Rudy, Rudy, Rudy!!!

[jdpas29]

Rudy Griffin has obviously worked hard in the offseason. he looks like he lost some fat and put on some muscle. he picked up a step or two from last season and showed it off at the A-Day game.

RTR!

 

[CoolBreeze]

You're absolutely right! I just love this kid. He and Wallace Gilberry, besides being two of the best success stories on the team, are going to be key for us this coming season. They have heart, character and, from what I've read, are two of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. Man am I looking forward to September! RTR!!!

 

[JessN]

Honestly, at this point it was hard for me to tell whether the DTs were improved or the situation along the interior offensive line is worse than we thought.

The one thing I came away with, in a positive way, was that OG Antoine Caldwell is going to live up to his hype, if he stays healthy. He was rarely beaten. When things broke down, they were more likely to break down on the right side than the left.

I like Griffin's drive, and as a run defender, he's about as good as you can reasonably expect. As a pass rusher, he has a ways to go. Unfortunately, that renders him almost a situational player. But he's doing a lot better than any college coach thought he was going to do coming out of high school, that's for sure.

 

[BamaFanNKy]

Jess.... this is why I hate (and refuse to go to) spring games. You just never know how good they really are. I was with the Univ. of Ky. radio network and without a doubt every spring I would hear how good the defense was.... they shreaded the offense in the spring game or vice a versa...... never know.

 

[LP-HSV]

As a pass rusher, he has a ways to go. Unfortunately, that renders him almost a situational player.

That is why we have two speed defensive ends.

 

[JessN]

That is why we have two speed defensive ends.

At the SEC level, particularly the top teams, you really need your four starters to be able to do both.

 

[Tider in Texas]

Signs of Better Times

Don't get me wrong, Rudy has done an outstanding job and beaten most people's expectations. BUT, I think you'll know we're on our way back when a player with his "overall package" is not listed as a Starter. I think he'd be great change up player. Hopefully, after a couple of more good recruiting classes this will be true.

Anyone agree or disagree?

 

[LP-HSV]

At the SEC level, particularly the top teams, you really need your four starters to be able to do both.

Let's cut them some slack. They (our returning D starters/lettermen) were a highly ranked D last year, and will be the strength of our team this year. The concern is on the other side of the ball.

 

[Bama-94-00]

Pass rushing

That is why we have two speed defensive ends.

Only so much they can do without help in the middle. The DTs need to take up blockers and push the pocket back so the QB can't step up.

 

[Tider in Texas]

Question for LP-HSV

Don't you think we were exposed a bit in the bowl game at DT? :conf2:

I think we'd be better off in the long run not starting undersized defense DTs. I don't want to take anything away from accomplishment of last years Defense but I suspect if we don't get bigger at DT other teams will try ramming it down our throat like Minn. did. Granted most don't have a running game like them, but don't think some of the better teams on our schedule didn't take notes....

 

[Bama-94-00]

Undersized DTs?

I think we'd be better off in the long run not starting undersized defense DTs. I don't want to take anything away from accomplishment of last years Defense but I suspect if we don't get bigger at DT other teams will try ramming it down our throat like Minn. did. ...

Bama is more undersized at DE than DT. Unless the roster weights are heavily inflated at DT.

 

[mikeua69]

Bama is more undersized at DE than DT. Unless the roster weights are heavily inflated at DT.

If you look at rolltide.com, we don't have a DT over 300 lbs.

 

[Bama-94-00]

Bwts

If you look at rolltide.com, we don't have a DT over 300 lbs.

But the DEs are all about 250-255 lb. They are more undersized.

 

[LP-HSV]

Only so much they can do without help in the middle. The DTs need to take up blockers and push the pocket back so the QB can't step up.

Oops...this is a reply to T in Tx.:

In my opinion, the only offense exposing our defense was our own (or lack thereof). If we had any balance, our D would have remained fresher throughout all of our games. Lighter, speedier defenders can be worn down, that is true. But considering our record or 3-and-outs last year, our D had more pressure on their shoulders than any other (that I know of).

With offense next year, our D should be out of this world. I choose speed.

 

[Tider in Texas]

Enough...

LP-HSV,

I also like speed and I hope you're right about next year. In my original post, I was referring mainly to the future about having SEC & NFL size DLineman. I hope Rudy makes all SEC next year and our defense is better then ever.

 

[TerryP]

Strength is a huge issue when it comes to DT; control the line of scrimmage. Same with the OL...and the strongest members of our team don't line up on the LOS.

This is an opinion board, granted. We also have quite a few here that are informed very well on happenings around the Capstone. The LOS was a weakness last year. It will be this year...in both senses of the word.

 

[JessN]

Don't you think we were exposed a bit in the bowl game at DT? :conf2:

I think we'd be better off in the long run not starting undersized defense DTs. I don't want to take anything away from accomplishment of last years Defense but I suspect if we don't get bigger at DT other teams will try ramming it down our throat like Minn. did. Granted most don't have a running game like them, but don't think some of the better teams on our schedule didn't take notes....

I think Joe Kines' biggest achievement last year was hiding the problems at DT.

We had Griffin, who has been talked about here, plus the following guys: A DE/DT tweener (Clark), a true freshman originally slated to play offensive guard (J.Britt), a guy who never conditioned well enough to take advantage of his potential (Bryant), and another one that couldn't stay healthy for more than five minutes (Lee).

The red flags started to go up for me when the defense fell into the high 20s in rush defense ranking. And yes, Minnesota whooped the absolute crap out of UA's defensive front. Several of the players have acknowledged UM's physicality after the bowl game.

Alabama's immediate problem is that at this point, UA has subtracted two DTs from the roster (Bryant to graduation, Turner quit the team) and added one new player, Curtis Dawson. From watching the spring, J.P. Adams *might* be able to give UA 5-10 snaps a game, but it's a stretch. Lee is hurt again, as is Britt and Clark. When the signees arrive, there are three that have a shot to play there. Fanney and Washington are DE/DT types, while Byron Walton is the only 100-percent-sure DT coming in.

In other words, Kines is probably going to be playing cover-up again, especially early in the year.

 

[okbama]

Mark Anderson is in town. I'll ask him what he thinks.

 

[JessN]

He'll probably tell you he plays next to a pair of all-Americans, which is what I'd hope he would say about his teammates.

In reality, that would be a little over-the-top, though.