Question: Who makes your all-time Alabama offensive line?

[saturdaysarebet]

Honestly, any combination of 2012 and 2020.

But then you're missing out on Samuels and Hannah.

 

[smith5753]

I guess to better answer the question I would go Andre Smith LT, Warmack LG, Dickerson C, John Hannah RG, Chris Samuel’s RT

If you figured in the size of players today I would swap Hannah for Barret Jones at RG

 

[bamaga]

John Hannah was called the best offensive lineman ever by Sports illustrated and was selected by the NFL as the 24th best player ever regardless of position in 2019, so you have to start there.

Dwight Stevenson’s injury plagued NFL career only lasted 8 season, five straight of those Eight he was All Pro. So he has to be included.

And before anyone comes with the players today are so much bigger , those 2 guys would also be so much bigger coming up today with advances in nutrition and S&C .

 

[Tidelines]

Those who didn't get to see John Hannah play missed a gem. His brothers, Charley and David weren't bad.

 

[Ledsteplin]

Many older players were definitely the best of their time, but would be eaten alive by today's defenses. Dwight Stephenson was 255 lbs.
Mine are:
John Hannah
Barrett Jones
Landon Dickerson
Chance Warmack
Evan Neal

 

[Ledsteplin]

John Hannah was called the best offensive lineman ever by Sports illustrated and was selected by the NFL as the 24th best player ever regardless of position in 2019, so you have to start there. View attachment 42838

Dwight Stevenson’s injury plagued NFL career only lasted 8 season, five straight of those Eight he was All Pro. So he has to be included.

And before anyone comes with the players today are so much bigger , those 2 guys would also be so much bigger coming up today with advances in nutrition and S&C .

Some maybe, but not all. Dwight was only 255 lbs. He'd have to eat a lot of steak to reach 300 lbs.

 

[Tidelines]

Many older players were definitely the best of their time, but would be eaten alive by today's defenses. Dwight Stephenson was 255 lbs.
Mine are:
John Hannah
Barrett Jones
Landon Dickerson
Chance Warmack
Evan Neal

Says all-time, didn't stipulate modern.

 

[AlexanderFan]

What about Larry Rose, Jonah Williams, or Andre Smith? Just no way to name 5 definitive starters.

The first words about Rose today would be he needs the weight room.

There may be a bias, but the size of lineman under Saban can not be overlooked.

 

[AlexanderFan]

John Hannah was called the best offensive lineman ever by Sports illustrated and was selected by the NFL as the 24th best player ever regardless of position in 2019, so you have to start there. View attachment 42838

Dwight Stevenson’s injury plagued NFL career only lasted 8 season, five straight of those Eight he was All Pro. So he has to be included.

And before anyone comes with the players today are so much bigger , those 2 guys would also be so much bigger coming up today with advances in nutrition and S&C .

We say that, and I’m guilty of it as well, but if that were 100% true players like Tommy Brockermeyer wouldn’t have missed out. Several potentially great players haven’t been able to add the weight and strength to play.

 

[colbysullivan]

But then you're missing out on Samuels and Hannah.

Shrug

 

[4Q Basket Case]

Many older players were definitely the best of their time, but would be eaten alive by today's defenses. Dwight Stephenson was 255 lbs.
Mine are:
John Hannah
Barrett Jones
Landon Dickerson
Chance Warmack
Evan Neal

Some maybe, but not all. Dwight was only 255 lbs. He'd have to eat a lot of steak to reach 300 lbs.

It's so hard to compare athletes across eras. That's why, when you get into all-time lists, you have to compare the player against the competition of the day.

With that standard, Fred Sington would certainly make the 2-deep. By today's standards of size and specialization, he'd be a hopelessly under-sized generalist. But in the days of one-platoon football, he played both OL and DL and dominated the linemen he was up against.

Today, Don Whitmire would also be far too small to play D1 football. But he's in the college hall of fame playing for two schools. Alabama is one. Then his college playing career was interrupted by WWII, and he ended up at the Naval Academy. Made the HOF there as well.

Billy Neighbors, Paul Crane and others from the 1960s played OL at 200 pounds or lighter. Obviously not possible today.

And as others have pointed out, Hannah and Stephenson would likely be 300+ had they been in a modern S&C and nutrition program.

Yes, the linemen of the Saban era spoiled us rotten.

 

[bamaslammer]

I don't know how to compare linemen from say pre 1980 to today. They were much smaller and more nimble. John Hannah I believe would have been a star in any era. Many think he was the best ever at any level.

From the 80's forward and considering overall career I have to go with

LT - Chris Samuels
LG - Evan Mathis
C - Barret Jones
RG - Tyler Booker
RT - Chance Warmack

Dickson is a fan favorite but had a short career at Alabama
I strongly considered Bradley Bozeman at Guard

 

[OakMtn4Bama]

I am not sure I could omit Paul Crane

 

[BamaMoon]

Does anybody here really think a slight cornerback at Kent State named Nicholas Lou Saban could check DeVanta Smith today?

Gotta compare players against their era of talent.

 

[TideEngineer08]

Some maybe, but not all. Dwight was only 255 lbs. He'd have to eat a lot of steak to reach 300 lbs.

With modern weight lifting techniques and nutrition, Stephenson probably plays at 295 and dominates. Or, he doesn't play C, but likely MLB or TE.

 

[HighlandOak]

Does anybody here really think a slight cornerback at Kent State named Nicholas Lou Saban could check DeVanta Smith today?

Gotta compare players against their era of talent.

Even at an advanced age, Saban kept Smith in check pretty well for his entire career.

 

[TiderJack]

Chris Samuels and John Hannah would have to be included, I think. It's very difficult to leave off Dwight Stephenson as well.

Some of our younger posters may not recall these three but they would all be on my team. Hannah at guard and Stephenson at center were considered some the of best ever at their positions in the NFL but I would have Landon Dickerson also. I would add Cam Robinson at OT and Chance Warmack at guard to complete my list.

Dwight Stephenson

IT'S NOT that Dwight Stephenson, 50, has overcommitted himself, but the former hard-charging offensive lineman is certainly on the go. When he's not managing

vault.si.com

 

[davefrat]

There’s just too many great ones to choose from to whittle it down to 5 players for me.

 

[JDCrimson]

Not a Saban player but whose the RG that played for the Eagles for so many years? I think a cousin/nephew to Bob Baumhower. Evan...

 

[bamaga]

R

Many older players were definitely the best of their time, but would be eaten alive by today's defenses. Dwight Stephenson was 255 lbs.
Mine are:
John Hannah
Barrett Jones
Landon Dickerson
Chance Warmack
Evan Neal

really? The two of the best to do it in the last 20 years , Jeff Saturday played 6-2, 295 and Jason Kelce 6-3, 295 . I think Dwight could add 40 pounds with today’s advantages and play at a high level.