JessN: Early Signing Day recap and roster analysis: 2023 Alabama Crimson Tide

[JessN]

Early Signing Day Recap and Roster Analysis: 2023 Alabama Crimson Tide
by Jess Nicholas, TideFans.com Editor-In-Chief

Wednesday’s impressive Early Signing Day haul was cause for much optimism within the Alabama fan base, as Alabama addressed every need on what has become a rather long wishlist. In addition, Alabama averaged a NARCAS-scale 9.89 across 27 signees (PK Conor Talty, like all specialists, is not included in our rankings), the third-highest grade of any Saban class at Alabama, behind 2017 (9.94) and 2019 (9.90).

The following is a look at the players Alabama signed, and how those players are likely to fit into a very preliminary depth chart for 2023. Editor’s note: In parentheses following each signee’s name is their listed height, weight, 40-yard dash times and NARCAS rating, and those already on campus are denoted by displaying their names in blue boldface type, while key walk-ons in the depth chart have an asterisk by their names:


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[4Q Basket Case]

Thanks so much for the comprehensive write-up, Jess….I always appreciate your clear-eyed analysis.

I can’t remember heading into a season with so many question marks — both players and coaches.

 

[DrollTide]

I am super excited about the freshman class. I don't recall ever seeing so many 10.0's.

An important factor is, if we get new coordinators that bring in new playbooks, I guess the freshmen have a better than normal chance of playing.

 

[CrimSonami]

DAYUM! The O-line signees! Hope they develop quickly! WOW!

 

[78Alum]

Thanks so much for the analysis, Jess. Great job as always!

 

[JessN]

An important factor is, if we get new coordinators that bring in new playbooks, I guess the freshmen have a better than normal chance of playing.

I think changes at the position coach level matter more in that regard than the coordinators. An exception would be offensive coordinator, if someone like Mullen were to be hired. That would have a material change in the kind of quarterback Alabama might play (of course, Mullen would also be QB coach, so it's two birds/one stone there).

I'm also not saying Mullen will be the guy. I'm up to about 4-5 names I'd consider "credible" at the moment for the job and he's one of them. He would certainly be the biggest change from what we've been doing lately, though.

 

[bamadws56]

I'm really excited to see incoming WR Malik Benson. He is a local boy here and my daughter went to high school with him a couple years ago. He is supposed to be a really nice kid. Plus, our high school team was not great so he didn't get that hometown hero treatment while he was in school! Should be good for his character development.

 

[Padreruf]

We've now had at least 2 different opponents talk about how simple and limited our offense is...but we run those plays really well. The problem is that they know what is coming...I think a change will be good for BOB and UA...After watching Arkansas run all over Kansas I would put the junior Briles on that list...if I didn't know so much about his actions at BU.

 

[TIDE24]

Let's hope this class pans out more like 2017 and not 2019, given those are the comparisons.

 

[twofbyc]

So Haynes is talking about “one more” recruit to top off the class; someone who is at the UA all star game. Anyone know who he’s talking about?

 

[twofbyc]

We've now had at least 2 different opponents talk about how simple and limited our offense is...but we run those plays really well. The problem is that they know what is coming...I think a change will be good for BOB and UA...After watching Arkansas run all over Kansas I would put the junior Briles on that list...if I didn't know so much about his actions at BU.

And literally hang on for the win.
Bama had second highest scoring per game in the SEC; averaged almost 200 yds per game on the ground.
The definition of power is lining up, with your opponent knowing what you’re going to do, and still doing it successfully. Coaches in college started years ago to incorporate more uncertainty in their offensive sets and play calling (he wasn’t the first but the Gus circus comes to mind because, especially against Bama, he knew he couldn’t just line up and pound, especially against Bama). It has been very successful for a lot of schools; there are still teams (Michigan and Georgia come to mind) whose plan is usually just to line up and impose their will. It still works, too.
So despite the outcome of the season, I’ll stand by my belief that, as plain as it was, the offense wasn’t the reason for the season. I think if you go back and look at all of Bama’s losses over the last 5-10 years, the majority of the losses were high scoring affairs.

 

[B1GTide]

So Haynes is talking about “one more” recruit to top off the class; someone who is at the UA all star game. Anyone know who he’s talking about?

Cormani McClain is the rumor. Not sure that I buy it.

 

[BamaMoon]

And literally hang on for the win.
Bama had second highest scoring per game in the SEC; averaged almost 200 yds per game on the ground.
The definition of power is lining up, with your opponent knowing what you’re going to do, and still doing it successfully. Coaches in college started years ago to incorporate more uncertainty in their offensive sets and play calling (he wasn’t the first but the Gus circus comes to mind because, especially against Bama, he knew he couldn’t just line up and pound, especially against Bama). It has been very successful for a lot of schools; there are still teams (Michigan and Georgia come to mind) whose plan is usually just to line up and impose their will. It still works, too.
So despite the outcome of the season, I’ll stand by my belief that, as plain as it was, the offense wasn’t the reason for the season. I think if you go back and look at all of Bama’s losses over the last 5-10 years, the majority of the losses were high scoring affairs.

6 one; half dozen the other.

But it just seems in this era of college football you have to be able to outscore and out scheme teams offensively and since other offenses are better than they ever have been, we must be willing to concede there will be some games we will give up big points. Not saying the defense couldn't be improved because it should be, but it was BOB's offense that scored 5-8 points less this year NOT the defense giving up that much more compared to the last couple of years.

Take UT, the signature loss this year. As bad as the defense was that game, we spent about the first quarter and a half trying to get the offense in gear. Even if we played the same defensive game we played (as sorry as it was), if your offense comes out of the gate at the beginning of the game, we probably win by 14-21 points.

The other loss to LSU was totally on the offense's inability to score. We only had 9 points going into the 4th quarter!

Again, not saying the defense doesn't need to be better, but I still contend we are where we are right now (not in the playoff) because of our inadequate offense led by BOB who had a Heisman winner under center!

 

[gtgilbert]

I think it will be interesting to see how several of the players develop over the next year or so, especially on the ILB, EDGE, and DE aspects.

In 2022 we had the top two edge players, but I don't know if either ends up playing a lot there. Campbell's clearly slated as an ILB based on what we are hearing from practices, especially the bowl practices.

The other 2022 Edge player, Alexander, is just a couple biscuits short of being a DE if his weight on the roster is correct. He's way to heavy to be an ILB now so that wouldn't seem to be a likely destination, and really doesn't have the ideal length for an edge player either. I think the staff is approaching his development like they did with Rashaan Evans. They let him keep trying at a position even though they were advising him it was likely best to make a move. They just want the player to have the realization instead of forcing it.

In the 2023 class, there's Keeley, Russaw, Pierre, Renaud, and to a lesser degree Osborne who across the rating services are some version of edge, OLB, WDE or SDE.

Russaw has the mesurables of an ILB right now, and one service starting rating him as such, so it's possible he could move around from inside to edge depending on how things go. If the services have the measurables right, he'd need some weight (10-15 LBS) to play edge/OLB and a LOT of weight to play DE.

Keeley looks like the prototype of an edge player, both length and size, so unless he really bulks up, that would seem to be his spot.

Pierre has great length, but needs some significant weight to play edge in the SEC. He's a bit like Q Robinson who is really a pure pass rush specialist right now due to lack of bulk.

Renaud and Osborne both played edge type roles in HS - 5 and 6 technique types, and have ok length for edge players, and right now the weight. Some services have Osborne at 260+ already and if that's the case, he's likely headed more toward the DL side than edge after putting on some more mass. Renaud is right in between, so could end up as either an edge, or bulking up and sliding inside.

 

[B1GTide]

I think it will be interesting to see how several of the players develop over the next year or so, especially on the ILB, EDGE, and DE aspects.

In 2022 we had the top two edge players, but I don't know if either ends up playing a lot there. Campbell's clearly slated as an ILB based on what we are hearing from practices, especially the bowl practices.

The other 2022 Edge player, Alexander, is just a couple biscuits short of being a DE if his weight on the roster is correct. He's way to heavy to be an ILB now so that wouldn't seem to be a likely destination, and really doesn't have the ideal length for an edge player either. I think the staff is approaching his development like they did with Rashaan Evans. They let him keep trying at a position even though they were advising him it was likely best to make a move. They just want the player to have the realization instead of forcing it.

In the 2023 class, there's Keeley, Russaw, Pierre, Renaud, and to a lesser degree Osborne who across the rating services are some version of edge, OLB, WDE or SDE.

Russaw has the mesurables of an ILB right now, and one service starting rating him as such, so it's possible he could move around from inside to edge depending on how things go. If the services have the measurables right, he'd need some weight (10-15 LBS) to play edge/OLB and a LOT of weight to play DE.

Keeley looks like the prototype of an edge player, both length and size, so unless he really bulks up, that would seem to be his spot.

Pierre has great length, but needs some significant weight to play edge in the SEC. He's a bit like Q Robinson who is really a pure pass rush specialist right now due to lack of bulk.

Renaud and Osborne both played edge type roles in HS - 5 and 6 technique types, and have ok length for edge players, and right now the weight. Some services have Osborne at 260+ already and if that's the case, he's likely headed more toward the DL side than edge after putting on some more mass. Renaud is right in between, so could end up as either an edge, or bulking up and sliding inside.

This class will win at least one championship if they are properly developed