http://www.tidefans.com/forums/blogs/jessn/ en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:44:30 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.tidefans.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.tidefans.com/forums/blogs/jessn/ http://www.tidefans.com/forums/blogs/jessn/114-recruiting-linebackers-dbs-some-tide-s-biggest-needs.html Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:53:57 GMT Because the number of scholarships expected to go to defensive backs in... Because the number of scholarships expected to go to defensive backs in somewhat limited, the look at Alabama’s defensive back targets will be combined with a rundown of linebacker targets in a single story.

When Nick Saban got to Alabama, there was perhaps no greater difference present in the type of player Saban prefers versus the type of player he had onhand than at linebacker. Alabama’s previous staff recruited for speed, even (and often) at the expense of bulk. The difference showed up quickly, as inside linebacker Matt Collins went from starter to third-team at defensive end in the course of a week or two.

Alabama’s current linebacker corps still bears the signs of the former regime. The outside linebackers, Brandon Fanney and Cory Reamer, once played nose tackle and free safety, respectively, at one time or another under former coach Mike Shula. Backup Jack linebacker Eryk Anders was a high school defensive tackle and a strongside defensive end under the previous staff.

In the secondary, Saban has been busy trying to add speed at the corners and height all around. Here’s a look at Alabama’s linebacker and secondary targets as the recruiting season reaches its zenith.

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Outside linebackers
Committed: Jonathan Atchison, 6-3 210 4.6 Atlanta, Ga./Douglass

Recruiting: Tana Patrick, 6-3 235 4.5 Stevenson/North Jackson; Fletcher Cox, 6-4 240 4.6 Yazoo City, Miss./Yazoo City; Bar’Kevious Mingo, 6-4 215 4.6 West Monroe, La./West Monroe; Greg King, 6-3 205 4.6 Memphis, Tenn./Melrose

Comments: The greatest position of need among the four linebacker positions at Alabama is the outside position currently filled by Cory Reamer, who will be a senior in 2009. Backup Jerrell Harris is a supreme talent but must add weight, and Chavis Williams finished 2009 in the doghouse. Jonathan Atchison, once an Auburn commitment, switched to Alabama but has not stopped shopping. If Atchison eventually signs with Alabama, he’ll give the Tide a true outside backer who is more ready to play physically than even Harris. At the same position, Alabama is recruiting Bar’Kevious Mingo and Greg King. Mingo could play any number of positions, from safety all the way down to defensive end. Some believe he’s grown taller than his reported 6’4”, and if he continues to grow he could have limitless potential. Greg King is more of a meat-and-potatoes player, and the staff is said to be split on him. There are reportedly some questions about his athleticism, while others rave about his toughness. King appears to be waiting out a Bama offer and would likely end up at Tennessee otherwise. There’s also a question of whether Nico Johnson, who many project as an inside linebacker, could end up outside. Tana Patrick and Fletcher Cox are Alabama’s top targets at the LB/E combo position, Jack. Patrick, an in-state player, has kept his preferences close to the vest but it is believed he’ll choose Alabama in the end. Cox, also a prospect at defensive end, is the real enigma.

Darkhorses: Jordan Barnes of Fort Wayne, Ind., is a little on the small side, but he claims a Bama offer. Most believe he’ll eventually end up at a Big Ten school. Kenny Cain is another one just on the periphery of the situation. Alabama seems to like Texas A&M commitment Jonathan Stewart a lot, but Stewart hasn’t budged off his commitment yet. Willie Farrell has an Alabama offer but doesn’t seem very interested. Perhaps the longest of the longshots is DeMario McNeal, an in-state product who would jump at an Alabama offer.

Verdict: Alabama adds Patrick and Cox to Atchison, and perhaps one other depending on whether the Tide gets another safety in this class. If Alabama doesn’t, it could open up a slot for Mingo or King. McNeal’s stock is starting to rise, too.

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Inside linebackers
Committed: Nico Johnson, 6-3 235 4.7 Andalusia/Andalusia

Recruiting: Petey Smith, 6-1 240 4.8 Seffner, Fla./Armwood

Comments: Johnson’s recruitment pretty much shut down efforts at this position, as Alabama has good depth at inside linebacker already. Johnson may even have to move to outside linebacker to get early playing time. Mike Marrow, who Alabama already has committed as a fullback, is another option here. Petey Smith’s stock has gone shooting upwards as the result of his play in a recent all-star game, but there are questions about his speed and most have him ticketed to sign with Auburn, anyway.

Darkhorses: Courtland’s Josh Draper got some publicity before the season but has fallen off Alabama’s radar screen since. The only other name in the mix may be DeMario McNeal, whose versatility could end up warranting him a close look.

Verdict: Alabama keeps Johnson and finishes up, unless McNeal continues to rise.

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Cornerbacks
Committed: Gerald West, 5-11 165 4.4 Mobile/Faith Academy

Recruiting: Dre Kirkpatrick, 6-2 185 4.5 Gadsden/Gadsden; Gene Robinson, 5-11 170 4.5 Memphis, Tenn./Whitehaven; Justin Green, 5-10 175 4.4 Louisville, Ky./Male; Greg Reid, 5-8 160 4.4 Valdosta, Ga./Lowndes; Janzen Jackson, 6-1 185 4.4 Lake Charles, La./Alfred M. Barbe

Comments: This is a position of incredible depth of talent. Alabama’s first commitment, Gerald West, has good ball skills and speed, but doesn’t draw as much publicity as some of the others. The biggest name by far here is Dre Kirkpatrick, who could very well end up being the No. 1 prospect in the country on a lot of boards. Kirkpatrick is considered a strong Alabama lean but a decision isn’t expected until Signing Day. Of the rest, Gene Robinson appears the most likely. He’s steady, if not really a game-changer, and draws comparisons to former Alabama player Ramzee Robinson. Justin Green is an Ohio State commitment who will probably stay one, but he and recent Florida decommit Greg Reid are the two speed burners of this group and Alabama needs a speed upgrade at cornerback. Reid is also a prospect at slot receiver, perhaps more so there than at corner. Alabama has made a strong, late push for Janzen Jackson, a corner-safety combo prospect who was good enough to get Saban’s first visit after the most recent dead period. Jackson is almost enough of a longshot to go in the “darkhorses” category, but given the amount of heat Alabama is putting on him, the coaches must feel as though they have a shot.

Darkhorses: Jonathan Edwards, a Tuscaloosa product, would jump on an Alabama offer but it’s not likely to come. Edwards could be headed out of state. Tyler Glynn is another West Monroe player, but likely won’t get an offer. Georgia’s Darius Slay is intriguing because of his size, but is probably far down the list. The problem for any of the darkhorses is that Gene Robinson will get an offer before any of them, and Robinson would likely take it.

Verdict: Alabama keeps West – who was considering decommitting at one time – and adds at least Kirkpatrick. If Janzen Jackson wants to sign on, Alabama will create room for him. If Jackson passes on Bama, this slot could go to either Robinson or back to the LB corps.

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Safeties
Committed: Rod Woodson, 5-11 210 4.5 Olive Branch, Miss./Olive Branch

Recruiting: Darren Myles, 6-1 195 4.5 Atlanta, Ga./Carver; Jonathan Scott, 6-3 190 4.6 Daytona Beach, Fla./Seabreeze

Comments: Alabama has turned up the heat significantly on Darren Myles, who would give Alabama the size it prefers at its free safety slot. Rod Woodson is already slated for the strong safety slot but could play either position. The key with Woodson is how fast he can recover from an ankle injury. Jonathan Scott’s stock has dropped lately due to speed concerns and it’s unlikely Alabama will take him.

Darkhorses: Craig Loston is considered by some to be the No. 1 player in America. Alabama would love to have him, but he would be an unbelievably difficult pull. As many as three other in-state players have been on the perimeter of the situation lately, Wetumpka’s Kejuan Riley, Mobile-Davidson’s Keiron Wilson and Tuscumbia-Deshler’s Kenyatta Abernathy. None of the three are likely to get offers, though.

Verdict: Alabama gets Myles and holds on to Woodson, and stops there. ]]> JessN http://www.tidefans.com/forums/blogs/jessn/114-recruiting-linebackers-dbs-some-tide-s-biggest-needs.html http://www.tidefans.com/forums/blogs/jessn/109-love-hate-new-orleans.html Mon, 05 Jan 2009 03:50:21 GMT I've been to New Orleans about 20 times in my life. My parents started taking me when I was 4, which according to some pastors I've had in my life, constitutes child abuse.

Only once have I ever seen trouble in New Orleans, and it didn't come from locals, but from a collection of kids in town for what appeared to be some kind of punk rock convention a couple of decades ago.

The trip to New Orleans to watch Alabama play Utah in the Sugar Bowl was my first post-Katrina trip to the city, which I consider to be my favorite place to visit in the United States other than my mom's kitchen. It is safe for anyone that has a reasonably functioning brain and can understand a map. It has a vibe not present anywhere else in America and I would dare say nowhere else in the world. It is easily the most culturally significant city in the South and perhaps the country as a whole.

So I was very interested to see what the city would be like since Katrina. What I found truly touched me, deeply.

The locals here have always had their own flair. This time, they also seemed desperate -- desperate to make us feel welcome, desperate to make us happy, desperate to have us come back again sometime. Without fail, every service-industry professional I encountered, be it a waiter, hotel employee, police officer, shopkeeper...at least acted like they were overjoyed to see me again. I was overwhelmed all week by the urge to blurt out, "But I'm not rich! I haven't been here in a decade! You don't really know me -- and I'm not that important!"

If you've ever been prone to forget Hurricane Katrina, a trip to New Orleans will quickly remind you of it. We drove in at night and missed seeing the evidence of what hurricane damage can be viewed from the major roads, but on the way out, we got a very clear reminder. Scores of erstwhile stores, factories and apartments northeast of the city along Interstate 10 lay dormant and half-falling in, but again, there was optimism. On the side of one particular wind-tilted apartment complex, which you could see clear through, was a freshly hung sign: "Now leasing!"

Where you can really see the damage, though, is in people's hearts. My wife and I only engaged one person in conversation about it directly, because once was enough. The owner of a small grocery store told us how she had just barely made it out in time, how she lost contact with her family, and upon returning, slept on a rollaway bunk bag on the floor of a tattoo parlor for a couple of weeks.

She did not hesitate to share her story, but after hearing it, I hesitated to want to hear one from anyone else. For one thing, it brought back bad memories of my own family's near-miss with death during Hurricane Ivan. But mostly, I didn't want to ask any of these people to relive it just for my amusement. Oh, they're happy to talk about it, but they look a little worse for wear after they finish speaking.

While there, my wife picked up a book called "1 Dead in the Attic" by Times-Picayune columnist Chris Rose. It's a recounting of the times in New Orleans after Katrina. My wife has already read most of it; I've read bits and pieces over her shoulder while lying in bed and watching "important" things like SportsCenter. As soon as she finishes it, I will steal it from her and fill in the blanks before she can pass it along to her mother or best friend. The small vignettes I've read so far have been core-shaking.

The week in its entirety was a duality to me, a love-hate relationship not unlike the two masks of Mardi Gras. The loss to Utah -- hated it. The girl behind the front desk of the Baronne Plaza who moved her own car from her employee parking space so that I could park in her slot, as the parking deck was full, and seemed almost embarrassed when I tried to tip her -- loved it. The way the life drained from the eyes of that old woman in the grocery store when she recounted her Katrina experiences -- hated it. The old man who kept the reservations list at Tujague's who, after being informed we would miss our reservation by 40 minutes, told me, "You don't worry about it -- just come down. We’ll have a place for you," and moved me to the head of the list as soon as I walked in his door -- loved it.

And, that duality restated itself to me the day we left New Orleans. One of my parents' old friends, who for the better part of 50 years lived on Conti Street and elsewhere in the Quarter, who let strangers sleep under his pianos (that's "pianos," plural) during Mardi Gras, who cooked for half the occupants of the Quarter at one time or another, who housed foreign exchange students from countries around the globe, many of them he never had a conversation with due to the language barrier -- could not be found. My wife and I walked to his old home to find a realtor’s sign above the window. We called the last number we had for him, nothing. We left a message.

On the way out Saturday, we finally got a call from a heavily accented man, probably a foreign student. My parents’ friend had been diagnosed with ALS in June and died in October. He had no family other than a niece in Texas. No one knew to call us.

I can close my eyes and see the high ceiling, spiral staircase and roof garden on his Conti Street home, smell the spices of his kitchen and remember how much I wished my own home had a courtyard out back surrounded by 300-year-old brick walls. And it makes me sad to know that 15 years ago, I unknowingly saw it for the last time.

But I have not seen New Orleans for the last time. It just cannot be left to that. Not only can I not go back to the food, the shops and the atmosphere, I cannot disappoint those people who all but begged us to come see them again sometime, without ever coming out and saying it directly. ]]> JessN http://www.tidefans.com/forums/blogs/jessn/109-love-hate-new-orleans.html http://www.tidefans.com/forums/blogs/jessn/107-quick-bowl-takes-upper-deck.html Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:19:04 GMT Didn’t see an article on this site breaking down the bowl matchups like we... Didn’t see an article on this site breaking down the bowl matchups like we do each week with games involving SEC teams? That’s because we didn’t write one.

Bowl week is a bowl of mixed nuts every year. dWhen teams have this much time off, and this much time for distraction – see Andre Smith, Alabama – it gets hard to know who’s going to show up and who isn’t.

The only game of the bunch that even feels like a normal game is Florida-Oklahoma, because the stakes are clear and it’s the only game left that, like a regular season game, has any impact on the national title picture. I suppose I could write that Texas could get stomped in Arizona, Alabama could beat Utah 100-0 and Oklahoma and Florida could each turn the ball over ninety times in the BCS Championship Game and the Associated Press could award Alabama the title for a split championship – but I don’t do drugs.

So here’s a quick take of what’s to come starting later today (Wednesday, Dec. 31) and going through the end of the bowl season.

Music City Bowl: Boston College vs. Vanerbilt
Poor Vandy. Bowl-eligible at last, and the Commodores simply get to drive down West End Avenue to the Titans’ stadium to face one of the better teams from the ACC. What a bowl trip, huh?

Boston College looked like junk late in the season, however, and fell from title contention with an ugly loss to Virginia Tech. But Vanderbilt has had the boat in full reverse now for almost three months. The Commodores are 1-6 in their last seven games. Unless Boston College has just tanked an entire month of preparation, this one will be ugly. BC 27, Vanderbilt 7

Chick-fil-A Bowl: LSU vs. Georgia Tech
Had LSU played this game a week after losing to Arkansas, I’d say the Yellow Jackets probably would have hung 50 on the Tigers. Now that we’re a month down the road, the outcome isn’t as certain.

That’s because LSU has about seven times the athletes of Georgia Tech, and perhaps has cleared its head of the nightmares of the last month of the regular season. It says a lot when a mid-level ACC team is favored over a mid-level SEC team.

So if you’re looking for some insight into this one, check out Georgia Tech’s game against North Carolina. The Tarheels had superior athletes on defense, and that made the difference in the game. Georgia Tech never challenged. Similar things were true in losses to Virginia and Virginia Tech.

If LSU plays without discipline, the Tigers will lose. Perhaps new-for-2009 defensive coordinator John Chavis will have some pointers. Otherwise, this pundits’ glamour pick is starting to lose a little varnish. LSU 24, Georgia Tech 17

Outback Bowl: South Carolina vs. Iowa
Iowa is one of the scrappier teams in the Big Ten this year, while South Carolina has no answer or direction at quarterback and a porous run defense. That’s bad news against Shonn Greene and the Hawkeyes’ potent rushing attack.

Steve Spurrier doesn’t always get things right in bowl games, even though he should be good enough to outfox Kirk Ferentz even on his worst day. The biggest problem for South Carolina right now is that Iowa is playing significantly better football than it is. Iowa 23, South Carolina 17

Capital One Bowl: Georgia vs. Michigan State
Michigan State is a lightweight version of Alabama. A very lightweight, slower version.

The Spartans are coached by Mike Dantonio, who goes to Halloween parties disguised as Nick Saban and then repeats the schtick on gameday. He’s a hardnosed defensive mind and his teams play physical football. Unfortunately for Dantonio, his teams don’t quite have the talent of an Alabama just yet.

The one truism for Georgia in 2008, however, has been that physical, bluecollar teams give the Bulldogs fits. Even though Georgia has more athletes and should overwhelm Michigan State, look for the Spartans to be tough in this game and perhaps pull an upset. Michigan State 20, Georgia 17

Cotton Bowl: Ole Miss vs. Texas Tech
This one boils down to how much you think physical SEC running games can have an effect against teams with a lot more flash.

Ole Miss certainly doesn’t have the defense to stop Texas Tech’s passing game. This isn’t Alabama in 2005 with four future NFL starters starting in the secondary. This is Ole Miss, where Jamarca Sanford is the best option in the defensive backfield and where no Rebel defensive back could crack another SEC West starting secondary.

If Ole Miss is to win, it has to keep the ball forever. Texas Tech’s mindset is also a big factor here; will the Red Raiders want to make a statement, or will they sulk at having to play in a once-major bowl game after being locked out of the party by Oklahoma, Texas and the concept of prestige?

Look for this one to be close but for Tech to simply have too many weapons and too many opportunities. Texas Tech 35, Ole Miss 31

Liberty Bowl: Kentucky vs. East Carolina
How did this thing get scheduled for Jan. 2? There should be a rule that only the BCS bowls can be played after Jan. 1, but that’s a topic for another day.

The topic for this discussion is whether Kentucky can get up off the mat to play a Conference USA team that goes about its business like a SEC team. The Wildcats are really banged up at the moment, but the saving grace for Kentucky is that its defense is really good. East Carolina is a tough, physical team that plays fearlessly, and seems to play up to its competition whenever the Pirates feel they are the underdogs.

If Kentucky can get pressure on Patrick Pinkney, the Wildcats can pull this one out, but East Carolina will be tougher than most believe. East Carolina 21, Kentucky 20

Sugar Bowl: Utah vs. Alabama
This one’s been broken down already, with Alabama a 28-17 winner. And then Andre Smith got suspended.

It’s going to have an effect on the game, but how big of an effect depends on whether the new starting lineman – whether it’s David Ross at guard or John Michael Boswell at tackle – can handle the man across from him. Alabama will still have a big size advantage over the Utah defensive line but it’s not nearly as definitive as before.

Look for this one to get closer, either by Alabama scoring fewer points or by not holding the ball as long, thereby giving Utah’s offense more opportunities to reach the end zone. Alabama 23, Utah 20 (revised)

BCS Championship Game: Florida vs. Oklahoma
Florida’s secondary will finally get a test from a quarterback who knows how to exploit pass defenses. But the real question is whether Oklahoma’s front seven is physical enough to contain Tim Tebow.

Florida is a very well-put-together team all around, and has no apparent weakness. Oklahoma, however, has struggled at times on defense and the offensive scheme could fairly be called somewhat finesse.

Most Alabama fans will be pulling for Oklahoma in this game, but Florida has to be considered the prohibitive favorite. Florida 27, Oklahoma 24


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If these games play out according to script, the SEC will be only 3-5 in bowl games. And it could easily be worse if Oklahoma and Georgia Tech win their respective games.

To tell the truth, this was a down year for the SEC as a whole. The SEC finished the year with two great teams (Florida and Alabama), one very good but erratic team (Georgia), and a lot of pretenders. When Ole Miss and Vanderbilt finish second and third in their respective divisions, you know it’s a down year.

Simply put, there are too many questions about too many teams to expect the SEC to run the table in bowl games, or even get close to it. ]]> JessN http://www.tidefans.com/forums/blogs/jessn/107-quick-bowl-takes-upper-deck.html http://www.tidefans.com/forums/blogs/jessn/106-recruiting-alabama-looks-bolster-already-strong-dl.html Mon, 29 Dec 2008 04:29:50 GMT With a look at the offense finished, we now move to the defensive side of... With a look at the offense finished, we now move to the defensive side of the ball, which has quickly been built into a strength by head coach Nick Saban.

The defensive line has overachieved for two years now, and many fans are hungrily looking at the 2009 season as the point at which the line steps up its game, particularly against the pass. Alabama is in the market for several ends and tackles. Here’s a breakdown:

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Defensive ends
Committed: William Ming, 6-5 260 4.7 Athens/Athens; Anthony Orr, 6-4 260 4.9 Harvest/Sparkman; Chris Bonds, 6-4 270 4.7 Columbia, S.C./Richland Northeast

Recruiting: Pernell McPhee, 6-4 265 4.7 Fulton, Miss./Itawamba CC (JUCO); Ed Stinson, 6-4 230 Homestead, Fla./South Dade Senior; Fletcher Cox, 6-4 240 4.6 Yazoo City, Miss./Yazoo City; Olivier Vernon, 6-3 240 4.6 Hialeah, Fla./American Senior; Montez Robinson, 6-4 230 4.6 Avon, Ind./Avon

Comments: Alabama already has its strongside ends covered in the commitments of Ming, Orr and Bonds. While Bonds could also play weakside end (and Orr, with some conditioning work), the fact that all but one player in the “Recruiting” group is in the 6-4, 240 range should tell you that Alabama wants at least one speed rusher and probably two. Of that group, Stinson, Cox and Vernon are considered to be interchangeable. Vernon is probably the most highly rated, nationally, of the three, but many believe Cox has the highest upside. Cox is currently a Mississippi State commitment but many believe Alabama can eventually turn him. Stinson will likely go to either Alabama or Florida State, and the Seminoles may have a slight lead for him. Vernon would be almost a longshot pull for Alabama, with Miami the chief competition, but Miami’s struggles and Alabama’s rise up the charts can’t be ignored. Robinson committed to Auburn once already and will probably still end up there, but Alabama will definitely pursue him, especially if two of the three prior names tell Alabama they’re heading elsewhere. There’s also the issue of the same threesome being Jack linebackers in Alabama’s scheme. As for McPhee, he’s cut more from the same cloth as those already committed, so an offer to him would likely come late in the process and be conditional on someone else not making it. Of the ones committed, Ming could also play tight end. Orr’s stock has fluctuated this year based on some bad playing habits he’ll need to break. Bonds is the best prospect of the three and a potential freak in the mold of Eric Curry, but he’s been injured often in high school and needs to stay healthy.

Darkhorses: Kendrick Washington, a Jack/weakside end tweener, claims an offer (depending on who’s telling the story) and could slip in late. He has a great frame and could grow into any number of positions, but he’s very rough around the edges and probably wouldn’t contribute for a year or two. DeQuinta Jones changes his list frequently and Alabama would absolutely take him if he’d come, but Alabama trails at least four other schools right now. He would project at either strongside end or tackle. Marlin Sims would love an Alabama offer but appears to be way down the pecking order right now. Terrence Coleman, an Auburn commitment, is on the perimeter of the DE search but will probably stick with the Tigers.

Verdict: Alabama holds onto the three it already has, pulls Cox from MSU and adds one more from the list. We’ll guess Stinson.

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Defensive tackles
Committed: Quinton Dial, 6-3 310 5.3 Pinson/Clay-Chalkville; Darrington Sentimore, 6-3 275 4.8 Destrehan, La./Destrehan

Recruiting: Brandon Moore, 6-5 315 5.2 Montgomery/G.W. Carver; William Campbell, 6-5 315 5.1 Detroit, Mich./Cass Technical

Comments: Dial is Alabama’s nose tackle of the future once Terrence Cody graduates. But it’s Darrington Sentimore that has opened the most eyes in the previous month. Sentimore projects either at the nose or as the off tackle in Alabama’s 4-2-5 nickel alignment. He has a high motor and the 4.8 speed is probably legitimate, even for his size. He may be one of the most underrated prospects in the country right now. Alabama’s recruiting list for players still uncommitted is pretty short. William Campbell is one of, if not the top tackle prospect in the country due to his speed. Even at 6’5”, 315, he runs at least a 5.1 and may be faster than that. Alabama is a distant fifth or sixth for his signature, though. That leaves Brandon Moore, who has played coy with Alabama all year. He is heavily sought by both Auburn and Florida and may actually be leaning to the Gators. If not, he’s no better than 50/50 at the moment. Alabama is turning up the heat for him, however, and he’s one of the Tide’s top targets down the stretch.

Darkhorses: Vinson Bass of Ellenwood, Ga., would be a lot higher up people’s lists if there weren’t academic questions. He’ll likely either get an offer from a lesser school like Mississippi State or Oklahoma State, or he may have to head to JUCO. For a player his size, he has good speed and is reminiscent of Alabama’s Josh Chapman. Deion Roberson’s chances probably ended when Alabama took a commitment from Sentimore. Chris Davenport is a highly rated prospect in the same mold of Dial and Moore, but is committed to LSU. It would be very difficult for Alabama to turn him this late.

Verdict: Alabama holds onto Dial and Sentimore and adds Moore. ]]> JessN http://www.tidefans.com/forums/blogs/jessn/106-recruiting-alabama-looks-bolster-already-strong-dl.html http://www.tidefans.com/forums/blogs/jessn/105-recruiting-tight-ends-offensive-linemen-make-difference-tide-offense.html Sat, 20 Dec 2008 07:08:11 GMT Last week, we profiled some of the quarterbacks, running backs and wide... Last week, we profiled some of the quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers that Alabama is targeting in recruiting in 2008-2009. But what really makes Alabama’s clock tick are the offensive linemen and tight ends, around which Alabama’s power offense of 2008 was designed.

Here’s a breakdown of those two positions, plus the fullback/H-back position:

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Tight ends
Committed: None

Recruiting: Philip Lutzenkirchen, 6-4 240 4.7 Marietta, Ga./Lassiter; David Rue 6-5 260 4.7 Monroe, La./East Mississippi CC (JUCO)

Comments: Even though Alabama is losing Nick Walker and Travis McCall to graduation, tight end does not seem to be a priority in 2008. For one thing, this is a very thin tight end class. For another, Alabama will pick up Colin Peek for the 2009 season; Peek sat out the 2008 season after transferring from Georgia Tech, but will be eligible for the Sugar Bowl and thus will have the chance to give fans a sneak peek (no pun intended) of his abilities. Alabama also is tinkering with moving Michael Williams, who is redshirting in 2008, over from defensive end. Prior to a month ago, Alabama’s only serious contact with a tight end was with junior college transfer David Rue, but the emergence of Brad Smelley and the development of Preston Dial and Chris Underwood probably will keep Rue from getting an offer. But then, Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville was let go, and Philip Lutzenkirchen became a real possibility. Lutzenkirchen is a pure receiver at the tight end position and will have to learn to block better in college, wherever he goes, unless he ends up decommitting from Auburn and committing to Florida, where he would play more of a “big receiver” role than a traditional tight end role. Alabama is considered the third team in a three-team race right now with Florida and Auburn for his signature.

Darkhorses: Justin Jones, a mammoth prospect from Conyers, Ga., could get a late offer based on size alone. Jones could even grow into a tackle.

Verdict: Probably either Lutzenkirchen or no one, and Alabama trails there.

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Fullbacks/H-backs
Committed: Mike Marrow, 6-1 240 4.7 Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic

Recruiting: None

Comments: Marrow is the only real possibility here, and many consider him to be more likely to play at linebacker. If he stays at fullback, it’s not unreasonable to think he could start as a freshman at fullback. Alabama would probably like to upgrade its athleticism at the fullback position, where currently only Baron Huber plays. When discussing H-back – Travis McCall’s position – the discussion changes somewhat. Huber could play there, as could Preston Dial and Brad Smelley. Alabama is not heavily recruiting a true H-back very hard at the moment, and will apparently go to battle in 2009 with what it currently has.

Darkhorses: Jalston Fowler is a prototypical fullback prospect from Vigor High School in Prichard. He currently has offers from out-of-state but Alabama and Auburn have passed on him thus far. Dan Hicks of Oxford, Miss., is considered a tight end by most, but his body type is similar to McCall’s. For either to get an offer, Marrow would likely have to either decommit or be ticketed for defense from day one.

Verdict: Marrow and probably no one else.

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Offensive tackles
Committed: D.J. Fluker, 6-7 320 5.0 Foley/Foley; Darius McKeller, 6-6 280 5.3 Jonesboro, Ga./Jonesboro; James Carpenter, 6-5 310 5.2 Augusta, Ga./Coffeyville CC (JUCO)

Recruiting: Bobby Massie, 6-8 330 5.2 Lynchburg, Va./Hargrave Military Academy; Morgan Moses, 6-7 340 5.2 Richmond, Va./Meadowbrook; Charles Siddoway, 6-6 310 5.3 Eugene, Ore./Henry D. Sheldon

Comments: Alabama has already outdone itself at tackle, and there may be more to come. Carpenter is actually no longer committed; he is signed and enrolled at Alabama, and will be available for spring practice. The real question is how many of the committed players will remain at tackle. While most are focusing on the left tackle conundrum for Alabama – in the wake of Andre Smith’s expected departure for the NFL – it’s actually the right guard position that has the most question marks. Carpenter could land there. Fluker, meanwhile, could start out on defense, as Nick Saban is said to really like his upside there. That would leave Alabama with only McKeller, and he’s considered a longterm project at the position. Of the next bunch, the most likely would be Bobby Massie, who is down basically to Alabama and Georgia. Massie’s interest in Georgia has increased lately, particularly after Alabama signed Carpenter, who is a junior college player. If he jumps to the Bulldogs, Alabama will have a decision to make regarding Moses, who is not considered an Alabama lean, and Siddoway, who is considered a tossup between Alabama and his own in-state schools. Moses is strongly considering Ohio State and Oklahoma. The question will be, if Massie is the top option as thought whether Alabama will have time to put a press on Moses or Siddoway or whether those ships will have already sailed. Even if Alabama doesn’t get another player here, and all three of its current commitments stay at tackle, this will be one of the strongest hauls in America.

Darkhorses: Adding Xavier Nixon to this class would easily make it one of the top classes ever signed, but Nixon, the No. 1 tackle prospect in America in some people’s eyes, is a longshot to even consider Alabama. He does have an offer, though. Chris Freeman of Trotwood, Ohio, is one of the biggest players coming out of high school at nearly 6’10”, but Alabama never really pushed for his consideration. In-state player L.J. Abrams is currently committed to Tulane, but if Alabama pushed for him he would almost certainly give the Crimson Tide some consideration.

Verdict: None of the darkhorses appear to be realistic options. Of the rest, Massie should be considered a 50/50 shot. If Massie were to go ahead and commit elsewhere, it might give Alabama time enough to snare Moses or Siddoway. Of those two, Siddoway would be the more likely get. Alabama figures to add one more to its commitment list unless the timing of the Massie-Moses-Siddoway dance falls completely apart. We’ll bet that Massie ends up at Alabama.

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Offensive guards
Committed: Kellen Williams, 6-4 295 5.3 Snellville, Ga./Brookwood; Chance Warmack, 6-3 330 5.5 Atlanta, Ga./Westlake; Anthony Steen, 6-2 295 5.2 Clarksdale, Miss./Lee Academy

Recruiting: Quinton Washington 6-3 320 5.3 St. Stephen, S.C./Timberland

Comments: Williams bears surprising similarity to current Tide left guard Mike Johnson. When he was first recruited, he was considered a tackle prospect, but as his senior year of high school ball progressed, many observers began to see him as an eventual guard in college. He’ll probably need a redshirt once he hits campus. Warmack is expected to join Alabama in January as a midterm graduate. He’s also thought to be the most battle-ready player of the bunch. As for Steen, Alabama thinks it has found a real gem. Steen is one of the most aggressive linemen Alabama has recently recruited, but is not yet eligible. As for other players, Alabama is probably done unless Quinton Washington gets interested. Washington might be too good to pass up.

Darkhorses: Josh Lambert, a Georgia prospect, is a prototypical guard. While not high up a lot of recruiting lists, he could be a diamond in the rough. If Steen’s academics aren’t up to pay on Signing Day, he could be a substitute. Clay County’s Jeremy Simmons is a huge load at 6’4”, 350, but he hasn’t attracted as much attention as some thought he would this fall. Daniel Campbell of Hargrave claims an offer but is probably down Alabama’s list.

Verdict: Alabama retains Williams, Warmack and Steen, but signs no one else.

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Centers
Committed: None

Recruiting: None

Comments: Not much to talk about here, is there?

Darkhorses: Steven Josker, a JUCO player from California, is probably the highest rated player even sniffing in Alabama’s general direction, but his JUCO status will probably cause Alabama to shy away. Columbus, Miss.’s Billy Autrey would love an Alabama offer, but isn’t likely to get one.

Verdict: Alabama has no fewer than six options at center already on the team. The Tide won’t sign a center in 2009. ]]> JessN http://www.tidefans.com/forums/blogs/jessn/105-recruiting-tight-ends-offensive-linemen-make-difference-tide-offense.html http://www.tidefans.com/forums/blogs/jessn/103-breaking-down-gene-chizik-hire.html Sun, 14 Dec 2008 08:00:40 GMT If you'd asked me a couple of weeks ago who I thought would be, from Alabama's standpoint, the best-scenario hire Auburn could make for its head coaching position, I would have given you two names: Patrick Nix and Gene Chizik.

Little did I know even one of them would ever have a chance of coming to Auburn; now, both of them might.

From an Auburn perspective, this hire makes no sense at all. Auburn forced Tommy Tuberville out -- if you believe Tuberville resigned completely on his own free will, you're very, very naive -- and then fouled up the situation even worse by failing to hit a home run.

For that matter, Auburn didn't just fail to hit a home run, didn't just strike out swinging at ball four -- the bat flew out of its hands and nailed a small child in the first row.

Auburn, mostly, was guilty of having too big an opinion of itself. Tommy Tuberville was an excellent coach for the level of football Auburn is capable of playing. Tuberville fielded a contender every recruiting cycle, had proven he could go undefeated in the SEC -- no easy feat at all -- and proved to be more than just a thorn in Alabama's side. That's why, when Auburn started moving to get rid of him, most Alabama fans quietly "begged" Auburn not to throw them in that briarpatch.

But if Auburn was hellbent on getting rid of Tuberville, the Tiger brass could have still saved face by upgrading to a better coach. Fail.

Auburn interviewed Turner Gill, who made this site's own "Coaches to Watch" list, and passed. It interviewed Gary Patterson of TCU, and either he or Auburn (most likely Patterson) passed. Auburn talked to Brady Hoke, who had just completed an undefeated regular season before losing to Gill's team; to Jim Grobe, long considered one of the best technical coaches in the game; and Paul Johnson, who is in the process of leading the flexbone revival at Georgia Tech.

Instead, Auburn chose Chizik, who burned bridges during his last exit at Auburn, who managed to get sideways of the law in Iowa when starting a team chaplain program (http://www.iowastatedaily.com/articl...25-archive.txt) much the same as the one Auburn has employed, and -- by the way -- just finished going 5-19 in two seasons at Iowa State and is currently riding a 10-game losing streak.

Auburn must justify why it chose Chizik over Hoke, Gill, Johnson and others. It cannot hide from this -- but it will almost certainly try.

Auburn also interviewed Rodney Garner and Patrick Nix, two former players who spent 2008 as assistants at Georgia and Miami, respectively. Nix's name has been a part of every hot-seat rumor list imaginable, and Garner's gig at Georgia wasn't guaranteed. The interviews of those two coaches, coupled with word from some prospects that current assistant James Willis is staying on, possibly as defensive coordinator, and what you have is the makings of a recipe Alabama succeeded with in 1990 when then-Athletic Director Hootie Ingram crafted an assistant coaching staff for Gene Stallings.

Now, here's the difference: Chizik isn't Stallings, Auburn isn't Alabama and a lot of the coaches Ingram brought in were already wearing national championship rings. That's "RINGS." Plural.

And, Alabama didn't have Nick Saban sitting behind a desk in Lee County. Alabama was up against an aging, tiring Pat Dye. Auburn and Chizik get to deal with Saban in his prime, with recruiting going one way -- dead-due inbound into Tuscaloosa -- and the Crimson Tide coming off a 12-1 season and the darling of everyone.

There's really nothing about this that makes sense, not for any reasonable, logic-following person, anyway. What it does, is smell. It smells like a job that either no one wanted, or that Auburn's powers-that-be intended all along to fill with someone that would accept a ready-made staff. It would not be a surprise to see Garner and Nix sign up for duty in the next week or so.

Whatever Auburn's motives, the school ended its Saturday night squarely in the crosshairs of every national media outlet, and most of the regional and state ones, too.

Good luck. Alabama has been there, recently. It took the hiring of Nick Saban to fix things. Unfortunately for Auburn, Sabans don't come in twos. ]]> JessN http://www.tidefans.com/forums/blogs/jessn/103-breaking-down-gene-chizik-hire.html http://www.tidefans.com/forums/blogs/jessn/102-recruiting-qb-rb-may-set-but-what-about-wr.html Fri, 12 Dec 2008 05:46:21 GMT Over the next few weeks, we’ll be breaking down Alabama’s recruiting... Over the next few weeks, we’ll be breaking down Alabama’s recruiting targets and needs. This first installment will cover quarterbacks, running backs and receivers. The second installment will look at tight ends/fullbacks/H-backs and offensive linemen.

A breakdown of the defensive line will follow, followed by a linebacker breakdown and one on defensive backs.

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Quarterbacks
Committed: A.J. McCarron, 6-4 185 4.9 Mobile/St. Paul’s

Recruiting: Tyler Russell, 6-4 210 4.7 Meridian, Miss./Meridian; Clint Moseley, 6-4 200 4.7 Leroy/Leroy

Comments: Alabama got McCarron very quickly in the process and basically shut down after that. For months, the big question was whether Alabama would offer Clint Moseley, a small-school in-state prospect who runs well and has decent passing skills. The best way to describe Moseley – who is an Alabama fan – is that if McCarron hadn’t been in this class and/or Mike Shula was still the coach, Moseley would probably be an Alabama commitment. As it is, it looks like Alabama is going to bypass him. As for Russell, who is currently committed to Mississippi State, the hiring of Dan Mullen there as head coach probably stops the Russell-to-UA talk. Alabama didn’t seem to have another quarterback slot budgeted, anyway, so adding Russell would probably have cost Alabama a DE or CB recruit.

Darkhorses: Ryan Mossakowski, a Kentucky commitment, briefly considered Alabama. While he is highly thought of, Alabama will probably pass.

Verdict: McCarron and McCarron only.

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Running backs
Committed: Trent Richardson, 5-11 225 4.5 Pensacola, Fla./Escambia

Recruiting: Eddie Lacy, 6-0 210 4.4 Geismar, La./Dutchtown; Ronnie Wingo, 6-1 215 4.5 St. Louis, Mo./St. Louis University; Kendrick Hardy, 6-1 215 4.5 Monticello, Miss./Lawrence County; De’Antwan Williams, 5-7 200 4.5 Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge; Montrell Conner, 6-2 215 4.6 Monroe, La./Ouachita

Comments: Richardson was an early commitment to Alabama but to say he’s been a little soft in his commitment would be a fair statement. Richardson has taken long looks at LSU and Florida and may still be looking. Alabama’s primary competition is probably the Gators, but to say Florida doesn’t make great use of big running backs would be like saying Tennessee fans like to wear orange a lot. Of the rest, the biggest name is Lacy, but potential grade issues may render him a sign-and-place for whoever eventually gets his signature. The other issue is that Richardson may not want to be part of a large class at his position. The only other name on the list considered a threat to actually sign with Alabama is Ronnie Wingo, and he may not stay at running back if he does. Wingo is also considered a prospect at everything from cornerback to safety to linebacker, and bears a resemblance physically to Chris Jordan, who signed with Alabama as a running back last year and then promptly moved to defense. One thing is certain, looking at this group: The numbers “6-1 215 4.5” come up a lot, meaning Alabama is targeting a bigger running back than the Mike Shula prototype. Kendrick Hardy is a name to watch if Richardson flips to another school. Montrell Conner is a Mississippi State commitment, but with Dan Mullen’s arrival, he’s now in the same boat Richardson would be in should he select Florida. The outlier is De’Antwan Williams, a smaller back who reminds a lot of people of Arkansas’ 2008 starter, Michael Smith.

Darkhorses: Onterio McCalebb, who is expected to sign with Auburn, is a prospect at both slot receiver and running back. Some liken him to Ole Miss’ Dexter McCluster. Another scatback, LaDarius Abrams of West Monroe, La., could be an option if Alabama wants to add some speed.

Verdict: Richardson, assuming he sticks with his commitment. If he doesn’t, Alabama might try to replace him with Hardy, or sign Wingo and leave him at running back. Any scatback on the list should be considered a separate position; at this time, Alabama appears to have bigger needs.

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Wide receivers
Committed: Michael Bowman, 6-4 215 4.6 Rossville, Ga./Ridgeland

Recruiting: Kendall Kelly, 6-4 210 4.5 Gadsden/Gadsden; Chad Bumphis, 5-10, 190, 4.4, Tupelo, Miss./Tupelo; Kenny Bell, 6-1 170 4.4 Rayville, La./Rayville; Kevin Norwood, 6-3 185 Biloxi, Miss./D’Iberville; Pat Patterson, 6-2 205 4.6 Macon, Miss./Noxubee County; Adam Hall, 6-4 208 Tucson, Ariz./Palo Verde; Reuben Randle, 6-3 200 4.5 Bastrop, La./Bastrop; Marsalis Teague, 5-10 170 4.4 Paris, Tenn./Henry County

Comments: Aside from getting a pass-rushing defensive end, there is no position of greater need for Alabama in this class than wide receiver. Alabama either needs to get a minimum of two traditional wideouts in this class, which would allow Darius Hanks and Marquis Maze to play the slot exclusively, or grab a game-changer at the slot position along with at least one other outside receiver. The one receiver committed, Bowman, is much like Earl Alexander in build, but is more polished as a receiver. There is still some question as to whether he’ll end up at linebacker, so look for Alabama to grab two out of the next group listed. On that list, Bumphis and Teague are considered slot possibilities. Alabama seems to prefer Bumphis but he’s had plenty of opportunities to look away from the in-state schools and has yet to do so. As soon as Mullen was hired at Mississippi State, Bumphis was linked to the Bulldogs. That says, among other things, that he might want to stay closer to home. Of the others, the easy pick would seem to be the in-state Kendall Kelly, but Alabama hasn’t been as hot after Kelly as many thought prior to the season. The big name for Alabama is Reuben Randle, considered by some to be the top prospect in the country this year. It will come down to an Alabama-LSU-Miami three-way fight for his services, and there’s no clear leader right now, at least in public. The next name to watch is Kevin Norwood, whose stock is fast rising. Adam Hall, an Arizona prospect, may not be able to overcome the distance. Like Kelly, it’s odd that Pat Patterson’s name hasn’t gotten more play. He’s a physical receiver with good speed, reminiscent of a more talented Shamari Buchanan or Jason McAddley. Kenny Bell, who could play either outside or the slot, appears to be sticking to his commitment to LSU.

Darkhorses: Several message boards have been buzzing about a supposed “mystery recruit,” which is most likely a player from outside the region that has yet to be publicly linked to Alabama. But if you want a real shocker, consider Deangelo Benton, who signed with LSU, then went to Hargrave and is supposed to be heading back to LSU in January. That’s where he’ll probably end up, but this one isn’t over until it’s over, with two cents to Yogi Berra. Closer to reality would be Alabama turning Auburn commitment and Jess Lanier receiver Brandon Heavens, but Alabama probably has better options. Reform-Pickens County’s Mardrecas Hood was once thought to be a shoe-in for this class but fell completely off the radar screen.

Verdict: Alabama holds onto Bowman, who is being pursued by Georgia, and adds Norwood, Teague and Randle. If Randle goes to Miami or LSU, look for Alabama to push for Kelly. Either scenario would give Alabama everything it needs in this class to round out its receiver unit. ]]> JessN http://www.tidefans.com/forums/blogs/jessn/102-recruiting-qb-rb-may-set-but-what-about-wr.html http://www.tidefans.com/forums/blogs/jessn/99-recruiting-more-come-but-whats-already-bag-astounding.html Thu, 04 Dec 2008 06:41:30 GMT It might be a bad time to talk about recruiting, with the season not over... It might be a bad time to talk about recruiting, with the season not over and so many other teams in a state of coaching flux (and, by definition, recruiting flux as well) -- but in Alabama, there's never really a "bad" time to talk recruiting.

First out of the gate is this discussion, which I'm going to limit to the players Alabama already has committed. As the next few weeks go by, we'll continue to look at other uncommitted athletes, but to start with I want to give a basic rundown of how I see this all shaking out.

The big question everyone is asking is, "How many will Alabama take?" The answer varies. Alabama will probably bring in at least 21 players after signing anywhere from 24-32. How that will work out, I don't know. Alabama has roughly 9 seniors on scholarship (I say "roughly" because the public often isn't aware of who is or isn't on scholarship; the fact they signed on Signing Day in the past is no guarantee) and a couple of juniors (Andre Smith, Terrence Cody) who could be leaving school early. There are probably a couple of grants-in-aid (GIAs) unfilled from the last class. It's possible that a Mike Johnson or a Javier Arenas could opt to leave early, but I doubt it. The rest of that magic number of 21 -- and it could be as high as 25 -- will have to come from attrition.

Also, keep in mind that Alabama plans to bring in Kerry Murphy and Jermaine Preyear in January, and both those guys figure to be on scholarship.

Here's the 2008-2009 recruiting class so far, broken down by position.

QBs (1): A.J. McCarron, Mobile/St. Paul's
McCarron isn't what I'd call a great athlete at the QB position a la Star Jackson or even Tyler Watts, but he can move well enough that once you see what he can do with the football throwing it, you realize why the UA staff is so high on him. Sources say the staff is in love with his abilities and the way he manages and leads a team. I say I wouldn't be surprised to see him play as a true freshman, particularly if Jackson, Greg McElroy and Thomas Darrah struggle big-time in the spring. Arm strength won't be an issue.

RBs (1): Trent Richardson, Pensacola, Fla./Escambia
Richardson has played coy with the media all year; he's a commitment, he's looking around, he's committed, he's considering LSU...etc., etc. Smart money says he sticks with Alabama, particularly with the way LSU imploded down the stretch. Over the years, I've found highlight film on running backs is among the most misleading -- they all can be made to look like Bobby Humphrey or Walter Payton with the right film editor -- but Richardson has been quite impressive. He's the kind of back Alabama doesn't have at the moment -- bigger than Glen Coffee, as fast or faster than Mark Ingram. If he sticks with Alabama, I predict he'll play next year and play a lot, probably to the detriment of guys like Jeramie Griffin or even Roy Upchurch, unless Upchurch supplants Baron Huber at fullback. Best RB I've seen on film in about three years.

WR (1): Michael Bowman, Rossville, Ga./Ridgeland
Here's a position group that's definitely going to grow by February. The only commitment right now is Bowman, and some feel he'll eventually end up on defense, a la DeVonta Bolton from last year's class. If he stays on offense, Bowman is of similar build and specs to Earl Alexander or Julio Jones -- although obviously, he's not of Jones' caliber as a natural WR, or there would be no talk of defense at all. Still, with Alabama lacking a playmaker opposite Jones, Bowman will probably get his first look on offense.

OL (6): D.J. Fluker, Foley/Foley; Kellen Williams, Snellville, Ga./Brookwood; Darius McKellar, Jonesboro, Ga./Jonesboro; Chance Warmack, Atlanta, Ga./Westlake; Anthony Steen, Clarksdale, Miss./Lee Academy; James Carpenter (JUCO), Augusta, Ga./Coffeyville JC

There are already as many as six prospects here with as many as three more to come, which should tell UA fans what Nick Saban thinks about the current second OL. I say "as many as six" because D.J. Fluker might go to defensive tackle, or even defensive end at 6'7", 320.

Fluker is the biggest name committed so far, a true top-level athlete who projects at several different positions. If he stays on offense, he projects as a left tackle.

Carpenter, a junior college player, is being signed to start right away. He's telling people that he'll go to right tackle first unless Andre Smith comes out early. The word "unless" is like saying the bank will take back your house "unless" you pay your mortgage. In other words, Smith is going pro and say hello to UA's new left tackle.

Williams and McKellar are reasons coaches evaluate prospects, not journalists. Neither was a real front-line prospect -- until 2008. Both have had excellent senior seasons. Williams looks like a Mike Johnson redux; McKellar is a tackle prospect who needs some seasoning yet (and a lot of time on the weights), but should be a good player 2-3 years down the road.

Warmack and Steen are two of the players with the biggest upside in this class. Warmack will be in Tuscaloosa for spring practice, and it's not out of the realm of possibility to believe that he could grab the right guard spot that Marlon Davis will be vacating. As for Steen, UA coaches are extraordinarily high on him, and he reportedly has a mean streak that makes him perfect for his position.

DE (3): Chris Bonds, Columbia, S.C., Richland Northeast; Anthony Orr, Harvest/Sparkman; William Ming, Athens/Athens
The big name here is Bonds, who if he's healthy, could be another Eric Curry. The problem is, if he's healthy. He's had problems with both knees and has missed large chunks of playing time. But he's also a big defensive end already the size of Brandon Deaderick, and if those knees hold up he could be a terror at strongside end.

William Ming projects at either end slot. His high-motor play is reminiscent of Jarrett Johnson, but he has the frame to play bigger. Anthony Orr needs to develop some consistency to his game, but he passes the athlete test. There would seem to be room for one guy, at least, to play as a true freshman.

DT (3): D.J. Fluker, Foley/Foley; Quinton Dial, Pinson/Clay-Chalkville; Darrington Sentimore, Destrehan, La./Destrehan
If Fluker goes to defense, he could play in or out, but the most likely scenario would be noseguard. Several observers see another John Henderson in him.

Dial is the prototypical big tackle. Some believe he has a future at offensive tackle, but with Alabama signing as many as eight or nine pure OL, there would be no sense in adding Dial to that mix. Dial checks in somewhere between Luther Davis and Josh Chapman in terms of style of play, but he's bigger than both.

Sentimore is a "small" tackle who could also play strongside end. At his current size, he's about on par with Damion Square. He makes a good candidate to go in at tackle alongside a bigger tackle when Alabama shifts to its 4-2-5 nickel look. LSU used a handful of players built like this, most notably Chad Lavalais, to run over opposing offenses for years.

LB (2): Nico Johnson, Andalusia/Andalusia; Mike Marrow, Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic
Assuming Marrow doesn't play fullback, he'll end up behind Dont'a Hightower at inside linebacker. If he goes to fullback, Alabama would have to switch up its base offensive set somewhat to accommodate him, as Alabama has moved more towards an Ace look for its base this year. It's nice to have options.

Nico Johnson can play inside or outside, but with his size (6'2", 235), he looks to give Alabama the "big" option it currently lacks at outside linebacker, Cory Reamer's current position. Given his versatility, he's one of the most anticipated defensive signees in this class.

CB (1): Gerald West, Mobile/Faith Academy
West is a pure cover corner, and reminds a lot of people of former Alabama great Ramzee Robinson in build and speed. West waffled a bit on his commitment in the early going, but with Sylvester Croom out at Mississippi State, he seems to have solidified his pledge to Alabama. There won't be a rush to play him early next year, so West will be able to grow into the position.

S (1): Rod Woodson, Olive Branch, Miss./Olive Branch
This is our sleeper star of the class so far. Woodson is considered a stellar prospect anyway, but I believe we could be looking at a future dominator in the middle of the Alabama defense. If Woodson can put behind some issues with an ankle, he could very well compete for a starting job in fall 2009. And considering his competition for the job will be Mark Barron, that's saying something.

Check back next week when we take a look at some of Alabama's targets at the offensive skill positions. ]]> JessN http://www.tidefans.com/forums/blogs/jessn/99-recruiting-more-come-but-whats-already-bag-astounding.html http://www.tidefans.com/forums/blogs/jessn/98-bowl-picture-clears-up.html Mon, 01 Dec 2008 01:13:48 GMT This blog is starting to develop a flavor similar to the "Saw" horror movie series for some, I'm sure. Here's the last -- I promise -- bowl projection post before invitations are actually handed out and I have to actually review the matchups.

Alabama/Florida: Georgia's loss locked Alabama into a BCS bowl Saturday before the outcome of the Auburn game was ever even close to being decided. Once Florida beat Florida State and Alabama pummeled Auburn, it locked the loser of this game into the Sugar and the winner into the BCS Championship Game. The participant in the Sugar will likely get Utah, while the winner of the SEC Championship Game stands about a 99 percent chance of getting Oklahoma or Texas, with only Southern Cal remaining in the picture. And if Southern Cal is to elevate itself into the title game, it would take a huge voter reversal in the final poll.

Georgia: Conventional wisdom says 9-3 Georgia stays ahead of 8-4 Ole Miss in the pecking order, even though if the two were to meet right now I'd pick Ole Miss to win it. If Georgia stays where it is, the Bulldogs will get the Capital One Bowl versus Michigan State. The Spartans are much like Alabama and Ole Miss, but with a lot less speed -- a physical team with a Nick Saban disciple as head coach. Georgia is a mess, but the Bulldogs seem to be able to do a mental reset once bowl season rolls around. This one could go either way, including being a blowout either way.

Ole Miss: The Rebels will fall to the Cotton against Texas Tech unless Missouri beats Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship Game. At that point, they'd get Oklahoma. Either team is a bad match for the Rebels due to Ole Miss' weak secondary. Texas Tech, at least, has proven to be vulnerable to physical teams, so Ole Miss would have a chance to shorten the game and perhaps steal one there. If the Rebels end up with Oklahoma -- and if the Sooners land here, it would be because they had been upset and likely quite ticked off about it -- Ole Miss could get smoked.

LSU: With South Carolina also falling like a rock lately, the Outback Bowl is a possibility for LSU against Iowa or Northwestern. But the most likely destination is the Chick-fil-A against an ACC team, which could very well be Georgia Tech. Unless LSU develops some defensive discipline overnight, the Tigers run the risk of duplicating Georgia's dubious feat and getting waylaid by the Yellow Jackets. There might be a push to send Georgia Tech elsewhere, though, given that the Chick-fil-A wouldn't represent a real bowl "trip," and if that happens, the Chick-fil-A opponent would probably switch to the loser of the Boston College-Virginia Tech matchup in the ACC Championship Game. Either of those teams would be a better matchup for LSU.

South Carolina: It looks like the Gamecocks will back into a very good bowl slot, the Outback, by default. In this matchup, they'll get either Iowa or Northwestern. Northwestern would present the easier matchup for USC, given that Northwestern's offensive scheme would play right into South Carolina's hands. Iowa overachieved this year relative to its talent, but the Hawkeyes are more physical and South Carolina's front seven on defense has had problems at times this year containing such teams. The biggest question is how many empty seats will be in this stadium, particularly if small-crowd Northwestern gets the nod out of the Big Ten.

Vanderbilt: The Commodores actually finished third in the SEC East this year when all was said and done, while Kentucky, by its league record, finished dead last. If the Liberty Bowl goes by this pecking order to select its representative, Vanderbilt should get it despite Kentucky having a larger fan base and a more dynamic team. Whoever gets this bid will end up with the winner of Tulsa-East Carolina, and if it's Tulsa, as expected, things might not be pretty. Arkansas narrowly escaped being beaten by Tulsa in the regular season, and Arkansas actually has an offense. Neither Kentucky nor Vanderbilt does at the moment, and either would be an underdog in this game.

Kentucky: Assuming the Liberty follows protocol and picks Vanderbilt, Kentucky will end up in Nashville. It's a good fit for Kentucky and Music City Bowl officials seem to like the Wildcats. One of five different ACC teams will end up here: Maryland, Wake Forest, Clemson, North Carolina or Miami. The most likely selections would be North Carolina or Miami, and other analysts are projecting the Tarheels for the slot.

That would likely lead to the SEC capping off one of its worst bowl records in years, as few SEC teams would be favored in these matchups. The SEC winner should win the BCS National Championship Game based on defense alone, although the sexier offenses of the Big 12 will probably lead bettors to a different conclusion beforehand. The Sugar Bowl representative will absolutely be favored over Utah, and Georgia will probably get the nod over the Big Ten representative in the Cap One. The rest all look like dangerous, ill-fitting matchups for SEC teams.

Check back later in the week, when we'll talk recruiting for a bit. ]]> JessN http://www.tidefans.com/forums/blogs/jessn/98-bowl-picture-clears-up.html http://www.tidefans.com/forums/blogs/jessn/97-quick-take-where-bowl-bids-stand.html Wed, 26 Nov 2008 06:35:09 GMT I know this particular blog subject is beginning to rival "The Young and the Restless" for length and amount of time on the air, but we're almost there, kids.

Here's how the SEC bowl picture stands heading into the final week of the regular season.

Alabama/Florida- I'm not going to spoil the article that offers my official take a week early. Are you kidding me? Instead, I'll just note the obvious: If both teams get out of their rivalry games this weekend alive, the winner of the SEC Championship Game will go to the BCS Championship Game and the loser will go to the Sugar Bowl. Right now, the opponent in the BCS title game would be Texas and the Sugar Bowl opponent would likely be Utah.

Georgia- Georgia is a lock for the Capital One unless the following scenario happens: Alabama loses to Auburn, then gets smoked by Florida and the Bulldogs beat Georgia Tech. In that event, if the voters place Georgia ahead of Alabama (the voters have been cool on the Dawgs for several weeks now, as Georgia continues to win without impressing), Georgia would get the Sugar and Alabama the Cap One. If Georgia loses to Tech, Alabama's back in the Sugar regardless of its last two games. The opponent here will either be Ohio State or Michigan State, most likely the Spartans.

Ole Miss- What a difference a week makes. If the Rebels beat Mississippi State, which is expected, they'll likely end up going to the Cotton Bowl ahead of the Tigers, where as of this moment, they'd probably get the loser of the Big 12 Championship Game (most likely Missouri), or Texas Tech or Oklahoma. Given the weakness in the Ole Miss secondary, the Cotton won't exactly pass for a reward if you're an Ole Miss fan by the time the beating finishes up.

LSU- It'll likely be either the Outback or the Chick-fil-A for LSU, probably the Chick-fil-A. If it's the Outback, the Tigers will probably get Northwestern. If it's Atlanta, look for LSU to end up with Maryland.

South Carolina- All signs point to the Outback, although Clemson could send the Cocks down another rung with a win. Same opponent scenarios as for LSU.

Kentucky- The Tennessee game is huge for the Wildcats; a loss likely sends them to Nashville while a win could land them in Memphis for the Liberty. It all depends on how Vanderbilt finishes. If South Carolina continues to flame out, however, and Kentucky looks impressive against the Vols, anything up to the level of the Outback is possible. Look for Houston or East Carolina to be the opponent in the Liberty; the Music City would feature either North Carolina or Georgia Tech, most likely.

Vanderbilt- A win against Wake Forest would lock the Commodores into at least the Liberty, and possibly even the Chick-fil-A or Outback. A loss would leave the Commodores hoping Kentucky also lost to avoid having to play a bowl game in its hometown.

Auburn- Win against Alabama, and it's likely a trip to Shreveport to face Louisiana-Lafayette or Kansas. Lose and the season is over. But depending on what happens with Kentucky and Vanderbilt, Auburn could sneak into the Liberty or Music City.

Arkansas- An upset loss to the Bulldogs ended the Razorbacks' bowl hopes. They join Mississippi State and Tennessee on the scrap pile.

Look for a final bowl projection next week, followed by some recruiting talk. ]]> JessN http://www.tidefans.com/forums/blogs/jessn/97-quick-take-where-bowl-bids-stand.html http://www.tidefans.com/forums/blogs/jessn/95-wild-guesses-bowl-game-destinations.html Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:20:06 GMT When I had to post a recent breakdown of the SEC bowl picture as an... When I had to post a recent breakdown of the SEC bowl picture as an article rather than a blog -- since it was was 2,890 characters too long for our blog software -- I knew I was in for trouble.

You can read the official story here: http://tidefans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79515

The SEC's bowl picture right now is about as predictable as cow-chip bingo: Lots of crap, and no one knows where it's all going to land.

Here's my best guess on the postseason right now:

BCS Championship Game & Sugar Bowl: Alabama, Florida
I'm going to hedge for right now at picking the winner of the SEC Championship Game. Obviously, with two teams in the BCS and Alabama in the mix for the big prize, I feel my preseason pick of Alabama over Auburn is going to hold up.

As for the opponent, I like the winner of the Texas Tech-Oklahoma game. Even though Texas beat Oklahoma in the regular season, I don't see Texas remaining above the Sooners if Oklahoma beats both Tech and then Missouri in the Big 12 Championship Game. If Oklahoma falters against Oklahoma State in a week, I like Texas for the game. I don't see USC getting back into the picture.

Capital One Bowl: Georgia vs. Michigan State
Even though the Big Ten is down this year, Michigan State is a very good team and this represents a bad matchup for Georgia. The Spartans are Alabama Lite. They're physical, but they also have good talent at the skill positions.

The only question in my mind is whether MSU could shut down Georgia's offense. This one has all the look of an upset, because Georgia would certainly be favored here. The Capital One always seems to field a smashmouth team from the Big Ten and this year is no different.

Outback Bowl: South Carolina vs. Northwestern
This one has all the makings of a game no one will watch. Iowa is also in the mix for this bowl from the Big 10 side but all Northwestern has to do is beat a struggling Illinois team and they're in.

What would make this matchup a lot better is if Vanderbilt wins out and gets picked instead of the Gamecocks, which would allow the SEC and the Big Ten to bill this as the Scholar's Bowl and stage a math-off at halftime.

Cotton Bowl: LSU vs. Texas
LSU is seen as toxic right now given how far short of expectations the Tigers fell. If Ole Miss beats LSU this week and then wins over Mississippi State, which is expected, the Rebels will not only match our TideFans/NARCAS preseason 8-4 pick but will probably get the Cotton Bowl bid. LSU likely won't travel well this year after such a letdown from the past couple of seasons.

However, it likely won't matter in regards to who wins this game -- Texas will smoke either team in a bad way. Final prediction, though, is for LSU to hold on to beat Ole Miss and wrap this bid up.

Chick-fil-A Bowl: Kentucky vs. Florida State
The Chick-fil-A folks usually get a strong SEC team and a not-so-strong ACC team; this year, the roles are reversed. No matter who shows up here from the SEC side -- whether it's Kentucky, Vanderbilt, South Carolina or Ole Miss -- they're likely to be playing the role of the underdog.

The only exception would be if LSU gets knocked out of the Cotton by Ole Miss, at which point the CFAB could pit LSU and Florida State against one another in a battle of disappointments. Picking FSU is just a shot in the dark; nine other ACC teams are in the running. As for Kentucky, the Wildcats seem the most likely pick here, so long as Vandy goes 6-6, due to the Wildcats' superior fan base traveling tendencies. But the Wildcats need to beat Tennessee first.

Liberty Bowl: Vanderbilt vs. Tulsa
What everyone hopes to avoid is a rematch of Vanderbilt-Wake Forest just more than a month after the original game is played. That alone may be enough to force the SEC to place Vanderbilt here instead of the Music City Bowl. Vandy can ensure being able to go out of town for its bowl game by beating either Tennessee or Wake.

If it ends up in the Liberty, it will get Conference USA's champion, which is likely to be the winner of either East Carolina-Tulsa or East Carolina-Houston. If Houston beats Rice this weekend, the Cougars will most likely get to face the Pirates for the title and Tulsa would be bounced to a lower bowl. A Vandy-Tulsa matchup pits strength vs. strength (Tulsa passing offense vs. Vanderbilt secondary) and weakness vs. weakness (Vandy offense vs. Tulsa defense) and would be reasonably entertaining. Just seeing Vanderbilt in a bowl, any bowl, is going to be reasonably entertaining.

Music City Bowl: Ole Miss vs. Virginia Tech
Just as bowl organizers don't want to see Vandy-Wake Forest for a second time, the same applies to a Wake vs. Ole Miss matchup, which would repeat the Sept. 6 game between the two teams. It's amazing to think that Virginia Tech could slip this far, but the reality is the Hokies might not get this high.

The MCB takes the ACC's 5/6/7 slotted team, which is where Wake, Virginia Tech and Florida State will likely end up along with either North Carolina or Boston College. An Ole Miss-Virginia Tech matchup would sort of be a lighter-weight version of an Alabama/Michigan State matchup in the Capital One Bowl, something Alabama fans hope doesn't come to pass. Look for Ole Miss to win this one if it happens.

Missing the postseason: Auburn, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Tennessee
Tennessee and Mississippi State are already out. Auburn is out unless the Tigers can upset Alabama, and I don't see that happening.

That leaves Arkansas, which will probably beat Mississippi State this weekend and set up a one-game-for-all-the-marbles scenario with LSU the final week. LSU's offense has some kind of terminal ailment right now, and many observers are just waiting until it finally croaks. If the Tigers lose against Ole Miss, all bets are off against Arkansas and the Razorbacks might sneak in.

If they do, they'll most likely end up in Shreveport unless the conference pushes them for the Music City in order to help get a 6-6 Vandy team out of town for once. Whoever ends up in Shreveport could very well end up facing Louisiana-Lafayette as a substitute for a Big 12 slot that won't be filled. It seems the only way the Big 12 will have enough teams is if Colorado upsets Nebraska to finish its season. If it does -- and if Kansas loses, as expected, to Missouri -- both will finish 6-6. At that point, look for Shreveport to opt for Kansas to avoid a repeat trip from the Buffaloes. And if it is indeed Kansas that makes the trip, the Jayhawks would likely trounce Arkansas.

Check back next week for updates. ]]> JessN http://www.tidefans.com/forums/blogs/jessn/95-wild-guesses-bowl-game-destinations.html http://www.tidefans.com/forums/blogs/jessn/94-best-coaches-you-may-may-not-have-heard.html Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:08:31 GMT We used to do an article called "Coaches to Watch" here at TideFans, but we've gotten away from that somewhat in recent years.

Part of the problem has been a lack of up-and-comers that were showing promise. The other issue is that, with the advent of sports message boards, there aren't a lot of hidden gems left. Everyone, for instance, knows who Chris Petersen (Boise State) is.

So instead of a list of coaches of the future, here's a list of guys, mostly at non-BCS schools, who you may or may not have heard of, and why you might be hearing of them soon, as several schools in and near the Southeast begin to look for coaches. They are listed in no particular order:

Brian Kelly, Cincinnati- like Petersen, most people already know about Kelly. What many don't know is that he already has two national titles under his belt from Grand Valley State. He's an inventive offensive coach and shouldn't have any problem succeeding at a larger school.

Turner Gill, Buffalo- Buffalo is bowl-eligible for the first time in school history and Gill is largely to thank for that. Gill won't be long for Buffalo, largely considered one of the hardest jobs in Division-IA. Many Nebraska fans wanted him instead of Bo Pelini and if Nebraska continues to struggle, those fans might just get what they want.

David Bailiff, Rice- Relative to where a team was picked prior to the season, no one has exceeded expectations more than Bailiff, whose team was expected to finish around 3-9 but is instead 7-3 and tied for Conference USA's West Division lead. Bailiff has only been a head coach for five years, and only two of them in Division-IA, plus he's no spring chicken at 50 years old. But he has a long history in Texas football and may get on radar screens at Texas A&M or Arizona if those programs continue to flounder.

Bill Cubit, Western Michigan- A former assistant at Florida, Cubit's WMU team is 9-2 this year and has become a consistent winner. Cubit is 55 years old and probably has one move left in him.

Brady Hoke, Ball State- Hoke went from unknown to minor celebrity this year as the Cardinals are undefeated. More so than anything else, Ball State University seems to have little interest in investing in its program long-term, so look for Hoke to jump at the first opportunity. It wouldn't be surprising to see him at Indiana or possibly Illinois if Ron Zook washes out there.

Chris Ault, Nevada- Ault is in his 60s and has been at Nevada forever, part of the time as its AD. It's his alma mater, and he's not going anywhere. But more people need to know who he is. Not only is Nevada bowl-eligible again, but Ault is just three wins away from 200 career wins -- all of them coming at Nevada. He is the inventor of the Pistol offense, which has become a staple of most spread-option attacks. It's a shame that Ault never got to coach on a bigger stage. And how a coach can get near 200 wins these days without the media jumping on it is a mystery in itself.

Rick Stockstill, MTSU- When Stockstill, who was a trusted assistant of Steve Spurrier's at South Carolina and his recruiting coordinator there, got the job at MTSU, he had quite a hill to climb. The team, under former coach Andy McCollum, had become undisciplined and academics were a big issue. Stockstill probably has fewer scholarshipped players on his roster than any other team in Division-IA, yet MTSU is scrappy and upset Maryland in Week 2 this year. Stockstill knows how to recruit and has a lot of experience in the Southeast. Once he gets MTSU's scholarship level back up to standards, he should get the Blue Raiders to the top of the Sun Belt.

Randy Edsall, Connecticut- Edsall is on the verge of getting himself off this list. With his experience as an assistant at Georgia Tech and in the NFL, he could be very attractive to a Southeastern team looking for a coach. If Auburn lets Tommy Tuberville go after this year, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Edsall's name come up.

Derek Dooley- The former Nick Saban assistant and son of Georgia legend Vince Dooley, Derek Dooley currently has Louisiana Tech bowl-eligible and is doing it the Saban way, by recruiting well and instilling discipline. Dooley is a Virginia grad, and if Al Groh gets cut down this year or next (it wouldn't be a surprise), look for Dooley to return. He's probably also on Auburn's potential short list.

Check back later in the week for an update on SEC bowl hopes. ]]> JessN http://www.tidefans.com/forums/blogs/jessn/94-best-coaches-you-may-may-not-have-heard.html http://www.tidefans.com/forums/blogs/jessn/93-quick-look-around-sec-some-bowl-thoughts.html Tue, 11 Nov 2008 07:09:47 GMT I'm not promising I can keep this blog current each week, but I'm going to give it a shot considering the weekly wrap-up columns don't leave me enough room to touch on other things.

* SEC 2008: Some national pundits are beginning to float the thought that the SEC is having a "down year." Inspection says they're right, depending on where they are looking.

The top of the SEC is as strong as ever: Alabama, Florida and Georgia are all ranked in the BCS top 10 and LSU is having a solid season. The bottom of the SEC is just as dangerous as it is in any season.

The weakness is in the middle. The conferences fifth (Tennessee) and sixth (Auburn) teams this year have both wet the bed up to this point. The SEC's fifth-best team at this point is South Carolina. Coming in at sixth is probably Ole Miss, although Kentucky has a better record. This leads to...

* ...Bowl busters: The SEC has bowl tie-ins with the BCS, the Capital One Bowl, the Outback Bowl, the Cotton, the Chick-fil-A (sorry, chikin, it will always be the Peach to me), the Music City, the Liberty, the Independence and now the Papa John's Bowl in Birmingham. If the SEC puts two teams into the BCS, which is starting to look like more and more of a lock every week, that gives the SEC as many as 10 bowl slots.

Well, here's how many teams are currently guaranteed of the postseason: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU, South Carolina, Kentucky. Six teams.

Tennessee not only won't make it; the Vols hold the dubious distinction of being the first team eliminated from postseason consideration. That leaves five teams to fight for three or four bowl spots. Here they are, and what it would take for them to reach eligibility:

Mississippi State (3-6): To get eligible, State has to win out. That includes beating Alabama and Ole Miss, games where the Bulldogs will be heavy underdogs, and beating a vulnerable Arkansas team. One more loss sinks the ship.

Arkansas (4-6): Arkansas must beat Mississippi State on the road and LSU in a quasi-neutral-site game in Little Rock. The Mississippi State game is a toss-up but LSU should clobber Arkansas.

Vanderbilt (5-4): Vandy gets Kentucky, Tennessee at home and then Wake Forest on the road. Despite Tennessee's struggles, Kentucky is probably still the Commodores' best bet given how the two teams match up physically. The problem with the 'Dores is not physical, however, it's mental. It would not be a surprise to see Vandy lose these three games by a total of 10 points or less and end up home for the holidays.

Auburn (5-5): Georgia and Alabama remain. Auburn must win one of the two to get bowl-eligible. Auburn is a poor matchup physically for Georgia, but Auburn may not be able to take advantage of it. The Alabama game should be close but Alabama should win. If Auburn doesn't beat Georgia this week, it's probably over.

Ole Miss (5-4): Ole Miss has the easiest road. The Rebels host Louisiana-Monroe this week, then close with LSU on the road (they'll lose that one) before finishing with Mississippi State. Look for the Rebels to finish 7-5.

Back to the big bowl picture: Arkansas and Mississippi State can't both be eligible. Each has six losses already and the two face each other. That means, in the best-case scenario, the SEC will fill its bowl allotment with at least one and probably two 6-6 teams. More likely, both Arkansas and Mississippi State will fall short, Auburn will get bounced and Vanderbilt is 50/50 at best. Ole Miss should make it.

That would leave the following scenario:

BCS1 - Alabama (or Florida, but let's dream) vs. the No. 2 team in the country, which I'll project as either Texas Tech or Oklahoma.

BCS2 - Florida in the Sugar, probably against Utah (Urban Meyer's old team), Ohio State or Cincinnati. In other words, one of the worst BCS bowl matchups imaginable unless the Sugar lucks out and catches Ohio State for a rematch of the championship game two years ago, which happens to be the least likely of the three scenarios.

Cap One - Georgia vs. Big 10, most likely the Penn State-Michigan State loser. If it's Michigan State, prepare for a bad showing from the SEC. The Spartans are physical, and Georgia is allergic to physical.

Outback - South Carolina vs. Big 10, most likely Northwestern or Iowa. LSU should actually get this slot but the Outback will take South Carolina for travel purposes, setting up some version of a 27-13 game that the Cocks should win.

Cotton - LSU vs. Big 12, likely Oklahoma or Oklahoma State, maybe Texas Tech. Given how weak LSU's secondary is, this one looks like it could get ugly. The Sooners would be the likely opponent here if Texas Tech doesn't lose. Oklahoma or Tech would probably beat LSU by 20 if the game were being played this weekend, and that's being super-generous. Oklahoma State may be more pretender than contender, though. LSU should hope for a date with the Cowboys.

Chick-fil-A - Kentucky vs. ACC. This one's a doozy. There are literally seven ACC teams in the running for this bowl: FSU, Wake, Maryland, BC, North Carolina, VaTech, Miami and Georgia Tech. Of that list, it's most likely to be Virginia Tech, Wake or Maryland. Meanwhile, Kentucky will be playing in a bowl about five stratospheres above its true abilities. It's hard to imagine a scenario where the Wildcats win. They should hope for Wake or Maryland.

Liberty - Ole Miss vs. C-USA champ, which will likely be Tulsa. That will pit Houston Nutt against his former offensive coordinator, Gus Mulzahn, instantly making this the most interesting of any SEC bowl outside the two BCS games. These two teams couldn't be much more different in style than they currently are.

Music City - Vanderbilt vs. ACC. How about that. Vandy has a shot to get bowl-eligible only to find itself driving about 5 miles northeast to play in the Titans' stadium. No one is going to be happy with this arrangement, and if there's a way for the MCB to dump Vandy off on the Independence folks and pick an at-large team instead, I look for it to happen. Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of bowl folks, either, than the guys who run the MCB, if you ask me. As for the opponent, take a look at the ACC list above for the Peac...er, Chikin Bowl. I'll bet it ends up being Maryland or Georgia Tech.

Independence - ? vs. ?. Barring a miracle somewhere, the Indy Bowl could very well end up with Louisiana Tech driving down from Ruston to take the SEC's slot, facing a MAC or MWC at-large team taking a Big 12 slot that might also not materialize. The Independence Bowl folks deserve better than this. If Vandy and Auburn both get eligible, you'll see Vanderbilt here and Auburn in the Music City. Opponents? Louisiana Tech, Bowling Green, other random teams from that ilk, or perhaps a repeat performance by Colorado if the Buffaloes can get by either Oklahoma State or Nebraska.

Papa John's - Big East vs. Someone not in the SEC. If there's an SEC team that qualifies for this slot, I won't want to know how.

Check back next week for a mid-major coaching report. ]]> JessN http://www.tidefans.com/forums/blogs/jessn/93-quick-look-around-sec-some-bowl-thoughts.html