Alabama: Name ONLY 1 Alabama PLAYER Per Position

[alabama mike1]

Rules are simple, name 1 Alabama player past or present that you would say is the best at that position. (Its harder than you think)
The player can be past or present.
Your decision can be based on college, pro or both.

QB Joe Namath
RB Derrick Henry
WR Julio Jones
TE Ozzie Newsome
OL John Hannah
DL Marty Lyons
LB Derrick Thomas
CB Dre Kirkpatrick
P JK Scott
K Phillip Doyle

 

[B1GTide]

QB - AJ McCarron
RB - Derrick Henry
WR - Julio Jones
TE - Ozzie Newsome
OT - John Hannah
C - Dwight Stephenson
OG - Barrett Jones
DT - Marty Lyons
DE - Leroy Cook
OLB - Derrick Thomas
ILB - Lee Roy Jordan
CB - Antonio Langham
S - Minkah Fitzpatrick
P - JK Scott
K - Leigh Tiffin

 

[alabama mike1]

QB - AJ McCarron
RB - Derrick Henry
WR - Julio Jones
TE - Ozzie Newsome
OT - John Hannah
C - Dwight Stephenson
OG - Barrett Jones
DT - Marty Lyons
DE - Leroy Cook
OLB - Derrick Thomas
ILB - Lee Roy Jordan
CB - Antonio Langham
S - Minkah Fitzpatrick
P - JK Scott
K - Leigh Tiffin

Only one person on OL and DL. LOL Its harder than you think.

 

[DzynKingRTR]

Rules are simple, name 1 Alabama player past or present that you would say is the best at that position. (Its harder than you think)
The player can be past or present.
Your decision can be based on college, pro or both.

QB Joe Namath
RB Derrick Henry
WR Julio Jones
TE Ozzie Newsome
OL John Hannah
DL Marty Lyons
LB Derrick Thomas
CB Dre Kirkpatrick
P JK Scott
K Phillip Doyle

I agree with almost all. The one I would change would be DB. I would put Minkah there.

Edit: and Tua at QB.

 

[B1GTide]

Only one person on OL and DL. LOL Its harder than you think.

Hannah and Cook would be my choice then for those, with Thomas at LB and Fitzpatrick at DB.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

Good off-season thread, and you’re right....it isn’t easy.

Criteria I used:
- College career only
- Performance vs. competition of the day. For example, Lee Roy Jordan is on my list at ILB, and was dominant in the early ‘60s. But at barely 200 pounds, he could never play that position today.
- Performance in the context of rules of the day. For example, Van Tiffin was the most reliable kicker we’ve ever had, especially from distance. But he kicked off of a high tee, and couldn’t make the conversion to off the ground in the NFL, so likely wouldn’t have been as effective today as he was in his time. But the rules he played under allowed the tee, so that’s how I viewed him.

QB — Tua. Absolutely the most accurate college passer I’ve ever seen. Unmatched long ball. It was almost as if he reached out 40+ yards and handed the ball gently into the receiver’s hands. I’m 61 and expect to die never having seen anything like it again.
OL — John Hannah.
RB — Derrick Henry — everybody in the stadium knew he was getting the ball, and they still couldn’t stop him.
FB — Johnny Davis
TE — Ozzie Newsome — many people forget he started out as a WR, and grew into a TE, yet lost very little speed. Unfair matchup against a LB of the mid to late ‘70s.
WR — Jerry Jeudy (not Julio because as great as he was, he was bad to lose focus and drop an easy catch).
DL — Q. In only one year of major contribution, and from a hand-in-the-dirt position, he dictated offensive blocking schemes, fought through double and triple teams, and opened up countless opportunities for others.
ILB — Lee Roy Jordan
OLB — Derrick Thomas
DB (multi-position) — Minkah Fitzpatrick
Safety — Landon Collins
Punter — JK Scott, and it isn’t close. Only one who even holds a candle was Greg Gantt, who would be remembered far more fondly if not for an ignominious end to his junior year that wasn’t his fault.
PK — Van Tiffin

 

[selmaborntidefan]

QB Tua
RB Derrick Henry
WR Julio Jones
TE O J Howard
OL John Hannah
DL Marty Lyons
LB Derrick Thomas
CB Minkah Fitzpatrick
P Tank Williamson
K Phillip Doyle

 

[TexasBama]

QB Joe Namath
RB Derrick Henry
WR Don Hutson
TE Ozzie Newsome
OL John Hannah
DL Derrick Thomas
LB Lee Roy Jordan
CB Antonio Langham
P Greg Gantt
K Van Tiffin

 

[DzynKingRTR]

Good off-season thread, and you’re right....it isn’t easy.

Criteria I used:
- College career only
- Performance vs. competition of the day. For example, Lee Roy Jordan is on my list at ILB, and was dominant in the early ‘60s. But at barely 200 pounds, he could never play that position today.
- Performance in the context of rules of the day. For example, Van Tiffin was the most reliable kicker we’ve ever had, especially from distance. But he kicked off of a high tee, and couldn’t make the conversion to off the ground in the NFL, so likely wouldn’t have been as effective today as he was in his time. But the rules allowed the tee, so that’s how I viewed him.

QB — Tua. Absolutely the most accurate college passer I’ve ever seen. Unmatched long ball. It was almost as if he reached out 40+ yards and handed the ball gently into the receiver’s hands. I’m 61 and expect to die never having seen anything like it again.
OL — John Hannah.
RB — Derrick Henry — everybody in the stadium knew he was getting the ball, and they still couldn’t stop him.
FB — Johnny Davis
TE — Ozzie Newsome — many people forget he started out as a WR, and grew into a TE, yet lost very little speed. Unfair matchup against a LB of the mid to late ‘70s.
WR — Jerry Jeudy (not Julio because as great as he was, he was bad to lose focus and drop an easy catch).
DL — Q. In only one year of major contribution, and from a hand-in-the-dirt position, he dictated offensive blocking schemes, fought through double and triple teams, and opened up countless opportunities for others.
ILB — Lee Roy Jordan
OLB — Derrick Thomas
DB (multi-position) — Minkah Fitzpatrick
Safety — Landon Collins
Punter — JK Scott, and it isn’t close. Only one who even holds a candle was Greg Gantt, who would be remembered far more fondly if not for an ignominious end that wasn’t his fault.
PK — Van Tiffin

You are right about Julio. It still happens to this day. He can make a one handed upside down while being hit by 5 guys catch, yet drop an easy wide open practically handed to him ball.

 

[FThomas]

QB Tua
RB Derrick Henry
WR Don Hutson/Jerry Jeudy (in Hutson's day it was just called End)
TE Ozzie Newsome
OL John Hannah
DL Leroy Cook
LB Cornelius Bennett (All American twice at LB and once at DL... for college career yes)
CB Minkah Fitzpatrick
P JK Scott
K Phillip Doyle

 

[FThomas]

Good off-season thread, and you’re right....it isn’t easy.

Criteria I used:
- College career only
- Performance vs. competition of the day. For example, Lee Roy Jordan is on my list at ILB, and was dominant in the early ‘60s. But at barely 200 pounds, he could never play that position today.
- Performance in the context of rules of the day. For example, Van Tiffin was the most reliable kicker we’ve ever had, especially from distance. But he kicked off of a high tee, and couldn’t make the conversion to off the ground in the NFL, so likely wouldn’t have been as effective today as he was in his time. But the rules allowed the tee, so that’s how I viewed him.

QB — Tua. Absolutely the most accurate college passer I’ve ever seen. Unmatched long ball. It was almost as if he reached out 40+ yards and handed the ball gently into the receiver’s hands. I’m 61 and expect to die never having seen anything like it again.
OL — John Hannah.
RB — Derrick Henry — everybody in the stadium knew he was getting the ball, and they still couldn’t stop him.
FB — Johnny Davis
TE — Ozzie Newsome — many people forget he started out as a WR, and grew into a TE, yet lost very little speed. Unfair matchup against a LB of the mid to late ‘70s.
WR — Jerry Jeudy (not Julio because as great as he was, he was bad to lose focus and drop an easy catch).
DL — Q. In only one year of major contribution, and from a hand-in-the-dirt position, he dictated offensive blocking schemes, fought through double and triple teams, and opened up countless opportunities for others.
ILB — Lee Roy Jordan
OLB — Derrick Thomas
DB (multi-position) — Minkah Fitzpatrick
Safety — Landon Collins
Punter — JK Scott, and it isn’t close. Only one who even holds a candle was Greg Gantt, who would be remembered far more fondly if not for an ignominious end that wasn’t his fault.
PK — Van Tiffin

I wouldn't forget about Chris Mohr (maybe Daniel Pope as well). JK is my top, but those two guys were also very talented.

 

[BamaMoon]

Wow...that's tough...although you didn't say, I'm going to limit it to those I've seen in my lifetime:
QB - Tua
RB - Bobby Humphrey (I can still see him running all over Tennessee every TSIO- and in the era, there was none better IMO)
WR - Julio Jones - maybe most important player in CNS era
TE - OJ
OL - Barret Jones - started every spot during his career
DL - A'Shawn Robison
LB - Biscuit
CB - Eddie Jackson
P - JK Scott
K - Leigh Tiffin

 

[tusks_n_raider]

I can only list players I actually watched...


QB - Tua Tagovailoa
RB - Mark Ingram
WR - Amari Cooper
TE - OJ Howard
OL - Barrett Jones

DL - Jonathan Allen
LB - Derrick Thomas
CB - Antonio Langham

P - JK Scott
K - Philip Doyle
Return Specialist - Javier Arenas

 

[DogPatch]

QB Tua Tagovailoa
RB Derrick Henry
WR Don Hutson
TE Ozzie Newsome
OL John Hannah
DL Marty Lyons
LB Lee Roy Jordan
DB Tommy Wilcox
P JK Scott
K Van TIffin

 

[Con]

Great thread @alabama mike1. So many names to choose from from over the years. I am glad @FThomas listed Don Hutson on his list. I have only heard great things about him and I sure don't want someone from the way back days to get forgotten about.

 

[Ole Man Dan]

That's a tough one.
A couple of our players are special to me, but Stats don't lie and lately some of my all time favorites have been eclipsed.
I'll just keep my Hero list to myself.

 

[dvldog]

Leroy Cook?

 

[Con]

Leroy Cook?

I have never heard of him until this thread but he was a two time all American in the mid 70’s. Glad his name was included because he was obviously pretty good.

 

[FaninLA]

I wouldn't forget about Chris Mohr (maybe Daniel Pope as well). JK is my top, but those two guys were also very talented.

Although I believe performance wise, JK Scott wins out, I like your choices. A favorite of mine is Lane Bearden, one tough cookie!

 

[4Q Basket Case]

I wouldn't forget about Chris Mohr (maybe Daniel Pope as well). JK is my top, but those two guys were also very talented.

They were good, no doubt. Funny story about Mohr -- in the Sun Bowl against SMU or Washington (I forget which), he had a punt for minus-5 yards. Yes, minus 5. And it wasn't touched by the defense. He just almost missed the ball entirely. Never seen anything like it before or since.

QB Tua Tagovailoa
RB Derrick Henry
WR Don Hutson
TE Ozzie Newsome
OL John Hannah
DL Marty Lyons
LB Lee Roy Jordan
DB Tommy Wilcox
P JK Scott
K Van TIffin

Good call on Don Hutson. Applying my own self-imposed criteria of performance vs. competition of the day, he might be a better choice than my pick of Jeudy. His stats in an era before wide-open passing attacks were blinding.

I have never heard of him until this thread but he was a two time all American in the mid 70’s. Glad his name was included because he was obviously pretty good.

Even though I viewed the GOAT DL differently, Leroy Cook was really good. Tall, rangy, a bit under-weight, even by standards of the day. But super-effective especially on pass rush. Tore his knee up in a freak incident celebrating a big play with teammates (fumble recovery? 4th down stop? I don't remember), and was never the same.