Link: DE Ed Stinson Update (1/06): He says that Bama is his leader

WMack4Bama · January 5th, 2009, 11:03 AM

I'd like to ask how high this guy is on our board, but I share a mutual friend with his high school coach and he's expecting a visit from our head man tomorrow in Homestead. So he MUST be way up there.

Seeing as how he's also a standout basketball player, would his athleticism give us that legitimate pass rusher off the edge that we haven't had in almost a decade?

Airborne Tider · January 5th, 2009, 11:27 AM

	Quote:	WMack4Bama
	I'd like to ask how high this guy is on our board, but I share a mutual friend with his high school coach and he's expecting a visit from our head man tomorrow in Homestead. So he MUST be way up there. Seeing as how he's also a standout basketball player, would his athleticism give us that legitimate pass rusher off the edge that we haven't had in almost a decade?

He's probably #2. But we are very high on him because of his raw athletic ability and pass rushing ability. That being said I think Fletcher Cox is #1 and we probably lead for him but we could take both because of our need for pass rushers and Cox's academic concerns.

Quest413 · January 5th, 2009, 11:49 AM

I'd REALLY love for us to get both Cox and Stinson (I'm Greedy)

LCN · January 5th, 2009, 01:19 PM

Me too ^^^

	Quote:	Airborne Tider
	... we could take both because of our need for pass rushers and Cox's academic concerns.

I'm sure hoping we do but , I think it will be cutting it close with our #'s . It's going to be a wild ride down the stretch from late January through NSD

churley62 · January 5th, 2009, 02:15 PM

With Grant transferring that could make it possible to sign both

runtheoption22 · January 5th, 2009, 03:07 PM

	Quote:	churley62
	With Grant transferring that could make it possible to sign both

That's a bit flawed....

1. We don't know for certain that Grant is gone.
2. We have to have a lot of transfers, etc for everyone to fit as it stands now....not to mention any more we add to this class.

Also, with Mullen making Cox hesitate a bit, I think we have to take Stinson if we can get him.

Airborne Tider · January 5th, 2009, 06:57 PM

	Quote:	runtheoption22
	That's a bit flawed.... 1. We don't know for certain that Grant is gone. 2. We have to have a lot of transfers, etc for everyone to fit as it stands now....not to mention any more we add to this class. Also, with Mullen making Cox hesitate a bit, I think we have to take Stinson if we can get him.

I agree. And frankly it seems to me from what I hear that ultimately Stinson will chose Bama and may have already made up his mind. But he says he will wait until the in-home visits from CNS and CLM to make his final decision and as you could probably guess I like our odds if it comes down to that.

And I think Cox will pick us as well. Time will tell.

GrandBayTider · January 5th, 2009, 09:41 PM

	Quote:	churley62
	With Grant transferring that could make it possible to sign both

83 Currently
-9 SRs to Graduation
-1 JR to Draft
+2 Backcount to 2008 class
+25? incoming FR
= 85 Roster start of Fall practice

There will be a lot of action on the transaction wire this summer.

BigEasyTider · January 5th, 2009, 09:50 PM

	Quote:	GrandBayTider
	83 Currently -9 SRs to Graduation -1 JR to Draft +2 Backcount to 2008 class +25? incoming FR = 85 Roster start of Fall practice There will be a lot of action on the transaction wire this summer.

I think you've got the math about right. And if those numbers hold up, we'll have to shed about 15 players that are currently on scholarship right now.

To be sure, I don't expect it will be that many, because we probably won't bring in 25 players in this recruiting class. We'll probably sign 25 or 26, but we'll have at least a couple of academic casualties, and we might have a couple of guys who greyshirt. As a result, we'll probably only bring in about 22 or 23 players this Fall, so we'll "only" need about 12 current players to leave.

Don't get me wrong, that's a lot of attrition that must take place, but it shouldn't be a problem. Saban and company wouldn't sign this many if they didn't know for certain they would be able to get them all to fit. I imagine that the staff knows full well of several specific players who are likely to transfer over the next several months, plus a couple that are probably bound for a medical scholarship. Without naming names, I think we can all look at the roster and find several players who are unlikely to ever see any meaningful playing time at Alabama, and frankly it's always smart to bank on at least a couple of medical scholarships.

runtheoption22 · January 5th, 2009, 10:03 PM

It also would not surprise me to see Fitzgerald and Tiffin back off of scholarship.

LCN · January 5th, 2009, 10:53 PM

84 . Peek has been on scholarship since the end of August .

BEATtutorsee · January 5th, 2009, 11:01 PM

	Quote:	LCN
	Me too ^^^ I'm sure hoping we do but , I think it will be cutting it close with our #'s . It's going to be a wild ride down the stretch from late January through NSD

Agreed, and agreed.

BigEasyTider · January 5th, 2009, 11:04 PM

	Quote:	runtheoption22
	It also would not surprise me to see Fitzgerald and Tiffin back off of scholarship.

I said that a few months back when they were officially put on scholarship, and I was ripped pretty good for it, too. However, that said, I still think that may very well happen.

And honestly, if you want to split hairs about it, it probably should happen. I know they were starting at kicker and punter, but even so Tiffin missed just about every big kick he had, and Fitzgerald was still one of the worst punters in the conference. Aside from missing just about every non-meaningful kick -- he missed two easy kicks in a tight game Kentucky, two kicks against LSU, including the chip-shot game-winner, and two potentially huge kicks against Utah in the Sugar Bowl -- Tiffin struggled a good bit on kick-offs and we finished 9th in the conference in net punting with Fitzgerald. Truth be told, neither have performed well enough to be considered scholarship worthy, IMO.

I said months ago that they may have been given scholarships on a one-year basis. Remember that all scholarships must renewed annually, and I wouldn't be surprised if neither Fitzgerald or Tiffin didn't see their scholarship renewed. Honestly, I'd much rather bring in an extra prospect like Stinson than I would keep those guys on scholarship.

Rip me for it if you want, but that's my opinion on the matter.