It's fair to say this unit has certainly developed and changed quite a bit since the first snap in Dallas against then #20 Wisconsin. In fact I would say this team has developed and changed the most out of any Bama team in recent memory. Here are a few changes I have noticed after re-watching that 1st game against Wisconsin. Add your own observations!
#1: Adam Griffith.
After picking up where he left off last year with missed kicks left and right, Griffith has rounded out and become impressively stable as the season goes on. Couldn't be happier for him.
#2: Marlon Humphrey has matured.
After getting picked on earlier in the season Humphrey has obviously shown what experience can do for a player. Still being a redshirt freshman he still has not hit his ceiling but is no longer a "weak link" for opposing offenses to needle.
#3: The prospect of both Calvin Ridley AND Robert Foster lining up wide is both exciting and terrifying...depending on who you root for.
This is more of a look ahead but when looking back we have to remember that Foster is still a part of this team, and an extraordinarily lethal weapon. He was THE primary target early on, despite the onset of Calvin Ridley's talent. They have similar body type and body control and speed. That duo should send shivers down the spines of DB's across the league.
#4 Calvin Ridley is as advertised.
When watching early on we all want to see what 5* players live up to the hype. While there is still development and experience to gain - Ridley has filled a "go-to" gap left by Foster without a massive lack in production. He seems to get more consistent every game with his fundamentals an off the ball procedures.
#5 The offensive identity has changed.
Watching that 1st game, one could have expected Jake Coker to have an even bigger season. Obviously the individual game plans have dictated strategy but Coker's attempts per game fluctuated from Ole Miss through to Arkansas before leveling out the past 4 games. Motions have increased and Coker has been asked to make fewer reads. I've also noticed he is even less comfortable in the pocket now than he was at the beginning of the season. He remains accurate though (even with receivers dropping passes) and since the Georgia game has maintained a completion percentage of 60% or higher - including a 4 game streak with percentages in the mid-70's. The call has come down from on high. Give Derrick Henry the BALL. Since Texas A&M, the stats reflect that.
#6: The secondary has improved but still seems somewhat soft in zone over the middle.
Wisconsin had success throwing for 228 yards and a lot of that came over the middle. That still seems to be the gap in the secondary today. The space between the LB's and Safeties seems to be the softest part of a much improved secondary. It was obvious even from that 1st game the physically and talent wise we had improved. Technique has been refined and big play potential reduced...though the man coverage still yields the possibility for the interference calls refs love to throw at us. The emergence of Minkah Fitzpatrick and Humphrey and hopefully the continued development of Tony Brown and Ronnie Harrison will show even more down the stretch.
#7: The Defensive Front has only gotten stronger (somehow).
I'm not sure anybody could have imagined just how dominant this defensive line would be even after an impressive performance at Wisconsin.
#8: Reuben Foster has become more disciplined and refined.
Foster who was once a battering ram with a high risk of neck injury is now a lurking predator with the eyes, ears and physical tools that define the Saban era LB. Most impressively since Wisconsin Foster has done much better in pass protection. It seems he may just be a half step slower than Ragland but he is playing with more anticipation than he did at Wisconsin or Ole Miss. He's broken up more passes and even had a few opportunities for interceptions...thankfully LB's horizontally are not a weakness in the passing game and Foster's development is a big reason why.
#9: Lane Kiffin has (finally) adapted.
Say what you will about the "finesse" and the West Coast offense. Lane Kiffin has done something this season that Guz Mahlzan refuses to do....adapt his offense to suit his players. It hasn't always been pretty and it's obvious Kiffin wishes he could toss the ball around a bit more, but it is apparent after the Texas A&M game that he has finally figured out a successful formula for offense. In many ways last season was a perfect offense for Kiffin. A dual threat QB who could throw a better deep ball than many people thought to the best deep threat wide receiver in (potentially) Alabama's history. Oh and he had T.J. Yeldon for screens and Henry to knock your teeth out. This was CLK's first season truly developing young talent and the growing pains have shown. Inexperience at his favorite positions have forced him to adapt to smash mouth old school SEC ball and Im sure it drives him nuts...but we hurry up far less than we did early on and we don't spread it out like we used to...instead favoring motion and tight formation moves to get gaps and angles for a running game that has only gotten stronger.
#1: Adam Griffith.
After picking up where he left off last year with missed kicks left and right, Griffith has rounded out and become impressively stable as the season goes on. Couldn't be happier for him.
#2: Marlon Humphrey has matured.
After getting picked on earlier in the season Humphrey has obviously shown what experience can do for a player. Still being a redshirt freshman he still has not hit his ceiling but is no longer a "weak link" for opposing offenses to needle.
#3: The prospect of both Calvin Ridley AND Robert Foster lining up wide is both exciting and terrifying...depending on who you root for.
This is more of a look ahead but when looking back we have to remember that Foster is still a part of this team, and an extraordinarily lethal weapon. He was THE primary target early on, despite the onset of Calvin Ridley's talent. They have similar body type and body control and speed. That duo should send shivers down the spines of DB's across the league.
#4 Calvin Ridley is as advertised.
When watching early on we all want to see what 5* players live up to the hype. While there is still development and experience to gain - Ridley has filled a "go-to" gap left by Foster without a massive lack in production. He seems to get more consistent every game with his fundamentals an off the ball procedures.
#5 The offensive identity has changed.
Watching that 1st game, one could have expected Jake Coker to have an even bigger season. Obviously the individual game plans have dictated strategy but Coker's attempts per game fluctuated from Ole Miss through to Arkansas before leveling out the past 4 games. Motions have increased and Coker has been asked to make fewer reads. I've also noticed he is even less comfortable in the pocket now than he was at the beginning of the season. He remains accurate though (even with receivers dropping passes) and since the Georgia game has maintained a completion percentage of 60% or higher - including a 4 game streak with percentages in the mid-70's. The call has come down from on high. Give Derrick Henry the BALL. Since Texas A&M, the stats reflect that.
#6: The secondary has improved but still seems somewhat soft in zone over the middle.
Wisconsin had success throwing for 228 yards and a lot of that came over the middle. That still seems to be the gap in the secondary today. The space between the LB's and Safeties seems to be the softest part of a much improved secondary. It was obvious even from that 1st game the physically and talent wise we had improved. Technique has been refined and big play potential reduced...though the man coverage still yields the possibility for the interference calls refs love to throw at us. The emergence of Minkah Fitzpatrick and Humphrey and hopefully the continued development of Tony Brown and Ronnie Harrison will show even more down the stretch.
#7: The Defensive Front has only gotten stronger (somehow).
I'm not sure anybody could have imagined just how dominant this defensive line would be even after an impressive performance at Wisconsin.
#8: Reuben Foster has become more disciplined and refined.
Foster who was once a battering ram with a high risk of neck injury is now a lurking predator with the eyes, ears and physical tools that define the Saban era LB. Most impressively since Wisconsin Foster has done much better in pass protection. It seems he may just be a half step slower than Ragland but he is playing with more anticipation than he did at Wisconsin or Ole Miss. He's broken up more passes and even had a few opportunities for interceptions...thankfully LB's horizontally are not a weakness in the passing game and Foster's development is a big reason why.
#9: Lane Kiffin has (finally) adapted.
Say what you will about the "finesse" and the West Coast offense. Lane Kiffin has done something this season that Guz Mahlzan refuses to do....adapt his offense to suit his players. It hasn't always been pretty and it's obvious Kiffin wishes he could toss the ball around a bit more, but it is apparent after the Texas A&M game that he has finally figured out a successful formula for offense. In many ways last season was a perfect offense for Kiffin. A dual threat QB who could throw a better deep ball than many people thought to the best deep threat wide receiver in (potentially) Alabama's history. Oh and he had T.J. Yeldon for screens and Henry to knock your teeth out. This was CLK's first season truly developing young talent and the growing pains have shown. Inexperience at his favorite positions have forced him to adapt to smash mouth old school SEC ball and Im sure it drives him nuts...but we hurry up far less than we did early on and we don't spread it out like we used to...instead favoring motion and tight formation moves to get gaps and angles for a running game that has only gotten stronger.
