't have much of a future. Barring injuries, he'll be a back-up at best in 2009.

He would have been a four-year starter had Shula stuck around, but times have changed. Quite frankly, we just have better players now. He's just not the caliber of player like McClain, Hightower, Harris, and others are. And in fact, Chris Jordan is probably going to give him a pretty hard push.

 

[NATidefan]

From what I have been told by some people is that some of Hall's previous off-the-field recreations have pretty much permanently placed him on Saban's bad side or at least maybe made Hall have to focus more on staying away from those recreations and his football may have suffered because of it.

 

[NATidefan]

Well according to some articles covering the first couple of pratices, the linebackers are all over the place. The only certainty is that McLain will be back at the Mike postion. With Fanney having missed all the practices so far due to a rules violation, Hightower has practicing at the Jack. Since this move was already suspected, I think at this point he is probably just solidifying the Jack as his new position.

Saban had mentioned Jerrel Harris moving to the inside, and altough he got some looks there, and will probably get more, it seems he is getting a lot more looks at the Sam, while Reamer has been practicing at the Will. Apparently Jerrel is starting to live up to his hype, and I'm starting to believe he will earn a starting spot at the Sam this fall.

I may be going out on a limb, but here's what I see happening. Jerrel comes out of spring with a solid spot at the Sam. Hightower grabs hold of the Jack, and McLain of course stays at Mike. Reamer comes out of the spring being a question mark for the Will, and one of the younger guys comes in this fall and battles with him for it and wins. Namely Nico Johnson.

By the way here's an article discussing practice and what's going on in alot of areas including linebacker.

[url]http://www.rollbamaroll.com/2009/3/26/810833/2009-spring-practice-day-t[/URL]

 

[CapstoneGrad06]

Saban had mentioned Jerrel Harris moving to the inside, and altough he got some looks there, and will probably get more, it seems he is getting a lot more looks at the Sam, while Reamer has been practicing at the Will. Apparently Jerrel is starting to live up to his hype, and I'm starting to believe he will earn a starting spot at the Sam this fall.

I fully expect this to happen. Jerrell Harris has the physical ability, he just needed to work on the mental aspect of the position.

 

[BigGunn]

It looks to me that whichever plays where, this D will definitely have a mean and nasty make-up. Ain't it Great!!! With depth to boot!!!

RTR

 

[spock*]

Isn't it amazing the difference one year makes. This time last year Alabama had two linebackers that had game experience. Today we have 9 linebackers that have lettered. By August, Alabama will have 20 linebackers on the roster.

Yeah, it's great to be me....

 

[rgw]

The best thing I'm seeing is that we have enough experience now in the LB corp that we have flexibility to move guys around. Against run teams we may play a "thicker" LB corp; against pass/spread teams we may play a more "fleet-footed" LB corp. Saban is the master of matchup football on defense...I really think that is his plan: we'll have four starters, but matchups will dictate who gets the majority of the snaps in the game.

 

[CHATTBRIT]

You know what? It just love hearing about depth at any position!!

 

[TidefaninOS]

I may be going out on a limb, but here's what I see happening. Jerrel comes out of spring with a solid spot at the Sam. Hightower grabs hold of the Jack, and McLain of course stays at Mike. Reamer comes out of the spring being a question mark for the Will, and one of the younger guys comes in this fall and battles with him for it and wins. Namely Nico Johnson.

Can't really argue with this, but I think Upshaw will get plenty of playing time at one of the positions, whether he's starting or not. I think he's gonna be a force to be reckoned with, just judging from the talent and desire he showed on special teams last year.

 

[ems655]

Jack-
Donta' Hightower
Brandon Fanney
Courtney Upshaw

Will-
Cory Reamer
Chris Jordan
Prince Hall

Mike-
Rolondo Mcclain
Nico Johnson
Petey Smith

Sam-
Jerrell Harris
Tana Patrick
Jonathan Athcison

 

[rolltide0692]

I think we need to have the best group of LBs in there. And in my opinion, thats Hightower, McClain, Upshaw and Harris.

I never would of thought to move Harris inside, and I wouldn't have thought to move Hightower to Jack. I guess that's why I'm not the coach

Obviously McClain is a lock at Mike. Upshaw and Hightower will battle for the Jack. If Hightower takes it, I could see Upshaw at Sam. If Upshaw takes the Jack, Hightower could be back at Will. And Harris could play Sam or Will

As for the freshmen, I think Nico and Tana are too good to keep off the field, but I think the experience gives the upperclassmen the edge. This will probably be Rolando's last year, and Nico will probably be the favorite to take that spot if he can learn the system. Or Hightower could slide to Mike and Nico could definitely play Will. I like Tana on the outside, probably at Sam, but he could play Jack

I love all the combinations there are for the LBs. The depth is incredible