Offseason sux. gotta "consult the bones".
Unlike in years past I think the line that starts in the spring game will have a challenge with some summer arrivals. Much is keyed off the winner at left tackle. I'm confident Ryan Kelly and Austin Shepherd will start somewhere.. So here is how I see this might go.
At left tackle the candidates are true freshman Cameron Robinson, red shirt freshman Grant Hill, and Senior Leon Brown. It's also possible Arie Kouandjio could slide out to replace his brother. I expect this to be a fierce battle since blind side tackles tend to make more money at the next level and starting there in college cold increase stock. Cameron Robinson is probably the most talented here but is the least experienced and I would be surprised if he could win the job this spring. If he did, dang.... lookout.
If the bowl practices are an indicator Leon Brown probably is ahead to win this battle and I would not be surprised to see him leave spring as the leader. Grant Hill was good "for a freshman". The problem is "for a freshman" is over now and he has to be good, period. Is he making that move? Don't know yet. Arie moving over seems less likely as he had a rough year at Guard and probably his best chance is to stay there. In the end I see this as a Grant Hill/Leon Brown battle.
The winner of the spring battle will face two challenges this fall. One Cameron Robinson will probably improve daily and you never know when that momentum is going to start building steam. And the arrival (grades allowing) of Dominick Jackson. I'm not saying Jackson is one of the four horsemen of the appocolypse but he's big, he's very agressive, and he faced some pretty good competition at the junior college division he played in.
Which all leaves another question at Right Guard.
Many have said (myself included) that Chad Lindsay might get a shot at Guard. While this is possible I feel the greater possibility is that Lindsay continues to come off the bench, possibly at all three inside positions. He's smart, he doens't get frazzled, and he doesn't get run over. In a game situation this guy could easily be the difference between winning and losing.
I've been surprised we haven't had a push from Alphonse Taylor. I guess he was just too heavy coming in from high school. I wouldn't be shocked to see him make a push for that spot.
Most likely the loser of the battle at left tackle might slot in at right guard and then have to hold off Taylor. This fall Jackcon arrives having played both tackle and guard in junior college. The question at that point is just how strong is he and how good are his feet. From the film I saw the guy just mauls people but in the SEC you can't count on that every play.
My best guess for spring is as follows:
LT - Grant Hill
LG - Arie K
C - Ryan Kelly
RG - Leon Brown
RT - Austin Shepherd
This fall the battle starts anew with possibly a different result. It seems in years we have NOT had someone lose a job in the fall our line struggled. I'm hoping keeping jobs this fall is nearly impossible.
I don't expect any of the true freshman to start this year. I think this is a stellar crop and they are all well aware that Alabama will graduate a minimum of four experienced players several of which are starters so this class is going to be instrumental in our offensive line for the 2015 season.
Unlike in years past I think the line that starts in the spring game will have a challenge with some summer arrivals. Much is keyed off the winner at left tackle. I'm confident Ryan Kelly and Austin Shepherd will start somewhere.. So here is how I see this might go.
At left tackle the candidates are true freshman Cameron Robinson, red shirt freshman Grant Hill, and Senior Leon Brown. It's also possible Arie Kouandjio could slide out to replace his brother. I expect this to be a fierce battle since blind side tackles tend to make more money at the next level and starting there in college cold increase stock. Cameron Robinson is probably the most talented here but is the least experienced and I would be surprised if he could win the job this spring. If he did, dang.... lookout.
If the bowl practices are an indicator Leon Brown probably is ahead to win this battle and I would not be surprised to see him leave spring as the leader. Grant Hill was good "for a freshman". The problem is "for a freshman" is over now and he has to be good, period. Is he making that move? Don't know yet. Arie moving over seems less likely as he had a rough year at Guard and probably his best chance is to stay there. In the end I see this as a Grant Hill/Leon Brown battle.
The winner of the spring battle will face two challenges this fall. One Cameron Robinson will probably improve daily and you never know when that momentum is going to start building steam. And the arrival (grades allowing) of Dominick Jackson. I'm not saying Jackson is one of the four horsemen of the appocolypse but he's big, he's very agressive, and he faced some pretty good competition at the junior college division he played in.
Which all leaves another question at Right Guard.
Many have said (myself included) that Chad Lindsay might get a shot at Guard. While this is possible I feel the greater possibility is that Lindsay continues to come off the bench, possibly at all three inside positions. He's smart, he doens't get frazzled, and he doesn't get run over. In a game situation this guy could easily be the difference between winning and losing.
I've been surprised we haven't had a push from Alphonse Taylor. I guess he was just too heavy coming in from high school. I wouldn't be shocked to see him make a push for that spot.
Most likely the loser of the battle at left tackle might slot in at right guard and then have to hold off Taylor. This fall Jackcon arrives having played both tackle and guard in junior college. The question at that point is just how strong is he and how good are his feet. From the film I saw the guy just mauls people but in the SEC you can't count on that every play.
My best guess for spring is as follows:
LT - Grant Hill
LG - Arie K
C - Ryan Kelly
RG - Leon Brown
RT - Austin Shepherd
This fall the battle starts anew with possibly a different result. It seems in years we have NOT had someone lose a job in the fall our line struggled. I'm hoping keeping jobs this fall is nearly impossible.
I don't expect any of the true freshman to start this year. I think this is a stellar crop and they are all well aware that Alabama will graduate a minimum of four experienced players several of which are starters so this class is going to be instrumental in our offensive line for the 2015 season.
