About our recruiting strategy

[Crimson Hawk]

I've been doing a lot of looking at recruiting lately,& it seems to me that CMS leans more toward players that he thinks will develop, moreso than the so called "blue chippers". Is this a strategy based on our current situation, or is he & his staff looking for something that maybe others are missing? Are they simply better judges of talent, or what? I guess we'll know for sure in a year of two.

 

[runtheoption22]

there's a big difference from "national blue chippers" and "state blue chippers". I guess those national blue chippers are pretty much limited to those in the Rivals and Scout Top 100. That argument can pretty much go on for days and days about the "rankers" and "coach evals." Shula and Co. have signed several "state" blue chippers, especially in the "05 class- Barnes, Hall, Johns, Upchurch, Ford, Washington, Keys, Coffee.....several of those are considered "national" blue chippers too. This year, we are arguably in the running for the #1 national OL and QB, 2 top 100 WRs, and a few DBs, LBs.

The staff likes doing there own evals. They love seeings these kids in camps- especially the QBs and OL. The staffs ability to get what's good in-state, and to get some of these outstanding kids from GA, MS, FL, and CA, especially, in some of our programs hardest times says a lot about their abilities and judge of talent.

 

[RamJam]

As fans, we support our coaches & trust them. And one of the key-things you said, Hawk, is the thing about them being better judges of talent, etc... Afterall - they DO know more about the sport of football, the Alabama players, the program itself, background information we will never know (or NEED to know) or understand, & recruiting & coaching all the way around.

 

[Alanbama27]

I am fairly certain I've posted this before, but...

the coaches have said they like to take players that fit two molds. First, they all have to fit into the type of men they want as well as fit the mold of player they're looking for. Then, specifically for linemen, they want kids who are NOT too big already. They HATE 300 lb high school kids. They want kids who are 265 to 270 and then build them into the players they want.

 

[The Tide]

This is very simple.....

The staff does not call Rivals or other ranking companies to check a recruit's ranking before offering them a scholarship.

They evaluate a recruit through in-person and video. they then prefer to meet this recruit in person. And then meet as a group and decide on to offer or not. There are exceptions.

The bottom line is, the staff's job is dependant on their evaluation skills, this is not the case at ranking sites.

As for the offensive line recruiting strategy, yes they like leaner linemen who can come in and build up size. There are exceptions to that rule as well, ie. Hurt and Smith.

 

[CrimsonVan]

Who is to say who is who is a blue chipper and who is a sleeper?

Good grief, these kids haven't even played a down yet.

Anyone ever realize that some of the best players in the SEC the last few years have been 3-stars or less players?

Pollack, Davis, and Greene for UGA were all 3-Stars or less. Boy did they turn out bad!

 

[bamaslammer]

Shula still thinks like an NFL guy and NFL guys look more for people that have physical skills they want, even if they haven't been real successful, They hope to turn them into great players, Sometimes it works, other times not, You aren't going to sign alot of 5 star guys until your having winning seasons.

Shula's strategies are different, we won't know how good for another few years, so far I haven't seen too many busts, just some academic casualties.

 

[Crimson Hawk]

Let me apologise for a lack of clarity.....I'm not questioning CMS's methods, simply trying to understand them, and I certainly didn't want to rehash the beaten to death subject of recruit rankings. Rather, I think I see a trend that I like, and that is choosing a kid based on caracter and potential, instead of a bunch of hype from someone else. I'm very pleased with the job CMS & Staff are doing. Thanks for the feedback, guys & gals.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I've been doing a lot of looking at recruiting lately,& it seems to me that CMS leans more toward players that he thinks will develop, moreso than the so called "blue chippers". Is this a strategy based on our current situation, or is he & his staff looking for something that maybe others are missing? Are they simply better judges of talent, or what? I guess we'll know for sure in a year of two.

The three major differences I see in our recruiting compared to pre Shula is the emphasis on speed, OL/DL being more agile and an obvious emphasis on getting the best talent at qb as we can.

I like the strategy. Let's face it, speed kills. Speed can change the entire dynamics of a game. If you're facing a team that is "quicker/faster" than your team then before the game even starts you're behind the eight ball. Teams with speed can beat you to the "angles", force you to run zone defenses the entire game (if your on defense), where as on offense can cover your wideouts one on one and free safeties up to come down and help at the LOS.

What Shula is doing is nothing magical and new. He's bringing Alabama football up to date with the times. He's trying to make Bama into a total package rather than being one demensional. Smart move.

 

[Love the Ping]

One other thing I have noticed Shula doing, and I don't know if it is by coincidence or not, but he is bringing in tall defensive backs, particularly corners. Look at our young corners, Simeon and Mitchell are both about 6'1. Chris Rogers is 6'1. We're going with not only speed, but also size with our DBs.

 

[clay3482]

bamabuzzard i agree.

I like the character, and talent that CMS and staff is bring in.

 

[CrimsonVan]

As Nick Saban and Mark Richt both said together after the 2003 SECCG

"Speed kills"

 

[RamJam]

OK , so

Why don't all you guys who replied to this post write some articles for the Crimson White?!?!?

I wish Mike Shula could read this thread - WHOA - if the staff & coaches could read this kind of postive street-talk, what GREAT encouragement it would be! Talk about some loyalty being shown...WAY TO GO !!!

ROLL TIDE!

 

[ihatefulmer]

there's a big difference from "national blue chippers" and "state blue chippers". I guess those national blue chippers are pretty much limited to those in the Rivals and Scout Top 100. That argument can pretty much go on for days and days about the "rankers" and "coach evals." Shula and Co. have signed several "state" blue chippers, especially in the "05 class- Barnes, Hall, Johns, Upchurch, Ford, Washington, Keys, Coffee.....several of those are considered "national" blue chippers too. This year, we are arguably in the running for the #1 national OL and QB, 2 top 100 WRs, and a few DBs, LBs.

The staff likes doing there own evals. They love seeings these kids in camps- especially the QBs and OL. The staffs ability to get what's good in-state, and to get some of these outstanding kids from GA, MS, FL, and CA, especially, in some of our programs hardest times says a lot about their abilities and judge of talent.

Also the #1 RB. The kid from Pa.