Toggle sidebar

New OLine

bigjue24

bigjue24

Suspended
Dec 2, 2009
984
179
62
Okeechobee, FL
I can't say I'm worried about the OLine. History has shown that the OLine can recover from losses very well. The turnover from 08-present has been amazing. We have lost many great players, and just replaced them. I know every year is different, and this year may be the exception, but history says the OLine will once again be a force.
 
Yes, we have done very well during the Saban years of making very good adjustments. It is a great opportunity for a bunch of young guys. Should be an interesting spring and fall to see who steps up.
 
Still, with losing two playing side by side in the "greatest-all-time" discussion it will take some time to re-establish a new identity.
 
No question the 2012 O line was one for the ages, but... As long as CNS is at the helm, I won't really worry about any part of the team. The changes just make things interesting. Who will emerge this year?

Recruit, Reload, Repeat.
 
I will agree that we should be able to field a solid o-line, but it will be almost impossible to produce like the line we had last year. We lost both talent and experience on both lines, offensive and defensive. That is where games are won and lost in the SEC, and that will be our biggest obstacle to overcome when it comes to winning any championships. I think it will probably cost us a game or two, but I hope it is something that we can overcome. Spring ball is almost here, so the on-the-field competition will soon begin.
 
There has to be some drop off, no doubt. We lost too much talent and experience for there not to be some growing pains. But the coaching also concerns me a bit, we know it was a learning curve from Coach P to Coach S. That unit had already played together for the most part to mininize the change in coaching but this year we don't have that luxury. The talent is there, its more about getting reps together and trusting who's beside you.So, well I think we will be ok, I do expect some growing pains until they mesh together.
 
The reality is that one of the best leaders in team history is gone. You don't replace what Barrett Jones did for this team. O Line is the toughest area to replace three starters plus TE. At least the new bunch will be practicing against the best D in the land.
 
I think this is truly the difference in Alabama vs other Teams. Yes the recruiting has been Great but I have to give the main credit to the coaching & the team chemistry.

One day we may be talking about Barrett Jones being the very Best that ever played at Bama, I know he was one of the Greatest Leaders. That Leadership to the younger players of How it is done here is a huge part of when we lose one or two to the NFL they just reload.


The word may be over used a lot but it truly is a Process, it is planned, designed, taught & implemented to the point the thought is gone its Natural reaction.
 
Good points, Tom. The problem is that, counting the TE, there are four of the six going to the NFL right now, along with the O line coach. It takes time for an offensive line to gel. With four new parts and difficult early opponents, it won't be easy. I think the key will be Kelly at Center. If he catches on early, right tackle will be the biggest question.
It is also not a given that the younger generation "gets it". We've just seen four that threw it all away. Regardless, it will be fun to watch the improvement.
 
Like most, I believe there will be a dropoff from last year's once in an era line. I'd guess that it will be enough of a drop that for the first few games we'd expect to lose a drive or two and thus a score or two during that time. However, I believe we'll be better at wide receiver and running back (may be bold statement) that will pick up half that slack. Given that I think we'll be 2-3 touchdowns better than VaTech and aTm, I don't think it will come back to haunt. After that, the schedule is more favorable the rest of the year than last (no LSU before aTm primarily) and I'm expecting another great year. Believe that by the end of the year we'll be bragging about this O-line like most of them from the past few years.
 
I know we should expect some drop-off, but is it a given? I don't know. We're entering the 7th year of Coach Saban's process and it just seems to get better and better. One thing's for sure, we will be replacing talent with talent.

I keep remembering the expected drop-off when we had to replace JPW and GMac at the crucial QB position.

That was 3 NC's ago.
 
I agree Tommy, but IMO the OL historically is the toughest position to re-tool. No doubt we have a boatload of talent, but the OL will have a couple of early challenges; hopefully they will gel as a unit prior to the meat of the SEC schedule.
 
We've lost a lot here, guys, and there's no hiding it.

Lost a Top 2 OG. Lost an Outland / Rimington winner who, more importantly, was one of the all-time leaders in Alabama history. Lost a player who blossomed into his potential in the last half of the year. At year-end, he was the best RT in the country, previous play notwithstanding. Lost the OL coach who orchestrated that line for two years.

Not even Nick Saban simply re-loads from those losses.

We have talented replacements, but it would be naive to think the 2013 OL would be in the league of the 2012 version (which was the best in my 45+ years of personal observation). Our best advantage is, for once, a friendly schedule, in combination with several years of recruiting and personnel evaluation.

Give Saban and Smart a year to prepare for Manziel (and don't think for a minute they're not preparing as I type this), plus an off week between the Hokies and the Aggies, and I expect a totally different outcome from the sun and moon and stars lining up in Bryant Denny last year.

Unless, God forbid, AJ gets hurt, the OL will determine the championship mettle of the 2013 team. All the other pieces are there and proven.

Absent an injury to AJ, I think we'll have a good read on the season on 9/28 against Ole Miss, and the tale will be told on 11/9 in Bryant-Denny against LSU.
 
Not many teams we'll face will have the same OL and DL as last year and CNS let a bunch of our players get playing time in the 2nd halfs so we should be pretty good. Few teams have the talent Bama has.
 
jcabama said:
Like most, I believe there will be a dropoff from last year's once in an era line. I'd guess that it will be enough of a drop that for the first few games we'd expect to lose a drive or two and thus a score or two during that time. However, I believe we'll be better at wide receiver and running back (may be bold statement) that will pick up half that slack. Given that I think we'll be 2-3 touchdowns better than VaTech and aTm, I don't think it will come back to haunt. After that, the schedule is more favorable the rest of the year than last (no LSU before aTm primarily) and I'm expecting another great year. Believe that by the end of the year we'll be bragging about this O-line like most of them from the past few years.
Click to expand...

I like your optimism, JCA!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New Posts

Advertisement

Trending content

Advertisement

Latest threads

Top Bottom
Back