An overall Assessment (so far) of the 2020 Class

[Jkl0802]

Other than the obvious lack of a top-flight prospect at TE in this year's class, I think the larger part of our misses have come after signing day.

In other words, we signed most of the folks we wanted, disappointments in the 2016 class acknowledged. To my mind, the ones we signed and who didn't work out for whatever reason, hurt far more.

A couple of DBs, the LB from Washington whose name escapes me at the moment, the infamous saga this past year of Alfano, the TE who left even though he'd probably be starting. Couple that with three years of injuries of Biblical proportion, compounded by early departures to the NFL, and you have what we saw this season....a good but not elite team that just missed being able to compete with the truly top flight.

I think we should all remember, big, fast, and mean defensive linemen, super fast and hard as woodpecker lips linebackers, big fast and ball hawking DBs, fast and incredibly shifty route running wide receivers, and great left tackles and pulling guards are always better to have in the SEC than tight ends...whose greatest claim to fame is sometimes they are match up challenges. Meh....don’t cry over TEs. Celebrate the class we got!

 

[The Ols]

I think we should all remember, big, fast, and mean defensive linemen, super fast and hard as woodpecker lips linebackers, big fast and ball hawking DBs, fast and incredibly shifty route running wide receivers, and great left tackles and pulling guards are always better to have in the SEC than tight ends...whose greatest claim to fame is sometimes they are match up challenges. Meh....don’t cry over TEs. Celebrate the class we got!

You're only a strong as your weakest link...

 

[TheTradition]

The class is clearly impressive. Love the linebacker and edge rushers signed. And I think Young might end up being one of the best recruits in the Saban era. Just think there was a failure again with the wide receiver and tight end classes. Don't understand that part with Tua here this year and Young for next year. Don't understand why the top guys did not jump onboard.

I wouldn't call the WR class a failure. It's not elite, but I think we've got 3 really solid players (assuming Baker qualifies). Jones-Bell is underrated IMO, and Holden gives us some more size at the position. Like another poster said, the flip of BY was likely just too late in the cycle to help us a lot. Most guys were already committed by then.

We definitely missed on a big time TE unless Washignton pulls a shocker . We put all our eggs into the Arik Gilbert basket and came up empty handed. Like I said in another thread, an elite TE is more a luxury than a necessity though, and I think we already have a good one in Billingsley. I'm honestly more concerned with finding some guys that can block.

 

[The Ols]

I wouldn't call the WR class a failure. It's not elite, but I think we've got 3 really solid players (assuming Baker qualifies). Jones-Bell is underrated IMO, and Holden gives us some more size at the position. Like another poster said, the flip of BY was likely just too late in the cycle to help us a lot. Most guys were already committed by then.

We definitely missed on a big time TE unless Washignton pulls a shocker . We put all our eggs into the Arik Gilbert basket and came up empty handed. Like I said in another thread, an elite TE is more a luxury than a necessity though, and I think we already have a good one in Billingsley. I'm honestly more concerned with finding some guys that can block.

I like Billingsley too...He got a little PT late, love to see that continue vs The Team up North in our bowl game.

 

[Bhammer]

Not restricted on 247sports

What they're saying about Alabama's 2020 class

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247sports.com

The Crimson Tide have tapped South Florida again for another pass-catching resource, pulling from the same area that produced Amari Cooper, Julio Jones and Jerry Jeudy

I wonder if Calvin Ridley knows that he apparently grew up and played ball in Foley?

 

[deliveryman35]

As long as the talent we are bringing in helps us get back to what made us what we are then I’ll be happy. I for one will trade the aerial circus we’ve had on O the past few years for a more balanced O where we pound people with a bruising run game and eat up clock. Your D is also more effective and able to rest. 31-6 type games are better than 58-31 types that we saw a lot of this past season.

 

[BearFoot]

You're only a strong as your weakest link...

Then, with our punting and kicking, we shouldn’t have won a single game 🤔

 

[The Ols]

Then, with our punting and kicking, we shouldn’t have won a single game 🤔

Touché...but we both know I was talking about the offensive unit...

 

[bamaslammer]

The class is clearly impressive. Love the linebacker and edge rushers signed. And I think Young might end up being one of the best recruits in the Saban era. Just think there was a failure again with the wide receiver and tight end classes. Don't understand that part with Tua here this year and Young for next year. Don't understand why the top guys did not jump onboard.

It's a play now kind of game now, next season we will load up because playing time will be available, or they think it will. We don't know how good our backups are since they haven't had much time to shine.

 

[Saban4Ever]

Apparently, Demouy Kennedy played with a torn labrum in his shoulder most of the season, and will not be playing in the upcoming All Star game.

I assume he will have surgery... I think that takes 4-6 months to completely heal? Hope he is ready to contribute early in the season, but this may be a slight setback for him.

 

[CrimsonEyeshade]

As long as the talent we are bringing in helps us get back to what made us what we are then I’ll be happy.

I for one will trade the aerial circus we’ve had on O the past few years for a more balanced O where we pound people with a bruising run game and eat up clock. Your D is also more effective and able to rest. 31-6 type games are better than 58-31 types that we saw a lot of this past season.

I said this on another thread: we don’t have a single player who could start on defense for Clemson or tOSU. These recruiting classes — and the proper development of the players — are vital to our future.

 

[B1GTide]

I said this on another thread: we don’t have a single player who could start on defense for Clemson or tOSU. These recruiting classes — and the proper development of the players — are vital to our future.

I think that Barmore could start on any team in America. So could Moses if not injured. And a few guys in your secondary would start for Clemson.

 

[rgw]

Why can’t Barmore start on our team then? A lot of us have been pondering that one because it ain’t because the guys above him on the depth chart are special. If Moses could’ve been starting for us in 2019, the entire tenor of our opinions of the defense would change I think.

Who we were rocking by late November? I tend to agree that they’d struggle to see the field on Clemson or OSU. It was due to a combination of youth and defections but a tad bit of it is player development.

 

[CrimsonEyeshade]

I think that Barmore could start on any team in America. So could Moses if not injured. And a few guys in your secondary would start for Clemson.

Barmore is not starting because the coaches don’t trust him yet. That may say more about the coaches than Barmore.

Moses is still living off his potential and what he can do when he’s not wearing pads.

 

[bamacon]

I didn't look but did you get a good kicker?

Bazz i know your joking but the loss of the kicker this year was squarely on CNS. WR should NEVER have been punting even when healthy. That was BEYOND a stupid idea. Hopefully it’ll be the last time we try that. I think WR will have a strong year and career to be honest. The kid is the real deal and has a cannon for a leg.

 

[bamacon]

Barmore is not starting because the coaches don’t trust him yet. That may say more about the coaches than Barmore.

Moses is still living off his potential and what he can do when he’s not wearing pads.

And yet it was the senior getting stupid penalties in the IB while Barmore, a true freshmen, kept a level head. Hopefully that gave him some trust cred.

 

[Bazza]

Bazz i know your joking but the loss of the kicker this year was squarely on CNS. WR should NEVER have been punting even when healthy. That was BEYOND a stupid idea. Hopefully it’ll be the last time we try that. I think WR will have a strong year and career to be honest. The kid is the real deal and has a cannon for a leg.

Thanks for the explanation @bamacon and hope you're right about next season!

 

[TiderJack]

I think that Barmore could start on any team in America. So could Moses if not injured. And a few guys in your secondary would start for Clemson.

I agree with you and I don't agree that we have nobody that would start for Clemson or OSU on D. I know we are down on on our overall defensive performance but we are not void of very good to great talent on that side of the ball. Barmore, Raekwon, X and Surtain would be on my list.

 

[Dnelly_7RTR]

Apparently, Demouy Kennedy played with a torn labrum in his shoulder most of the season, and will not be playing in the upcoming All Star game.

I assume he will have surgery... I think that takes 4-6 months to completely heal? Hope he is ready to contribute early in the season, but this may be a slight setback for him.

Yea especially because it’s a shoulder injury which means we won’t be able to hit weights either. That’s what he needs the most is to bulk up fill in that frame of his.

 

[B1GTide]

Jayson Jones suggests that he was asked to blueshirt - maybe he meant grayshirt? Pretty sure he was recruited. He also says that Alabama's staff has not contacted him lately. Wonder if he realizes that Alabama cannot contact him right now?