Linebackers in 2008?

[Bamabuzzard]

Unless some guys already on campus seriously turn it up we'll see several true freshman logging significant time at LB for us. On the one hand it's not so bad because they'll be very talented, but on the other hand they'll experience some significant growing pains unfortunately. I hope our offense really explodes this year because I have the feeling we're going to need to score a lot of points.

Well we thought last year our defense was going to be our "problem area" and it turned out to be much better than expected. That will probably be the case again this season. Alabama (historically) seems to be able to field good defensive teams much better than fielding good offensive teams. And I think that trend will continue. These youngsters coming in will be coached by Nick Saban. He may not be a "great" game day coach (as some of our rivals like to come on here and suggest) but he's one of the best teachers and developers in the game.

I'm still very very worried about the offense. I hate to admit it but my confidence in us making a material improvement in 08 isn't very high. I can realistically picture us losing to LSU, Auburn AND Miss St. again this season simply because these three teams seem to have been able to grossly expose our inability to pick up the blitz and rattle our qb for quite some time now.

 

[Bama1970]

Unless some guys already on campus seriously turn it up we'll see several true freshman logging significant time at LB for us. On the one hand it's not so bad because they'll be very talented, but on the other hand they'll experience some significant growing pains unfortunately. I hope our offense really explodes this year because I have the feeling we're going to need to score a lot of points.

That's the same thing we were saying last year. As young and thin as our D was last year, they played pretty dang good. I think they will be better this year.

 

[bama579]

Plenty of well-thought-out replies in this thread . . . . Thanks and keep it coming. It is a BIG part of what makes this site so addictive!

 

[BEATtutorsee]

Well we thought last year our defense was going to be our "problem area" and it turned out to be much better than expected. That will probably be the case again this season. Alabama (historically) seems to be able to field good defensive teams much better than fielding good offensive teams. And I think that trend will continue. These youngsters coming in will be coached by Nick Saban. He may not be a "great" game day coach (as some of our rivals like to come on here and suggest) but he's one of the best teachers and developers in the game.

I'm still very very worried about the offense. I hate to admit it but my confidence in us making a material improvement in 08 isn't very high. I can realistically picture us losing to LSU, Auburn AND Miss St. again this season simply because these three teams seem to have been able to grossly expose our inability to pick up the blitz and rattle our qb for quite some time now.

Your point about us usually fielding a good defense regardless of the situation is spot on, and I wasn't trying to make it sound as if our defense is going to be a liability this year rather that I hope our offense can help them out more so that they have more room for error as opposed to a year ago. I too am still concerned about the offense but at this point I'm more optimistic than you seem to be. One key ingredient that was for the most part lacking a year ago that should really help us is the addition of "playmakers." That alone won't magically make our offense a juggernaut but it will surely help even if those playmakers are mostly true freshmen. Having guys that can turn nothing into something can make even an average offense explosive.

That's the same thing we were saying last year. As young and thin as our D was last year, they played pretty dang good. I think they will be better this year.

Which is why I say it again. I believe our defense will get better and better as the year goes on, but they'll have to suffer through some growing pains as the youngsters adjust.

 

[LCN]

I noticed on the previous page that some had listed players out of position .

Ezekial Knight plays SLB - always . That's his position . EK is NOT a WLB . He lines up on the strong side which is usually on his left side or , the offenses right side . If he cannot play in '08 , that is where Williams is currently slotted . Time will tell & I sure hope he makes it back . He had a very solid '07 & we need him BADLY .

 

[tide06]

Hey, I am 100% sure that Nick Saban will get every ounce of potential out of the pieces he has to work with on defense this year.

That said, we are slipping from having a D that could've helped us contend for the SEC West to one who will be lucky to be good enough to get us to 8 wins.

 

[M2J]

Well we thought last year our defense was going to be our "problem area" and it turned out to be much better than expected. That will probably be the case again this season. Alabama (historically) seems to be able to field good defensive teams much better than fielding good offensive teams. And I think that trend will continue. These youngsters coming in will be coached by Nick Saban. He may not be a "great" game day coach (as some of our rivals like to come on here and suggest) but he's one of the best teachers and developers in the game.

I'm still very very worried about the offense. I hate to admit it but my confidence in us making a material improvement in 08 isn't very high. I can realistically picture us losing to LSU, Auburn AND Miss St. again this season simply because these three teams seem to have been able to grossly expose our inability to pick up the blitz and rattle our qb for quite some time now.

I agree (except for with our rival fans, I think Saban is an excellent gameday coach, I think on the field his decisions won us the Arky/Ole Miss games in the end) . I think our defense played way over their heads last year. The D had no depth at all, and was very very young. Yet it finished top 30 in the nation, and you know its better that even that because we play in the SEC. It would absolutely suck if Zeke and Hall couldn't be here next year, because in all actuality the LB corp I felt very positive about next year (though I feel confident about our DL if our DL qualify because Murphy and Cody are more prepared than a hs senior). But I think it would be huge if even one of those guys could return for us and start. However, I still expect the D to be strong just due to added depth and due to coach Saban.


But the offense has question marks. The talent is there, but you just never know how its gonna produce. JP is inconsistent, our O line has underachieved for years now, and a new system in place. It could be great, but I wouldn't be too shocked if we see a repeat of this year

 

[buzzincuzzin]

Zeke, Hall, and DM. A WR, malcontent, and a walk-on. I'm a big BIG big ZK fan but the staff has known a long time they would be playing freshmen LBs in 08. TAKE A GOOD LOOK WHO. I could only HOPE every OCs gameplan is to take advantage of the LBs in 08, as it may be their last shot. If you really want to worry, time spent on RT is not wasted.

 

[Sellers]

Obviously at this point, no one really knows who will qualify until later on this year, but i'm thinking our D# may actually surprise some on here if a few pieces fall into place: Because of depth issues at LB, I am assuming out D# will look more like a 4-3 rather than a 3-4

DE: Washington / Greenwood /Talbert
DT: Cody / Murphy
DT: Motley / Chapman
DE: Deadrick / Davis / Dareus
OLB: Williams / Harris
MLB: McClain / Hightower
SLB: Knight / Watkins

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I just hope the size increase we'll see this year on our defensive line can impact any losses at LB. Good penetration was still rare last season with our smaller DL. But in 08 we're getting a major size ugrade just about all across the board on the DL. Hopefully the big bulls up front can cause some havoc so our LB's can't be keyed on as much.

 

[Sellers]

I just hope the size increase we'll see this year on our defensive line can impact any losses at LB. Good penetration was still rare last season with our smaller DL. But in 08 we're getting a major size ugrade just about all across the board on the DL. Hopefully the big bulls up front can cause some havoc so our LB's can't be keyed on as much.

Well said, assuming Murphy qualifies and Cody can get in football shape, the front 4 could be a force to be reckoned with. Washington, Cody, Motley, Deadrick. The makings of a pretty good wrecking crew.

 

[OldManFan]

I know we all think he will RS to bulk up and then come up to play on the DL next year. But if we prove to be REALLY hurting at SLB or at replacing Gilberry, an audition for one of those jobs may be given to Damian Square this summer.

 

[bamabryan]

I know we all think he will RS to bulk up and then come up to play on the DL next year. But if we prove to be REALLY hurting at SLB or at replacing Gilberry, an audition for one of those jobs may be given to Damian Square this summer.

Square is supposed to start off at DT although it is possible he could play DE. At 270 lbs. already, I don't see playing SLB as a possibly. :smile:

 

[SimCastilleFan3]

Im not worried about the D at all thats Saban's specialty, last year we were suppose to have a weak D and the defense played well abover their heads especially with really no depth!!! The offense is my only concern which I think will have a decent year!!

 

[OldManFan]

Square is supposed to start off at DT although it is possible he could play DE. At 270 lbs. already, I don't see playing SLB as a possibly. :smile:

I'm sure you are right. I don't know why I'm so high on Square. Guess it is the versatility he showed in the few highlight tapes I've seen, the league he played in, and how hard we and other great programs went after him. For some reason I just feel he will contribute sooner than many of us suspect.

I used to get the same feeling about certain dogs I bet on at Greentrack and Victoryland when I lived in Bama. Not many ran.

 

[Sellers]

Maybe i'm wrong, but I get the feeling that DE is the natural position of Zo Washington. With his combination of speed and power, he could be the piece of puzzle that replaces Gilberry. Obviously that assumes that DT will have depth from players like Cody, Murphy, and Chapman.

 

[bmcklv]

Is there any news about the alignment for next year? I would assume that CNS will stick with the 4-3 alignment that he used a lot this past year due to available players and their strengths. They'll be thin for sure if Prince Hall doesn't get his head right and Zeke can't return. On the bright side we do have Jerrell Harris and Courtney Upshaw coming in, both of whom can be immediate impact players coming in, and the J Johns experiment which I believe will be a natural position for him with his head-hunting reputation.

Is it A-day yet?

 

[bamabryan]

I'm sure you are right. I don't know why I'm so high on Square.

Nothing wrong with being high on Square. I'm really excited about him too. I think he's going to be a good one. :smile:

 

[GreatDanish]

I think we'll see (or at least hear about) some experimentation during the Spring. Here are my thoughts on our front seven going into Spring...
- I do think 'Zo will end up at DE. While we are very thin at NT, we have much more depth than we did at this time last year.
- Speaking of which, I'm not so sure Brian Motley is the answer at NT. I know we didn't see a ton of him last year, but he just never seemed athletic enough to man the middle or big enough to clog the middle.
- Meaning, I think Chapman may end up as our #1 NT at the end of Spring. But, if Kerry Murphy arrives in shape in the Fall (and qualifies), he could have a good shot at the #1 spot quickly. Strictly based on size and athleticism, he would be our best fit at NT, IMO, but he would, of course lack experience - as does everyone else.
- I wonder if Brandon Fanney will stay at the JACK position. He didn't seem quick enough to handle the actual linebacker duties there.
- Rolando McClain is our only sure-fire starter in the linebacking corps.
- If Zeke comes back, he would be #2.
- Chavis Williams is our 3rd linebacker, but unfortunately, he will back up #2, if he's playing.
- That leaves one inside linebacker and the JACK position really up for grabs. The only problem is that we don't really have another true ILB on the roster. Maybe Jennings Hester. Maybe some experimentation - Huber? probably not. We should know this Spring whether or not Alex Watkins will cut it.
- The talent in our linebacking corps may literally double in the Fall when Jerrell Harris, Dont'a Hightower, and Courtney Upshaw arrive. Also a possibility of adding Chris Jordan and Devonta Bolton - especially given the possible losses of Prince Hall and Zeke Knight. I hope we can redshirt a few of these guys.
- Finally, we're going to have possibly as many as 7 NTs that will be sophomores or younger in the fall (Motley, Chapman, McCullough, Marcel Dareus, Kerry Murphy, - possibly Damion Square and Undra Billingsley). I think there is a good possibility at least one of these guys gets shuffled around.

You can PayPal me $0.02.

 

[Sellers]

I notice when many are speculating about the DT position very few mention Big Cody. What am I missing on this guy? He's a massive guy with 2 years playing experience albeit at the JC level, but experience nonetheless. With the numbers crunch we are facing due to this years signing class, I can't believe CNS would bring in a Junior DT who wasn't ready to play from day one. I would have to believe CNS intends on plugging this guy in from day one while others like Murphy, Motley, and Chapman provide depth at the #2 & #3 spot. Otherwise, why waste a scholarship on a guy with only 2 years of eligibility left?