Zero news coming out of summer and even if there were news it would probably be bad or a lie so I figured I'd whip out my old roster and review what I think is a strange bag of toys for Alabama's 2014 secondary. Of couse this is all "my guess" and I welcome yours.
At safety is where Alabama's only bankable star resides, Landon Collins. Collins has been solid since his freshman season and has a chance to seriously enrich himself with an All-American season. The expections are there he just needs to get it done. He's got physicality and smarts having played both safety positions last season without missing a beat.
In our last episode (srping) it seemed Geno Smith was a little ahead to start opposite Collins. Smith earned a starting corner roll late in Alabama's 2012 championship season and looked like a super star in the making as a true freshman. Last summer however off field troubles signaled what would become a classic sophamore slump season where he barely made it out of the scout team. This spring he switched positions and may have found a home at safety. But there are others still clawing at his heels.
Senior Nick Perry has been in and out of the lineup for all four of his years and has been a good but not spactacular player. As always he continues to compete for playing time.
True freshman Laurence Jones (Hootie) showed up this spring and I didn't hear much about him but this guy is big. He's listed at 6' 2" 220 and that's no stretch.
I believe Jabriel Washington may have played some safety. Also true freshman Chris Williams *[I mean Ronnie Clark]* might get a look there. he could also go linebacker but I believe he was going to be tried at safety first.
I figure as long as Collins is healthy we have enough people to have an excellent rear guard.
At Corner Alabama had a riseing star in Eddie Jackson going into spring but it ended with him on an operating table. They have not released the nature of his knee injury but just from history we know that the chances of him being truely 100% in time for fall practice seem remote. It could be a situation where he could sort of "arrive" as a player several weeks in the season. In reality Alabama really won't need him the first three weeks. Hopefully he is a quick healer. A return to 100% would be a big boost to the secondary no matter what else happens.
No matter how good Jackson might look in the "tread pool" We have to consider 2014 without him. With that thought the next best options this spring appeared to be juniors Bradley Selve and Cyrus Jones. Both of these guys were part of the revolving door at corner last season and both had good moments and bad. Of the two Cyrus Jones seems to have a little more potential and just from observation seemed to be the one who played more agressively and had more ability to cut in front and bat balls down preventing receptions. Cyrus spent early time at receiver so I think it set him back somewhat at DB. Hopefully he will begin to come into his own this fall.
Then we have the two freshman Eddie Jackson and Marlon Humphrey. Alabama has signed some great secondary players in a single season but they have never signed two more athetic and highly rated corner in one year. These two both have first round potential but of course potential means nothing until it's realized. Brown however looked every bit the part this spring. Humphrey is behind having just arrived but his kind of athletisisim can make up for a lot. Alabama has three winnable games to start the season two of them are at home. Normally freshman corners don't play much early but if it were ME, I'd throw them out there some and see how they react. It would be awsome if these guys were pushing for a start by mid season.
Then there is the "X" factor. Mr X is senior Jarrick Williams. Williams was given up for dead after a season ending knee injury a few years back came back from the dead and at this point he has probably played every position in the secondary. This guy can step in virtually everhwere and give you quality minutes. He's also fairly big at 6'2" 215 lbs at last check. I believe he will regularly play the star position as he did in 2013. Williams isn't afraid to stick his head in there on run support either.
Another player who figured in the revolving door at corner last season was Maurice Smith. He came to Alabama with accolades. I'd like to see him make a move this fall to get back in the race for corner. He did get a fair amount of playing time last season.
Finally there are two redshirts Anthony Averett and Jonathan Cook. Both were three star recruits who have spent a season on the scout team. It remains to be seen if or when they might become a factor.
Alabama's corners have been dangling over a burning fire for years. Every year I wonder to myself how much better could they do if Alabama had a pass rush with a pulse, but since the 2009 season Alabama simply has not. Going into 2014 I once again cross my fingers and blindly hope that what ever reason Alabama has not been able to rush ANYBODY will be resolved.
1 month to go folks, can we make it?
At safety is where Alabama's only bankable star resides, Landon Collins. Collins has been solid since his freshman season and has a chance to seriously enrich himself with an All-American season. The expections are there he just needs to get it done. He's got physicality and smarts having played both safety positions last season without missing a beat.
In our last episode (srping) it seemed Geno Smith was a little ahead to start opposite Collins. Smith earned a starting corner roll late in Alabama's 2012 championship season and looked like a super star in the making as a true freshman. Last summer however off field troubles signaled what would become a classic sophamore slump season where he barely made it out of the scout team. This spring he switched positions and may have found a home at safety. But there are others still clawing at his heels.
Senior Nick Perry has been in and out of the lineup for all four of his years and has been a good but not spactacular player. As always he continues to compete for playing time.
True freshman Laurence Jones (Hootie) showed up this spring and I didn't hear much about him but this guy is big. He's listed at 6' 2" 220 and that's no stretch.
I believe Jabriel Washington may have played some safety. Also true freshman Chris Williams *[I mean Ronnie Clark]* might get a look there. he could also go linebacker but I believe he was going to be tried at safety first.
I figure as long as Collins is healthy we have enough people to have an excellent rear guard.
At Corner Alabama had a riseing star in Eddie Jackson going into spring but it ended with him on an operating table. They have not released the nature of his knee injury but just from history we know that the chances of him being truely 100% in time for fall practice seem remote. It could be a situation where he could sort of "arrive" as a player several weeks in the season. In reality Alabama really won't need him the first three weeks. Hopefully he is a quick healer. A return to 100% would be a big boost to the secondary no matter what else happens.
No matter how good Jackson might look in the "tread pool" We have to consider 2014 without him. With that thought the next best options this spring appeared to be juniors Bradley Selve and Cyrus Jones. Both of these guys were part of the revolving door at corner last season and both had good moments and bad. Of the two Cyrus Jones seems to have a little more potential and just from observation seemed to be the one who played more agressively and had more ability to cut in front and bat balls down preventing receptions. Cyrus spent early time at receiver so I think it set him back somewhat at DB. Hopefully he will begin to come into his own this fall.
Then we have the two freshman Eddie Jackson and Marlon Humphrey. Alabama has signed some great secondary players in a single season but they have never signed two more athetic and highly rated corner in one year. These two both have first round potential but of course potential means nothing until it's realized. Brown however looked every bit the part this spring. Humphrey is behind having just arrived but his kind of athletisisim can make up for a lot. Alabama has three winnable games to start the season two of them are at home. Normally freshman corners don't play much early but if it were ME, I'd throw them out there some and see how they react. It would be awsome if these guys were pushing for a start by mid season.
Then there is the "X" factor. Mr X is senior Jarrick Williams. Williams was given up for dead after a season ending knee injury a few years back came back from the dead and at this point he has probably played every position in the secondary. This guy can step in virtually everhwere and give you quality minutes. He's also fairly big at 6'2" 215 lbs at last check. I believe he will regularly play the star position as he did in 2013. Williams isn't afraid to stick his head in there on run support either.
Another player who figured in the revolving door at corner last season was Maurice Smith. He came to Alabama with accolades. I'd like to see him make a move this fall to get back in the race for corner. He did get a fair amount of playing time last season.
Finally there are two redshirts Anthony Averett and Jonathan Cook. Both were three star recruits who have spent a season on the scout team. It remains to be seen if or when they might become a factor.
Alabama's corners have been dangling over a burning fire for years. Every year I wonder to myself how much better could they do if Alabama had a pass rush with a pulse, but since the 2009 season Alabama simply has not. Going into 2014 I once again cross my fingers and blindly hope that what ever reason Alabama has not been able to rush ANYBODY will be resolved.
1 month to go folks, can we make it?
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