DE / ATH Robert Nkemdiche decommits from Clemson

[Nolan]

Adrian Hubbard, Xzavier Dickson, and Ed Stinson were all strong pass rushers in high school. Hubbard & Stinson were string beans when they got here. Then they got bulky by design.

Had Clowney come here, he'd be a different type of player than he is now, because we would've asked him to do different things. I'm afraid our defense is designed to stop the run first (thus the bulked up linemen) and force an offense into 3rd & long to blitz & rattle QBs. Works more times than not, but it's still frustrating to see QBs stand there while our linemen slow dance even when we're winning.

Our guys are so assignment and discipline driven that it may hurt us in that point. Most great pass rushers will overshoot and get beaten for a big run right to their side at least 3 times a game. There's a certain amount of chance in the matter.

But hopefully we'll see some improvement here soon

I don't disagree at all! I just know there is a place in our defense for a pass-rushing, QB gobbling defensive lineman.

Just takes a while for one to come along, I reckon. Look at Marcus Spears at LSU - a big strong guy that stopped the run - but harassed the QB, too.

Maybe CNS is just waiting (hoping) we've already got that fella on our roster and all that's left is to develop him.

 

[Tide Warrior]

I think Clowney is a great player but no one knows how he would do at UA. Clowney, Mingo, and all these others are excelling at pass rushing in a 4-3 not a 3-4. I know we play both with the JLB but it is very hard to get a pass rush with 3DL vs 5 OL. The 3-4 has also hinder us some in the recruitment of DE because ours do not put up the stats or get all the credit. Our LBs are the heart of our D. Clowney I believe part of his decision was we played a 3-4 and every team uses that against us.

 

[Alasippi]

I think Clowney is a great player but no one knows how he would do at UA. Clowney, Mingo, and all these others are excelling at pass rushing in a 4-3 not a 3-4. I know we play both with the JLB but it is very hard to get a pass rush with 3DL vs 5 OL. The 3-4 has also hinder us some in the recruitment of DE because ours do not put up the stats or get all the credit. Our LBs are the heart of our D. Clowney I believe part of his decision was we played a 3-4 and every team uses that against us.

I think if we had Clowney that we would be totally dominant on defense. We've never, in the Saban era, had that one d-lineman who could pressure the QB every single pass. It's the one position we haven't been able to fill. I really don't think it matters what defense he plays in, the guys phenomenal.

 

[Tide Warrior]

I think if we had Clowney that we would be totally dominant on defense. We've never, in the Saban era, had that one d-lineman who could pressure the QB every single pass. It's the one position we haven't been able to fill. I really don't think it matters what defense he plays in, the guys phenomenal.

I am not saying he is not. But playing in a 4-3 vs a 3-4 will always create more opportunity to rush the passer and many top DEs that we continue to miss on believe it as well and that is why they sign elsewhere.

 

[bamafaninOhiO]

I think if we had Clowney that we would be totally dominant on defense. We've never, in the Saban era, had that one d-lineman who could pressure the QB every single pass. It's the one position we haven't been able to fill. I really don't think it matters what defense he plays in, the guys phenomenal.

DEs are not 'dominant' in our defensive scheme. Our D line is based on cluttering up the middle, and allowing our LB's to make the plays. It also isnt driven by having superstars, but solid performers....our stars need to be the LBs who are primarily the rushers...

May hurt us with getting the high profile DE's, but helps us with LBs....

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

I think Clowney is a great player but no one knows how he would do at UA. Clowney, Mingo, and all these others are excelling at pass rushing in a 4-3 not a 3-4. I know we play both with the JLB but it is very hard to get a pass rush with 3DL vs 5 OL. The 3-4 has also hinder us some in the recruitment of DE because ours do not put up the stats or get all the credit. Our LBs are the heart of our D. Clowney I believe part of his decision was we played a 3-4 and every team uses that against us.

Our Base is a 3-4, but we seldom line up in a 3-4. Our rivals plant mis-information in the Recruit's minds and harp on it until they get the kid.

 

[B1GTide]

Our Base is a 3-4, but we seldom line up in a 3-4. Our rivals plant mis-information in the Recruit's minds and harp on it until they get the kid.

Yes, but your base is still a 3-4, even when you put a 4th man on the LOS.

Even when you have 2 edge rushers in the game, they are not protypical edge rushers. It makes a difference to some players - depends on how they see themselves at the next level (and players like this have a vision of themselves in the NFL).

 

[Airborne Tider]

Our Base is a 3-4, but we seldom line up in a 3-4. Our rivals plant mis-information in the Recruit's minds and harp on it until they get the kid.

It's a 3-4 over/under with a linebacker rolled down on the line. The idea is basically the same. Defensive lineman hold take up blockers and hold gaps while LB's make plays. Our generic pass rush should be coming from the edges, especially the Jack. The system is still built on a 3-4 recruiting scheme, different types of players than a 3-4.

Sent from my SCH-I405 using Tapatalk 2

 

[RTR91]

I think if we had Clowney that we would be totally dominant on defense. We've never, in the Saban era, had that one d-lineman who could pressure the QB every single pass. It's the one position we haven't been able to fill. I really don't think it matters what defense he plays in, the guys phenomenal.

The recruiting services considered the following Alabama signees to be highly touted DEs in high school.

William Ming 4*
Ed Stinson 4*
Adrian Hubbard 4*
Xzavier Dickson 4*
Jeoffrey Pagan 4*
D.J. Pettway 4*

Dickson and Hubbard are listed as LBs on the team roster.

 

[peariver]

The recruiting services considered the following Alabama signees to be highly touted DEs in high school.

William Ming 4*
Ed Stinson 4*
Adrian Hubbard 4*
Xzavier Dickson 4*
Jeoffrey Pagan 4*
D.J. Pettway 4*

Dickson and Hubbard are listed as LBs on the team roster.

I know Denzel Devall was listed as a LB but I can't wait until he understands the defense and we get to see him more. He has looked great when he has gotten an opportunity to play.

 

[RTR91]

I know Denzel Devall was listed as a LB but I can't wait until he understands the defense and we get to see him more. He has looked great when he has gotten an opportunity to play.

Completely agree. He wasn't the LB recruit many, if any, expected to see the field in meaningful game time.

 

[RollTide1224]

Marcel Dareus was dominant and when healthy he affected the QB on tons of plays. I know he isn't the same type as Clowney but to say we can't have dominant DL or that we haven't is just wrong. Also Deaderick was pretty dang good at his end position.

 

[TiderJack]

Completely agree. He wasn't the LB recruit many, if any, expected to see the field in meaningful game time.

I agree we had higher expectations for other LB's but he was the #2 player coming out of Louisiana just behind Landon Collins. He will be a very good one before all is said and done.

 

[bamanix]

i agree in the present 3-4 alignment we cant expect 3 down linemen to rush the offense without linebacker support. we do not have experienced outside linebackers this year. dickson is going to be good, but, he does not have the speed to rush, and cover the corners, or receivers in the spread. the only real speed linebacker we have in the starting four is mosley. not enough to cover the corners and medium passes. our secondary has been torched the last two games. poor tackling, and coverage overall. we run into a hot mettenberger, and a strong qb in manziel. first qbs to concern bama this year.

 

[Rasputin]

Marcel Dareus was dominant and when healthy he affected the QB on tons of plays. I know he isn't the same type as Clowney but to say we can't have dominant DL or that we haven't is just wrong. Also Deaderick was pretty dang good at his end position.

We have had exceptional defensive ends but our defensive ends are asked to do different things than what Clowney and other ends are asked to do out of the 4-3. IMO our defensive front as it is, does not match up well against the Texas A&M's and Oregon's of the college football world. We need more speed and quickness instead of size and "gap controllers" as we have now.

Something I'm sure our coaches will address in the future.

 

[sanjosecrimson]

I think if we had Clowney that we would be totally dominant on defense. We've never, in the Saban era, had that one d-lineman who could pressure the QB every single pass. It's the one position we haven't been able to fill. I really don't think it matters what defense he plays in, the guys phenomenal.

Sip,

I hear what you are saying, but despite "missing" on players like Clowney, Ming, Montgomery and possibly Nkemiche, Bama has 2 BCSNC.

last time I checked, LSU with both Ming and Montgomery be leaving after this year w/o a ring and South Carolina is still South Carolina. Clowney will be leaving after 2013.

 

[BigEasyTider]

Serious question: Even on the day he committed, did anyone actually believe he would sign with Clemson? Did any Clemson fans even really believe that?

 

[Rasputin]

Serious question: Even on the day he committed, did anyone actually believe he would sign with Clemson? Did any Clemson fans even really believe that?

You highly underestimate the power of delusion!

 

[RollTide1224]

Serious question: Even on the day he committed, did anyone actually believe he would sign with Clemson? Did any Clemson fans even really believe that?

My Clemson fan friend says he still think he is going to sign with them. Said he just gave into the pressure of his mom and once she goes back to Africa he will eventually switch back...I'm not kidding.

 

[RTR91]

My Clemson fan friend says he still think he is going to sign with them. Said he just gave into the pressure of his mom and once she goes back to Africa he will eventually switch back...I'm not kidding.

From what I've seen, I don't think he would want to sign with them. The AJC reporter tweeted that the Clemson fans had some unkind words about his momma.