Saban saw something in Lester he could develop. After all, he rarely misses on a DB...I'm sure there is a player that will prove me wrong at some point, but I don't think there is a player in America worth 2+ scholarships to Alabama. Every elite talent who has tried to play that game with us has ended up signing elsewhere.
A lot of people thought Lester was a signing in that vein but he ended up being a 3-year starter for us out of Julio's Foley team.
This is interesting that a tenured coach like Tedford at Cal would allow a single player to cost him his job if all this is indeed fact.there are a few Cal fans, including one who claims to be a parent of a current player on the team, that are claiming that it was Allen that caused Jeff Tedford to be fired. Players parent claims Allen refused to work out, made it known in no uncertain terms that he wouldn't play with any QB other than Maynard and generally just did whatever he wanted. Saban would have run him off in less than a year, talented or not. Tedford caved and brought in Maynard too. Perhaps he thought he could make Maynard into a decent QB, he couldn't and he's now gone.
Just was saying as talented as he might be, I'm fairly certain he'd have hurt our team. Can't just look at it from a talent level on Saban's team... because every kid he brings in has talent.Outside of that, though? My post was based on his athletic ability. Obviously, his recruitment changed thoughts on how he would affect the team.
He also had a handler Saban refused to deal with. In fact, Saban has turned down every player with a handler or one who demanded a "twofer."Outside of that, though? My post was based on his athletic ability. Obviously, his recruitment changed thoughts on how he would affect the team.
Unfortunately, he's one of those late bloomers. He wasn't as highly regarded, coming out of HS. However, at the end, we weren't really even in younger brother's top five, probably because of what he'd been fed about the 3-4...The older Nkemdiche (SP?) looks like he may have been worth it. Kid is good
So Derrick Henry is going to play linebacker?Allen was recruited here to be safety, but it's difficult to assess exactly where he would end up. The SEC tends to take their best athletes and put them on defense, as opposed to a conference like the Pac-12 who does just the opposite.
Prime example is the Anthony Barr kid for UCLA. They've had this kid stuck at RB his first 2 years there and it was like forcing a square peg in a round hole. He just wasn't supposed to be there.
They finally decided to move him to the defensive side of the ball this year and play some stand-up linebacker just out of desperation.... all he's done is rack up 20 TFL's and 13 sacks, and according to the draft experts, would be a potential top 15 pick if he declares early.
This is a 6'4", 235 pound kid who most coaches in the SEC would've had this kid playing linebacker from the moment he stepped on campus.
I'm not positive, but wasn't Keiwone Malone going to be a CB here? He's playing WR at Memphis.
Keenan may very well have ended up at WR for Bama, but I believe it would've been after a long look on the defensive side first.
So Derrick Henry is going to play linebacker?
yeah, it's odd I normally wouldn't believe stuff like this but how else do you explain Tedford's last few years? Guy developed quality QB after QB (including 2 eventual Super Bowl winners) and then Zach Maynard is the best he can do for the last few years? Makes no sense at all....This is interesting that a tenured coach like Tedford at Cal would allow a single player to cost him his job if all this is indeed fact.
I suppose Cal is better off without Tedford if that's the case.
We saw glimpses of it's value, we should name the position Fowler. I believe Henry would be perfect unless he stops doesn't gain anymore weight.That's not what I'm saying. I don't know what position he's going to play. I don't imagine the coaches do either. They may have an idea, but nothing is ever written in stone.
The key words you're overlooking here is "tends to". In other words, it's a tendency for coaches in the SEC (especially if they're a defensive coach by trade) to prefer their best athletes on defense if it's a fit. It doesn't apply to every player in every case on every team in every circumstance.
Anthony Barr wasn't setting high school rushing records as a tailback like Henry. It didn't take Jim Mora (defensive coach by trade) long to figure out the Barr kid needed a shot on defense after Neuheisel (offensive guy) inexplicably kept him toiling away for 2 years down the depth chart at RB.
Plenty of WR talent right now. Passing is just not a focus.
And he ended up playing more than Julio.Saban saw something in Lester he could develop. After all, he rarely misses on a DB...
We saw glimpses of it's value, we should name the position Fowler. I believe Henry would be perfect unless he stops doesn't gain anymore weight.
Duron Carter laughs at Keenan Allen threads.no disrespect to the OP, but I have never seen a player that didn't wear Crimson brought up time and time again in the Saban era as Keenan Allen and not just on this board either.
both parties are happy with the end results. I rather here his name on Sundays from now on. :cool2:
895 yards for Cooper, the next is under 500. Not elite when you don't have a WR over 1,000 yards. Not all that impressive, overall. Again, passing is just not a focus. Sure, there will be open receivers because the running game is so good and the WRs have so much talent.Since when? We're a balanced offense. We throw and run for almost equal yardage, and on Saturday night, we had one receiver who got open with any consistency. Keenan Allen would have been fun to watch.