very interesting practices over the past 2 days....alabama has more talent at wr than most people expect. they are still very thin at lb. a lot of the success of this year's team will depend on the play of JPW.
-rb terry grant is a lot bigger than i expected. he has worked out very hard.
- as of this time greg mcelroy is the back up. star jackson looks great but will not press JPW for playing time
- look for julio jones and burton scott to have an immediate impact on offense
- look for mark ingram and chris jordan to get some playing time as freshmen either at rb or special teams
- on the ol alabama is ok but lacks a lot of depth....freshmen OL tyler love looks great at camp but is probably at least 20lbs under where he needs to be to be effective in the SEC.
- marcel dareus probably has the best chance to make an impact as a true freshmen on the DL
- cortney upshaw and don'ta hightower may see significant playing time at ILB
- at LB look for a few freshmen to have a chance to contribute
- i think mark barron is the most underrated defense freshmen player. i also think alonzo lawrence may get some playing time as well.
....this is a very special freshmen class at alabama. they are already trying to lead this team in all of the drills i have seen...unfortunately when you have a bunch of freshmen it can lead to a very long year
-....i would be very hesitant to back this team in most situations.
- this may be a team that challenges for the SEC in 2009 but for this year 8-9 wins would be HUGE accomplishment.
-rb terry grant is a lot bigger than i expected. he has worked out very hard.
- as of this time greg mcelroy is the back up. star jackson looks great but will not press JPW for playing time
- look for julio jones and burton scott to have an immediate impact on offense
- look for mark ingram and chris jordan to get some playing time as freshmen either at rb or special teams
- on the ol alabama is ok but lacks a lot of depth....freshmen OL tyler love looks great at camp but is probably at least 20lbs under where he needs to be to be effective in the SEC.
- marcel dareus probably has the best chance to make an impact as a true freshmen on the DL
- cortney upshaw and don'ta hightower may see significant playing time at ILB
- at LB look for a few freshmen to have a chance to contribute
- i think mark barron is the most underrated defense freshmen player. i also think alonzo lawrence may get some playing time as well.
....this is a very special freshmen class at alabama. they are already trying to lead this team in all of the drills i have seen...unfortunately when you have a bunch of freshmen it can lead to a very long year
-....i would be very hesitant to back this team in most situations.
- this may be a team that challenges for the SEC in 2009 but for this year 8-9 wins would be HUGE accomplishment.
for bama fans only
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coming to an endzone near you!
<a href="http://s37.photobucket.com/albums/e78/eallen4/Alabama%20Football/?action=view¤t=F422041.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e78/eallen4/Alabama%20Football/F422041.jpg" border="0" alt="WR Julio Jones and WR Burton Scott"></a>
True freshmen WRs, Julio Jones and BJ Scott
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True freshmen WRs, Julio Jones and BJ Scott
I can see JJ making an immediate impact for sure but I think BJ Scott's major impact will be on kickoff returns this year. With him returning kicks and Arenas bringing back punts they will have one of the most exciting return groups in the nation. Throw Ingram in there on KO's as well...
I think 8 regular season wins would be about right ... especially for a team without the defensive front 7 experience necessary to compete in the SEC. The talent is there but relying on frosh and sophs to make plays is not a great situation.
Thanks for the updates. Even as a AU fan, Im looking forward to football and I like to know what's going on with Bama and who to look for this year. I think Harris and Jones will start sooner than later due thier talent and lack of depth.
Less than a month to go. Bama has a big task opening the year with Clemson, they have most of their skill positions coming back and look very strong. What's the Bama fans expectations of the game?
Less than a month to go. Bama has a big task opening the year with Clemson, they have most of their skill positions coming back and look very strong. What's the Bama fans expectations of the game?
you may be right but BJ was running with the 1's at slot (hanks had on a non-contact jersey). julio was running with the 2's at flanker. i guess we will see soon enough but i think scott makes an impression on offense as well. look for him to also line up at qb in what is being called the "Uno Package" I have not seen them practice it but i have heard from a coach that they have over 10 plays designed for him in the package. could be a goaline package of just a change of pace look. did you know that BJ can throw equally well with his left or right hand? unbelievable!
watch this:
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The Tide had their last helmet and shorts practice today. Things go live tomorrow and that will separate the men from the boys. Although Alabama has little depth at LB I think they may be ok as some players are starting to emerge on that DL. Brandon Deaderick looked good in practice and NT Josh Chapman was working with the 1's (I expect Lorenzo Washington to still get plenty of playing time). The way this 3-4 Saban defense works is the DL must occupy the OL in order to let the LB's run and make plays. This defense is designed to allow the LBs to make most of the plays but they can only be effective if the DL can keeps the OL from getting a helmet on the LBs.
True freshmen Courtney Upshaw worked again at the Jack position. That seems to be his more natural position and he almost instantly gives that position the type of athlete it needs.
No injuries and no major news.
Courtney Upshaw:
<a href="http://s37.photobucket.com/albums/e78/eallen4/Alabama%20Football/?action=view¤t=F422692.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e78/eallen4/Alabama%20Football/F422692.jpg" border="0" alt="Courtney Upshaw"></a>
True freshmen Courtney Upshaw worked again at the Jack position. That seems to be his more natural position and he almost instantly gives that position the type of athlete it needs.
No injuries and no major news.
Courtney Upshaw:
<a href="http://s37.photobucket.com/albums/e78/eallen4/Alabama%20Football/?action=view¤t=F422692.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e78/eallen4/Alabama%20Football/F422692.jpg" border="0" alt="Courtney Upshaw"></a>
BJ Scott and Julio Jones will make huge impact this year. In addition, Darius Hanks and Marquis Maze are new faces who will impact as well to compliment McCoy, Stover and the upper classmen. The WR crew is vastly underrated in all publications.
DL will be key and there are new faces there that will provide immediate depth. Chapman looks to be the starter over Washington, and Terrence Cody, Marcel Dareus, and Damion Square should play.
At LB, Harris, Hightower, and Upshaw will all play and it will be a good thing. McClain is a beast.
At CB and Safety, Lawrence and Barron are givens to help in depth.
At RB, Mark Ingram is already making moves for playing time. The line is very experienced with RT being the only question mark.
Bama, it appears in the early stages will play several very good freshmen who spent the summer at Bama getting ready. They will be a serious contender against Clemson if things keep going the way they are and must be considered on a +5 to +7 line.
In most cases, I would be scared to death with all of the youth but I have been a student of Alabama recruiting for 25 years and this is the best group of kids I have ever seen......
DL will be key and there are new faces there that will provide immediate depth. Chapman looks to be the starter over Washington, and Terrence Cody, Marcel Dareus, and Damion Square should play.
At LB, Harris, Hightower, and Upshaw will all play and it will be a good thing. McClain is a beast.
At CB and Safety, Lawrence and Barron are givens to help in depth.
At RB, Mark Ingram is already making moves for playing time. The line is very experienced with RT being the only question mark.
Bama, it appears in the early stages will play several very good freshmen who spent the summer at Bama getting ready. They will be a serious contender against Clemson if things keep going the way they are and must be considered on a +5 to +7 line.
In most cases, I would be scared to death with all of the youth but I have been a student of Alabama recruiting for 25 years and this is the best group of kids I have ever seen......
Alabama needs some bodies at NT. They may have found one in big Terrance Cody. I doubt he can sustain series after series at his current weight but he will play a big role this year when in the lineup. See him here:
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Alabama depth chart is really starting to take shape. OL should be the same 5 as spring game with tons of experience coming back. JPW is solid #1 QB. He is very hot or cold but is entering his 3rd year as a starter. Saban will have several RB's getting carries this year. Grant, Coffee, and True Frosh Ingram may get the majority with Upchurch looking for a way to steal some carries. Jonathan Lowe joined the team today as classes started at the Capstone and the rest of the walk-ons joined as well. Alabama will start working on the Clemson game plan full time starting tomorrow.
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At WR look for Mccoy, Hanks, Maze, Alexander, Stover, Gibson, and true freshmen Jones, Scott, and Jackson all get time in a very deep rotation. This unit is being listed at the bottom half of the sec but TRUST ME they are not. They lack experience but talent wise they are solid. I guess only time will tell but look for true freshman Julio Jones to get a lot of balls thrown his way this year. Barring injury he will be at Alabama for 3 years and then cash a huge NFL paycheck.
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I think this Alabama team will be able to move the ball this year. If JPW can play like a 3 year starting senior then this team will top all of last year's numbers. They have been working especially hard during camp on redzone and 3rd down conversions. Look for JPW to checkdown quite a bit this year to backs out of the backfield.
The defensive side of the ball still has tons of unanswered questions after the first few weeks of fall camp. Saban will rotate a DL of Deaderick, Chapman, Greenwood, Cody, Dareus, and others in order to get some sort of penetration in the backfield. I feel JUCO transfer Terrance Cody will be a terror at NT but he is about 365lbs and has never faced competition like he will face in the sec. He cant be on the field every play but look for solid backup play from chapman, washington, and others. Alabama will miss wallace gilberry's 10 sacks and numerous TFL from last year but I think someone will emerge as a playmaker and saban may show more 4-5 man fronts this year because of the lack of experience and talent at lb.
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Only 1 position is solid at this time in alabama's lb core and that is the mike lb rolando mcclain. he is #55 and was a beast as a true freshman last year. look for a solid year as he is the defensive leader of this team (along with safety rashad johnson) and makes the defensive calls. other players who should see time at lb are chavis williams, fanney, anders, watkins and true freshman hightower, harris, williams, upshaw. cory reamer seems to have found a starting spot but it is not clear where. he has worked with the sam lbs and also the will lbs. i personally think he will play the sam with true freshman hightower getting the nod at the will.
defensive backfield is solid and i think they are improved. i am concerned about depth but if our dl cant put pressure on the qb it wont matter anyway.
alabama is solid at special teams except punter but again as a 3 year starter i look for improvement.
should be an interesting year. if this were an easier schedule i would call for a 10 win year but because of the lack of depth, qb turnovers, 8-10 true freshman seeing significant playing time and not having a dominate defensive line they should win 7 to 9 games. i think alabama will pull an upset or two this year (clemson, tennesse, georgia, lsu, auburn) but will also probably lose a game or 2 they should win (arkansas, ole miss, miss state, kentucky).
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any clemson fans that can give me some updates on injuries, depth charts, game plans, and quality of their true freshman especially bowers and mcclain would be appreciated. Thanks.
<a href="http://s37.photobucket.com/albums/e78/eallen4/Alabama%20Football/?action=view¤t=F422027.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e78/eallen4/Alabama%20Football/F422027.jpg" border="0" alt="QB John Parker Wilson"></a>
At WR look for Mccoy, Hanks, Maze, Alexander, Stover, Gibson, and true freshmen Jones, Scott, and Jackson all get time in a very deep rotation. This unit is being listed at the bottom half of the sec but TRUST ME they are not. They lack experience but talent wise they are solid. I guess only time will tell but look for true freshman Julio Jones to get a lot of balls thrown his way this year. Barring injury he will be at Alabama for 3 years and then cash a huge NFL paycheck.
<a href="http://s37.photobucket.com/albums/e78/eallen4/Alabama%20Football/?action=view¤t=F421181.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e78/eallen4/Alabama%20Football/F421181.jpg" border="0" alt="Coming to an endzone near you!"></a>
I think this Alabama team will be able to move the ball this year. If JPW can play like a 3 year starting senior then this team will top all of last year's numbers. They have been working especially hard during camp on redzone and 3rd down conversions. Look for JPW to checkdown quite a bit this year to backs out of the backfield.
The defensive side of the ball still has tons of unanswered questions after the first few weeks of fall camp. Saban will rotate a DL of Deaderick, Chapman, Greenwood, Cody, Dareus, and others in order to get some sort of penetration in the backfield. I feel JUCO transfer Terrance Cody will be a terror at NT but he is about 365lbs and has never faced competition like he will face in the sec. He cant be on the field every play but look for solid backup play from chapman, washington, and others. Alabama will miss wallace gilberry's 10 sacks and numerous TFL from last year but I think someone will emerge as a playmaker and saban may show more 4-5 man fronts this year because of the lack of experience and talent at lb.
<a href="http://s37.photobucket.com/albums/e78/eallen4/Alabama%20Football/?action=view¤t=F422043.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e78/eallen4/Alabama%20Football/F422043.jpg" border="0" alt="OLB Michael Williams and DE Marcel Dareus"></a>
Only 1 position is solid at this time in alabama's lb core and that is the mike lb rolando mcclain. he is #55 and was a beast as a true freshman last year. look for a solid year as he is the defensive leader of this team (along with safety rashad johnson) and makes the defensive calls. other players who should see time at lb are chavis williams, fanney, anders, watkins and true freshman hightower, harris, williams, upshaw. cory reamer seems to have found a starting spot but it is not clear where. he has worked with the sam lbs and also the will lbs. i personally think he will play the sam with true freshman hightower getting the nod at the will.
defensive backfield is solid and i think they are improved. i am concerned about depth but if our dl cant put pressure on the qb it wont matter anyway.
alabama is solid at special teams except punter but again as a 3 year starter i look for improvement.
should be an interesting year. if this were an easier schedule i would call for a 10 win year but because of the lack of depth, qb turnovers, 8-10 true freshman seeing significant playing time and not having a dominate defensive line they should win 7 to 9 games. i think alabama will pull an upset or two this year (clemson, tennesse, georgia, lsu, auburn) but will also probably lose a game or 2 they should win (arkansas, ole miss, miss state, kentucky).
<a href="http://s37.photobucket.com/albums/e78/eallen4/Alabama%20Football/?action=view¤t=F422051.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e78/eallen4/Alabama%20Football/F422051.jpg" border="0" alt="2008 Crimson Tide"></a>
any clemson fans that can give me some updates on injuries, depth charts, game plans, and quality of their true freshman especially bowers and mcclain would be appreciated. Thanks.
Clemson's biggest injury is to starting DT Rashaad Jackson (torn hammie), out till October. His backup Jamie Cumbie promptly broke his hand and it is in a cast that prevents him from using his hand, which is a big deal for him since he's 6'7" and needs to use his hands to offset high pad level. He is hoping to have a new cast that will allow more use of his fingers by game time.
The best true frosh has been TB Jamie Harper who offers speed, power, and solid pass protection; however, he has a bad sprain to his left ankle. Starting guard Jamarcus Grant is also hobbled a bit by an ankle injury.
Those seem to be the only significant injuries.
Other true frosh -- McClain looks good and is in the two-deep at tackle. Bowers has been getting to the QB in scrimmages and should get close to half the snaps behind Kevin Alexander at DE.
Offensive line is more talented and has better chemistry than in recent years, though it's less experienced. Linebackers aren't exactly a strength but have shaped up satisfactorily. There are 6 or 7 whom the coaching staff is comfortable with.
The best true frosh has been TB Jamie Harper who offers speed, power, and solid pass protection; however, he has a bad sprain to his left ankle. Starting guard Jamarcus Grant is also hobbled a bit by an ankle injury.
Those seem to be the only significant injuries.
Other true frosh -- McClain looks good and is in the two-deep at tackle. Bowers has been getting to the QB in scrimmages and should get close to half the snaps behind Kevin Alexander at DE.
Offensive line is more talented and has better chemistry than in recent years, though it's less experienced. Linebackers aren't exactly a strength but have shaped up satisfactorily. There are 6 or 7 whom the coaching staff is comfortable with.
