I doubt it. He believes in the process.....and seldom deviates from it. Changing an offensive style/approach wasnt an adjustment to the process..... but advising kids to go pro against his beliefs, is.
Thompson absolutely has all the tools. He just needed 1 more season. IMO, there is a possibility he does well in the NFL.
I think most mock drafts have them both in mid-late second rounds. That could all change based on how they (or others) perform in the Combine. There always seems to be two prevailing schools of thought 1) draft based on need or 2) draft to take the best available. Like you said, a team might need an ILB or a safety in the early rounds, but may feel there is another player available at another position that presents as a better "value" to the team and could decide to attempt to fill that "need" with a later round pick or via free agency or trade.
This is a very good point. Not trusting the other guys to do their job will help you lose your job or give up big plays.
He and Mack were both out of position often this season. They were out of position because they were trying to do too much. Was this because they didn't trust their team mates, because they were trying to do too much - no idea. But they were out of position. They knew the cost to the over-all defense, but they kept doing it. No idea why Saban let them stay on the field doing it over and over again, but assume that is was because they were doing more good than harm, even with these plays. But, to be frank, that has to stop. Your entire defense relies on every player playing their part and trusting others to play theirs. If one player makes a mistake or misses a tackle, others are in position to pick it up. But if a player makes a mistake and the person who is supposed to be in a position of support is not there - HUGE play results.
This kinda reminds me of after 2013 season when Vinny Sunseri, Adrian Hubbard, and Jeoffrey Pagan declared early. Vinny went Rd 5, Pagan went Rd 6, and Hubbard went underdrafted. There was lots of talk of inflated ability and entitlement among scouts with some of the guys of that class. This year kinda has that same feeling.
A former Bama DB under CPB said this very thing to me. He stated that he wasn't big enough to play today, but that under Coach Bryant he wanted players who would be where they were supposed to be...along with fast. Football is the ultimate team game...a violent chess match!
Not sure I agree. Four of our guys have solid first round grades - Q, Jonah, Jacobs and D Thompson. The other two, Mack and Irv, are fringe first round guys who may slip into the second. Savion declared because he probably wouldn't see the field as much this year and 3rd round is most likely his ceiling. Not really sure how any of those guys can be compared to Vinny, Pagan and Hubbard who never received 1st or 2nd round grades. I'd be shocked if anyone other than Savion hasn't been drafted after the second round. Anywhere from 3 to 6 guys could go in the first..
Mack might go in the second round but Deionte is the best safety in the draft. I think that one play in championship game has everyone forgetting all the other great plays he made with his range. I am hearing he was always out of position now. Go back and look at the games he was hardly ever out of position. There are times he even came down for run fits. Do it all safety who can cover and bring the wood. If Mac goes by the second round hard to say he lost money the way the new NFL contracts work. They all have to wait 4 years to hit free agency. I think everyone thinks Mac regressed under the coaching he got this year. Next year he should get better coaching and have nothing to worry about other than playing football. Another thing about the NFL they don't like finished players. They are going to love Mac and thinking about how much he is going to improve under their tutelage. Say what you will about missing tackles and bad angles, you can never say he did not play hard every play (not saying you said that). He gave everything he had and left it on the field every game. My prediction Deionte first round pick easy he is and upgrade to about 10 teams in the league. Mac could sneak in to the first round but likely first half of the second round.
