Rod Woodson to be this years D. Hightower?

[Bama-fo-life]

Last year we had so many presents under the tree that most people overlooked Hightower. It was not that no one thought he wast talented but most people had J. Harris penciled in at LB. I think that Woodson is going to be this years DH. Again we have so many great presents under the tree that it can be very easy to look over Woodson but in my opinion he is going to really suprise some people.

I am not a genius when it comes to High School Film but I will say this: this kid has the most impressive defensive tape I have ever seen. He spends most time in the opposing backfield even though he is a safety.

If you remember back a couple of years ago we were all impressed with Javy's return tapes but to me this is just as impressive. RTR!

(By the way I put this in the football forum because Woodson is no longer a recruit, he is now part of the team.)

 

[glasscutter256]

I like Woodson too. He has a chance to play. I also think Ed Stinson could surprise some people (especially in nickel and dime pckgs). This guy knows how to get to the QB. And that is what we've been missin.

 

[Tider@GW_Law]

Yes, he has a good chance . . . if he can get himself cleared and qualified.

 

[GreatDanish]

Donta had one huge advantage, and that was he had an open spot that allowed him a great chance to start, and he took it.
I don't see any freshmen starting this year that aren't somewhat expected to be in the mix (Fluker, maybe Richardson).
The only one that comes to mind is Chance Warmack - A three-star recruit that enrolls early is easy to overlook, but he has the body already, will have Spring practices, and will be competing for a vacant spot on the line with no clear successor.

 

[silentsam74]

I am not a genius when it comes to High School Film but I will say this: this kid has the most impressive defensive tape I have ever seen. He spends most time in the opposing backfield even though he is a safety.

If you remember back a couple of years ago we were all impressed with Javy's return tapes but to me this is just as impressive. RTR!)

He likes to hit. He actually reminds me of a guy CNS brought in during his time at LSU that made a habit of wreaking havoc in Bama's backfield - LaRon Landry. He isn't hardly as tall as Landry but he is packing about 10 more lbs on his frame.

 

[silentsam74]

Here is a good one.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anhcc3pjUbg]YouTube - Rod Woodson Highlights[/ame]

 

[BamaBeta]

Nice video, even though he gets help on some of those stops, he certainly knows how to get off a block and get to the ball carrier. Nice blitzes as well.

 

[SavannahDare]

Dont'a Hightower is going to be this year's Dont'a Hightower. With the talent we have at LB currently (thanks largely to this past season's freshman), the competition for one of these freshmen to come in and start this year is going to be very stiff. If one of them gets the nod to start this year I will be highly impressed. Don't get me wrong. I think one or two of them will play, I just don't see one contributing in the way Dont'a did this year.

 

[RedElephants]

His name is Rod Woodson...


What do you expect? :BigA:

 

[rolltide0692]

I think Rod Woodson could redshirt. He doesn't really need to get bigger or anything, and he has the talent to play immediantly, but I dont see him coming in and taking the position from Woodall.

 

[CrazyBamaMan]

Here is a good one.
YouTube - Rod Woodson Highlights

He looks like a keeper, more so like a heat seeking missile looking to inflict pain :c). I especially liked :45 on the highlight clip.

 

[awesomeusername]

He definately has a good head on his shoulders and reads the play well before the ball is snapped. This is a player that i did get to see a couple of his games, and i'll tell you what, that vid didn't really showcase his sense of where the ball is going, as in comparison to when i got to see him play other top teams. The kid is a beast. I honestly have no doubt that he could dominate very soon......

Nico Johnson, will be able to showcase his skill on the field this season imo. Although he hasn't really been overlooked being a 5* and all. But the kid can still beast it.

 

[M2J]

Rod is definitely gonna be a stud, hope he qualifies. He's not gonna start, but I wouldn't be surprised if he makes a big impact on ST and as a backup safety, which is a place we may need depth.

But in the coming years, he'll be perfect for a Nick Saban defense. He just plays on a different level than most others

 

[crimsonaudio]

I suspect that regardless of who plays we'll see a significant upgrade in quality of play among our outside LB's this fall.

 

[M2J]

I suspect that regardless of who plays we'll see a significant upgrade in quality of play among our outside LB's this fall.

Certainly :biggrin:


Seriously though, should he be ready understanding the system and physically, I can't wait to see Jerrell Harris playing the position. That guy can be a beast coming off the edge from the outside lb position. Upshaw should also be improved, and if Stinson can make some kind of impact as a backup, we should look really good at both OLB positions.

 

[BEATtutorsee]

It's not really fair to make these kinds of comparisons but Woodson reminds me a lot of Bob Sanders and Troy Polamalu. If his coverage skills ever catch up to his run stopping capability he'll be a dominant force IMHO. Even if he only develops adequate coverage skills he'll still be a heck of player though.

 

[awesomeman27]

I would samore like Mark Barron last year than Hightower. He will lay some impressive hits on ST, like MB (Clemson!), and he will get some spot work in the secondary. But I FULLY expect him to replace Woodall, once Woodall graduates. That is the most exciting part! Just think Mark Barron and Rod Woodson playing the Saban interchangeable safety positions. That is going to be amazing. People will be horrified to come across the middle with those two roaming.

That is one thing I noticed about this year I think our team missed. Does anyone remember in the BCS game the Florida safety plowed straight through the WR on a sideline route right when the ball was in his arms. He hit him so hard I am SHOCKED he got up with a head on his shoulders. I like that physical safety position, that scares other teams receivers.

That is what I am going to expect from Woodall next year, I saw flashes of it, like some of his hits on Tebow.

 

[wardaddy]

This kid is gonna hurt someone over the middle. He is a frickin' missle!:BigA:

 

[Bamafan in BGKY]

Mark Barron impressed me more this year, I think he's the real deal. If we didn't have Rashad Johnson playing safety, I think you would have seen much more of Mark Barron on the field. By the end of the year, he was in the mix, I think, because he just couldn't be left off the field. he's going to be a head hunter. I always get confused on which safety is which, free or strong, but it would be nice if both Barron and Woodson were on the field together, but if they both play the same position, I think it will be hard for someone to come in and unseat Barron. He's had a year and a spring in the safety spot, he'll be on the field, of course, that's what so great about having depth, you never know what competition will bring out in people.

 

[CrimsonBleedRed]

Mark Barron impressed me more this year, I think he's the real deal. If we didn't have Rashad Johnson playing safety, I think you would have seen much more of Mark Barron on the field. By the end of the year, he was in the mix, I think, because he just couldn't be left off the field. he's going to be a head hunter. I always get confused on which safety is which, free or strong, but it would be nice if both Barron and Woodson were on the field together, but if they both play the same position, I think it will be hard for someone to come in and unseat Barron. He's had a year and a spring in the safety spot, he'll be on the field, of course, that's what so great about having depth, you never know what competition will bring out in people.

Strong safety is essentially another LBer on the field, without calling them a LBer. SS plays closer to the line of scrimmage in support of the run (Barron and Woodson are both, IMO SS, even one of both could in the future move to OLB.)

Free Safety: is basically your last line of defense. IMO, the best FS are usually the defense's smartest and perhaps even most athletic player. His responsibilities are to cover WR who get by CB and/or TE who get pass LBers. FS usually assists CB on pass players. Rashad Johnson, IMO was the perfect FS in Nick Saban system. I know some will disagree (hopefully not many) He is smart, foundamentally sound player who knew where he needed to be at all times (LSU game for instance).

This is how I see the difference between FS and SS. Just remember if you only see one safety around 10 to 20 yrds from the LOS, then chances are that is the FS.