CFN Top QBs

[LP-HSV]

Don't know if this has already been posted. Surprisingly, Brodie still gets love from the 'experts' at CFN. They must have loved him coming out of high school.

Next Big NFL Thing - Quarterbacks

9. Brodie Croyle, Alabama – Injuries in each of the last two seasons have gotten in the way of Croyle fulfilling Signing Day expectations and becoming the most prolific passer in Tide history. A bum shoulder sidelined him in 2003 and a torn ACL in his right knee curtailed a hot start to 2004 after just three games. The knee should be fine in time for the opener, but questions about Croyle’s durability will dog him until he plays an entire season uninterrupted—no small feat considering the current state of the ‘Bama O-line. When he’s in pads, he sports terrific arm strength and a keen sense for the position. He’s also a high character kid, which scouts and GMs always adore. Croyle has NFL ability, but needs a landmark senior season about as much as any other player in America.

 

[Crimson Surfer]

Thanks for the link to the article. It is great to see some positive press for Brodie. He deserves the recognition and hopefully this year he will prove himself to the nation.

 

[RedStar]

The knee should be fine in time for the opener, but questions about Croyle’s durability will dog him until he plays an entire season uninterrupted—no small feat considering the current state of the ‘Bama O-line.

People keep referring to this question about our offensive line. What question is there? We lost 2 starters, that's it. We have to replace a 3rd round draft pick and a 5th round draft pick. And with as much playing time missed the last 2 years as Britt has had, I'm sure his backup has had plenty of experience to be a starter. It's not like we are replacing Chris Samuels. I'm not dissing on Britt, he had the biggest heart since Lane Bearden left. But I don't think our O-Line will have the problems everyone thinks they are going to have.

 

[rtrcam]

People keep referring to this question about our offensive line. What question is there? We lost 2 starters, that's it. We have to replace a 3rd round draft pick and a 5th round draft pick. And with as much playing time missed the last 2 years as Britt has had, I'm sure his backup has had plenty of experience to be a starter. It's not like we are replacing Chris Samuels. I'm not dissing on Britt, he had the biggest heart since Lane Bearden left. But I don't think our O-Line will have the problems everyone thinks they are going to have.

BAMA is replacing 3 starters:

Wes Britt
Evan Mathis
Danny Martz

I do hope your last sentence proves to be true.

 

[LP-HSV]

Not to mention our two starting TEs.

 

[BamaSully]

...three starters and two TEs who are very good blockers.

We will certainly have some rebuilding to do in terms of protecting the QB and opening running lanes.

Having said that, it is worth noting that there has been a pattern on the o-line for the last several years. Two or three redshirt freshmen or sophomores will step in to replace the outgoing All-SEC performers with only a slight drop-off in performance, and by season's end, they usually gel into a formidable line. Then they have 2 or 3 more years to start together. That's when they turn into one of the SECs best lines.

By all accounts, Stabler and Calwell (and maybe Chris Capps) are expected to do just that in 2005. The question is, will the pattern continue? Will all 3 of those guys end up being All-SEC performers in the next 2 or 3 years? How quick will they get to that level? Will they get Croyle killed in the meantime? Will we have a running game?

We will learn early in the 2005 season just what kind of job our staff has been doing in terms of recruiting and position coaching and developing talent.

-Sully

 

[RedStar]

Danny Martz started? See I didn't even know
It's not like we are replacing all-stars though. Look at the last 2 or 3 years recruting classes and look at the quality guys we are going to have starting at all of the o-line positions. As far as the tight-ends, that could be a problem, I'm not gonna lie. We didn't use them as much in our offense last year as I thought we would, mainly due to injuries. TE would be my biggest concern in the offseason. I wish we had been able to bring in a few more with this last class we had. Hoke will be a good one I think. Maybe next year we will bring in at least 2 or 3 more TE's. But I look around at our team and who is going to step up, and I really don't think our O-Line is going to be a problem.
I mean look at the guys . . .

LT
72 Chris Capps (6-5, 293, So.)
75 Cody Davis (6-7, 282, Fr.)

LG
59 Antoine Caldwell (6-3, 281, Fr.)
60 Von Ewing (6-5, 294, Sr.)

C
74 JB Closner (6-4, 290, Sr.)
52 Taylor Britt (6-4, 278, Sr.)

RG
63 Mark Sanders (6-7, 328, Sr.)
71 Justin Moon (6-5, 296, So.)

RT
58 Kyle Tatum (6-7, 298, Jr.)
71 Drew Davis (6-6, 290, Fr.)

I can see 5 or 6 of these guys at least getting drafted by the time they finish their careers here at Bama. And that's not even mentioning the 6 freshman we have coming in next year, including Michael Johnson, whom I've heard GREAT things about. I hear he has an amazing dedication to the game, not to mention out of this world potential. I really think we'll be ok on the OL next year.

 

[runtheoption22]

don't know why Von Ewing is still on that list....he quit to persue is interest in theatre. I would like to see BJ Stabler win the job at RG come August- lots seem to think he will.

I'm the most worried about C-RG-RT. Can Closner gain a strong consistency? Can Stabler/Sanders/Moon gain any consistency/experience? Can Tatum improve and get rid of the holding calls?

Capps should be ok, and Caldwell shows the most promise out of all the young OL thus far.

 

[I_Hate_Orange]

Trent and Nick

Not to mention our two starting TEs.

I don't think we are going to be hurting at TE like you think. I believe that Nick Walker RFr. is going to be a All-SEC before he leaves and is probably the most athletic TE Bama has seen in years. Trent Davidson So., is probably the best blocking TE that we had last year, in fact I wouldn't be suprised to see a smaller number on him before the year is out. I just think that our TE situation is better than you think, and I didn't even mention Hoke. It wouldn't hurt to sign one or two TE's next year, but I believe that Davidson and Walker could be the best pair in the SEC in the next year or two.

 

[LP-HSV]

IHO,

I was only adding to the drama, but you actually proved my point. Walker can catch, Davidson can block. We don't know if either can do BOTH under the lights, which means teams might be able to read our play (or eliminate a threat) by which TE is in the game. But like you and the others, I think our RS Fr. TE/linemen rise to the challenge.

 

[CrimsonVan]

Whitehurst #3?

Let me look at his stats

7 TDs and 17 INTs

Impressive.

 

[BamaSully]

Tider@UNA,

Are you serious? You listed a 2-deep roster that includes two true returning starters, two more guys with a little mop-up duty under their belt, and the rest have never played a down in college football before.

You can see 5 or 6 getting drafted? Really? Wow! Either your talent evaluation abilities are off-the-charts, or you are clairvoyant or a prophet. Which is it?

You have only seen 2 of them play extensively. I agree those two will get drafted one day. After that, we don't even know if any of the other eight you named are good enough to make it in the SEC. Obviously Ewing isn't. He don't play football anymore. Sanders is a 5th-year senior who has probably played 50 snaps in his career. Bet the scouts are drooling over him, right?

I am not trying to attack you. I am making a point. It seems like people buy into the recruiting hype more and more every year, which only creates unrealistic expectations for the players.

Coach Bryant once said, you gotta have 'taters to make 'tater salad. Truer words have never been spoken. But, that doesn't mean that every player who is considered great in high school will be great in college. Common sense tells you that.

-Sully

 

[bama peach]

It seems to me

that the staff is repeating the same recruiting habit that they have in the past. That is, taking every prospect that want's to play for Bama. Now don't get me wrong, I know that is a factor in recruiting, but why don't they really go after all the 4 and 5 star atheletes in the country with true vigor and then accept the lesser rated ones as needed? If this staff is truely worth their salt, then they should be able to reel in much bigger fish and more of them. JMHO.

 

[derek4tide]

Barners on the loose...lurking everywhere.....mooooooooo :eek2:

 

[bama peach]

Hope that wasen't directed at me.

I thought I was just expressing facts. I love Bama as much and probably more than you. You appeared to have a knee-jerk reaction to my post by calling me a barner. Why, instead of flying off the handle and calling names, didn't you answer my post with a cogent, intelligent answer if you wanted to refute my post? Anybody can revert to name calling!

 

[ihatefulmer]

that the staff is repeating the same recruiting habit that they have in the past. That is, taking every prospect that want's to play for Bama. Now don't get me wrong, I know that is a factor in recruiting, but why don't they really go after all the 4 and 5 star atheletes in the country with true vigor and then accept the lesser rated ones as needed? If this staff is truely worth their salt, then they should be able to reel in much bigger fish and more of them. JMHO.

Who do you think has a better eye for talent 1. These experts who give the players their * 2. BAMA's coaching staff? I put my money on Bama's staff. The staff might just have these players ranked as 3*'s by the experts ranked 5 *'s in their book.

 

[Mamacalled]

Trust me, bamapeach is no barner. He has been a Bama fan probably longer than you have been alive. You might not agree with his opinion but please don't call him a barner.

 

[bama peach]

Thanks Mamacalled

Trust me, bamapeach is no barner. He has been a Bama fan probably longer than you have been alive. You might not agree with his opinion but please don't call him a barner.

You got that right! I have been a Tide fan probably before alot of these people were born. I can't help it, but it just burns me up to read where alot of these so-called top twenty recruits have the Barn, Jawja, Tennersee, Lsu and so on with no mention of Bama. I'm sorry if I offended anyone, guess I'm just a grumpy ol' man, but I hate Allbun with a passion and for someone to call me a Barner gets my ire up!

 

[NBF_Bama_Cavalry]

that the staff is repeating the same recruiting habit that they have in the past. That is, taking every prospect that want's to play for Bama. Now don't get me wrong, I know that is a factor in recruiting, but why don't they really go after all the 4 and 5 star atheletes in the country with true vigor and then accept the lesser rated ones as needed? If this staff is truely worth their salt, then they should be able to reel in much bigger fish and more of them. JMHO.

You make a good point, but I think the coaching staff has had to live within the limitations that circumstances forced on them. When Coach Bryant and Coach Stallings were here, the top athletes wanted to play at Alabama because they knew they had a chance to play for a national championship year in and year out. Unfortunately, those expectations have changed and the players want to go to the flash-in-the-pan programs who have the hot hand right now. I believe Bama's coaching staff will reestablish our winning tradition and will make the top recruits start listing Alabama as their favorite again, but it'll take time to get there.

Sometimes, the 4 and 5 star athletes aren't what they're cracked up to be. Look at the talent ut gets loaded up with each year and count the number of SECCs and NCs it has gotten them. I'd rather Bama rebuild slowly than to have the undisciplined prima donnas at tennessee and the rap sheets to go with them.