Question: Bama's starting Linebackers

[JBama_in_PCOLA]

I know this is the deepest part of the team and more than likely the nation. What I want to know is who will be the starting IL. NJ is a better run stopper and although both are kinda lacking in pass coverage, Mosely is better in coverage. A day was Hightower, Harris, Johnson, and Upshaw. Devastating combination but does it hold up? In the words of Kornheiser, "Who ya got?!"

RollTideRoll!!

 

[rgw]

It looks like Harris is poised to legitimately contribute in his Senior season. I imagine Upshaw-Johnson-Hightower-Harris but Mosley plays in nickel or dime when Hightower puts his hand down as a DE.

 

[CapstoneGrad06]

Jack - Courtney Upshaw
Mike - Dont'a Hightower
Will - Nico Johnson
Sam - Alex Watkins or Jerrell Harris

 

[CrimsonSEC]

I know this is the deepest part of the team and more than likely the nation. What I want to know is who will be the starting IL. NJ is a better run stopper and although both are kinda lacking in pass coverage, Mosely is better in coverage. A day was Hightower, Harris, Johnson, and Upshaw. Devastating combination but does it hold up? In the words of Kornheiser, "Who ya got?!"

RollTideRoll!!

IMO, Mosley is excellent in pass coverage.

 

[rgw]

Mosley is a key guy. The way he took to the coverage aspect of the ILB positions gives us the ability to just let Hightower rush the passer. Our depth at linebacker is a schematic dream for a 3-4 defense. We not only have starters now, we have young situational players who can let us exploit our stars even more.

 

[TheRealPokeChop]

Nico's pass coverage has improved and cj's tackling did as well, making them even closer than they were last year.

We technically have 5 starters at 4 spots, much the way we have 3 starting cbs for 2 spots. I think it depends on what formation we come out in or what plays we are expecting. passing offense = mosley, running = nico

 

[jthomas666]

IMO, Mosley is excellent in pass coverage.

Hell, in the A-Day game he stuck like a blanket on Dee Hart running a wheel route.

 

[TDBama78]

with all the pass happy teams these days mosley will be on the field alot. he is very good at what he has been assigned to on defense. if we get good line play our defense should be pretty salty and stingy.

 

[bamaman07]

When you have backups that are as guys like Jonathan Atchison, Chris Jordan, Tana Patrick, Anthony Orr, Adrian Hubbard and Petey Smith you know you are loaded with studs. I was also very impressed with Trey DePriest and Vinnie Sunseri at A Day. Sunseri laid the lumber several times and he is the one who hurt Brian Vogler's shoulder. FWIW, I love what CJ Mosley brings to the table. He's so versatile for a guy 6-2, 230. He's almost like a safety more so than a linebacker. The linebackers and DBs in this defense are easily the most talented in the nation IMO.

 

[CrimsonBleedRed]

Pick four and I will be fine with any combination.

 

[bamacon]

I thought Hightower was the Will.

 

[buzzincuzzin]

with all the pass happy teams these days mosley will be on the field alot. he is very good at what he has been assigned to on defense. if we get good line play our defense should be pretty salty and stingy.

IF,,,,,,, there is good DL play, somebody is gonna get hurt. Opponents will have to add a medevac unit to the game-plan.

 

[rolltide2213]

I think either would be fine.

 

[BamaBeta]

This is a good problem to have: too much talent that we cannot start every guy we would like to. CNS rocks.

 

[bamaman07]

I also wouldn't discount Xzavier Dickson getting some playing time too. That guy is a stud athlete. He was a huge get away from Georgia.

 

[JBama_in_PCOLA]

This is a good problem to have: too much talent that we cannot start every guy we would like to. CNS rocks.

I will agree. This is the strength of our D. Unlike last season, this group is poised to do things unheard of in quite some while. Everyone is healthy and HUNGRY!

 

[Dakotatider]

Best part about is when you have 3-4 defense. you can immediately go to a 4-4 or 4-3 by any one of the big LB's drop hand and be a DL. Then bring in some coverage LB's like Mosley. We have the ability to do that with several people. Donta hightower being one of them.

 

[rgw]

Well that is probably more accurate to call our defense multiple rather than 3-4. We run some 4-man front stuff when needed.

 

[Alasippi]

I think it's probably going to change every single week with the exception of Hightower.

It will depend on our opponents strengths and weaknesses and which group looks to be stronger overall against those strengths and weaknesses.

Or it could come down to who simply had the best week of practice.

Mighty good "problem" to have. It's kinda like me walking to my garage, looking over my five or six Porsche's and deciding which color I want to drive on a particular day...lol

Whichever one I choose I know it's going to perform at a high level.

sip

 

[rgw]

Yeah, good depth is never a problem. Like people who are starting to pull the "two quarterbacks = no quarterback" thing right now. We haven't named a starter because each are doing pretty well. When we're rotating QBs every other series with no consistent production, it's a problem. Two guys competing ain't a problem. QB is different than LB in that it's a more "rhythm" position. Two QB systems seem to work when one is simply running a portion of the offense the other can't execute like Leak and Tebow. That leads to roles and comfort.

Linebacker and the front seven in general is a place where specialization can be exploited. I think we'll see that a lot this season. We have the experience so moving some guys to different positions is possible and replace the spot they vacate with a younger guy who knows his role.