test of img placement

[BamaNation]

Share
 

Q & A on the Class of 2007
By BAMARICH
February 9, 2007

After a flurry of activity in filling out his staff after accepting the UA head coaching job on January 7, Nick Saban hit the recruiting trail in earnest – logging 18 of the 30 days on the road during that time period. With one NSD under his belt with the Tide, what can be concluded about Nick Saban’s first crop of youngsters? And, where can we expect Saban to go from here as he integrates this first batch into the mix of current players? For just a few moments, we will try to answer some important questions that Tide fans may ask.

First, how should this recruiting class be rated?
Checking out some of the so-called “experts” in the business, the Tide earned marks of the 10th best in the nation. However, it is extremely difficult to rank this class based on star power alone. For starters, Saban and his staff only had 30 days to build relationships with players. Some were commits to the previous staff – guys who needed to see Saban’s staff before reaffirming their pledges to the program. Others were either brand new targets or old targets who had little desire for playing under the old regime.

The fact that Saban and his staff accomplished as much as they did in this small window of time testifies to their understanding of the recruiting game… and their impressive abilities. With this kind of start, I don’t believe it would be an understatement to say that the Tide nation can expect bigger and better things in 2008 after Saban and his staff have a full year to develop relationships with prospects.

In addition to the amazing results of this staff in so little time, the fact that this class filled a number of needs speaks for itself. More than anywhere else, Saban needed an infusion of talent and size on the defensive front seven. While some prospects still have hurdles to jump before being academically eligible to play this fall, Saban brought in a total of ten DL/LB (not including the possibility of UA landing Pat Lazear next week).

With guys like Rolando McClain, Luther Davis, and Kerry Murphy coming in, it would surprise no one to multiple true freshmen earning significant playing time in 2007. The lone downside in the recruiting class for Saban would likely be the defensive backfield, the area where only three guys inked with Tide… and at least one who is reputed to be very suspect regarding his academic eligibility. However, with terrific hauls in the past year or two in the OL, WR, and DB units, the numbers are certainly satisfactory. With all things taken into consideration, there is no rational person who would rate Saban and staff any lower than a “B” with this class… and savvy fans can very easily promote that grade into an A-plus.

Second, what will be the primary “catchphrase” of this class when all is said and done in 4-5 years?
Possibly more than anything else, the word “flexibility” may be the label attached to Saban’s first recruiting class. If you look closely at the guys targeted by the staff in the 30-day period, you will notice a strong tendency to recruit players who are very versatile. Saban’s tendency, looking back at his years at LSU, often centered upon the idea of “taking the best athletes… and then find the best position for them after they get on the field.”

With very little time to evaluate the current UA players, this class will need to be flexible when it comes to positioning in order to overcome attrition. Having guys like McClain, Underwood, Taylor, Farmer, Davis, and Gentry means Saban will have a lot of “options” in regards to choosing their final positions.

Third, which players have the best shot at early playing time under Saban? Two areas of the team stand out the most when answering this question. Without question, it’s the defensive side of the football where players will have the greatest opportunity to jump into the playing mix immediately. In a nutshell, Saban’s defensive system can be labeled a “polar opposite” from Coach Joe Kines’ philosophy.

Speed on the front seven will be supplanted by size and strength while conservative play in the secondary will be replaced with an aggressive, pressing style. With that in mind, any of the incoming DL will have a great shot to earn playing time… if they play with a high motor. Among the LB’s, look for McClain and Watkins to have the best shot at competing for playing time… with McClain probably having the best shot to be a freshman starter on the 2007 team. In the secondary, all of the three can legitimately compete immediately, but it likely will be the corners who have the best shot (more able “safety types” on the current roster).

On the offensive side of the ball, it’s the “playmaker position” that will be most likely to see freshmen competing for a job. With few guys who can defeat a defense with both speed and quickness, look for Maze and Hanks to be in the early mix. Gibson may be a legitimate contender at first sight, but his possibilities will largely depend upon how well the current WR’s adapt to Saban’s demands.

If any of the current guys drop out, he may have an outside chance at earning playing time as a freshman. With the uncertainty of the 2007 backfield candidates and Saban’s tendency to rotate his backs, we would not be surprised to see any of the RB recruits to stand a chance at earning significant playing time. All in all, predictions regarding redshirt candidates are extremely tough this year… primarily due to (1) unknown number of defections among the current players and (2) uncertainties regarding the impact of Saban’s systems.

Finally, which recruits have the best opportunity to be considered “stars” by the time they leave the Capstone?
Any time someone “fields” this question, there will be uncertainty because answers rely on several things. Health, academics, and desire often impact this question more than anything else. However, with things that can be readily seen at this point, I would suggest that two “controllable” factors will help answer this question.

First, there is the factor of “available playing time.” Obviously, the longer a player can get “on the field experience,” the better opportunity he has to develop into a savvy veteran. Second, there is the factor of physical development as it relates to the particular position to be played. History suggests that very few true freshmen play a substantial amount of minutes as either an OL or DL. However, with the opportunities available for DL guys like Murphy, Davis, McCullough, and Chapman, that traditional “rule of thumb” may be waived.

Barring injury or other unforeseen hurdles, look for Rolando McClain to have a stellar Bama career… and add Pat Lazear to that list if he inks with the Tide later this month. On the offensive side of the ball, the most likely choices would be either Griffin or Hanks… though Gibson may be a strong candidate if openings develop. Top sleepers in the class – check out Williams and Funuzzi.

In any case, despite the inability to land guys like Devine or McKnight in this class, Bama fans should be enthusiastic with this class… for a variety of reasons. More than anything else, however, fans should be thrilled about the fact that we now have a head coach who can and will motivate this class to reach its greatest potential. RTR!!!