Typical intro here...This is my first post ever post and I am very excited to contribute. Freshmen year was 2011. I wanted to share a collection of things I have heard and thoughts I have had as to why we should be excited for 2020.
Defense: I heard Greg McElroy say on his radio show (podcast?) that there are some rumors that a few early departing players may end up staying...Now optimistically I view this as Dylan Moses and Xavier McKinney. Best case scenario its Dylan, Terrell Lewis, and Xavier. Josh McMillion is petitioning to get a medical redshirt, and I believe he will get it.
So best case: We have a stacked defense, our freshmen (now sophomore) linebackers get the Jalen Hurts experience (play then bench), and can grow under Dylan and Josh. Xavier McKinney leads our secondary with an experienced Patrick Surtain and Josh Jobe, with Jordan Battle stepping up and progressing. Defensive line: LaBryan Ray stays, DJ Dale grows, Bryon Young has experience, and we have a done of depth first the first time in years. (Ishmael Sophser, Stephen Wynn, Christian Barmore, etc)
Best case: We have a great defense, with senior leadership. Plenty of experience. I believe this team jells and really does amazing things.
Base case: Maybe we get back Dylan or Xavier, still have plenty of experience, DLine wont change (LaBryan, DJ Dale, Bryon Young) with depth behind them, Chris Allen steps up as pass rusher, and Im sure someone will break out at Outside Lineback (King Mwu...). Still have a relatively experienced secondary littered with Juniors (Jayln Amour Davis, Josh Jobe, Patrick Surtain). So still a good defense, and our now sophomore linebacker should have a whole year of experience and off season to grow.
Defensive Summary: We're going to be fine. No one can predict injuries, no one can predict players not progressing (Raekwon Davis), but overall if any JRs come back for Senior year it will be a huge boost, but we have plenty of depth and playing time to make up for it. I'm thinking 2017 defense?
Offense: Tua is most likely gone. He was crying as he left BDS against Western Carolina. It wasn't because of "overwhelming cheers" I promise. It was his last time as a player there. 95% chance he's gone. A lot of you are sold on Mac Jones being the starter. I'm not. The only reason Tua didn't start his Freshmen year was because Jalen was a starter for a full year. Fall camp will be wide open for QB. Bryce Young (should be adjust to college defenses / his Highschool runs very mature defenses so he should adjust easily) will make a huge dent. With an entire spring and fall to practice and learn... he makes a real run. He's kind of like Kyler Murry. Accuracy like Tua, runs like Jalen.
We will lose Jerry Judy, Henry Ruggs, probably Smith too. Only reason Smith or Ruggs stays is because of too many WRs in the draft and just waiting a year. Not sold that we lose Alex Leatherwood. He doesnt have the same buzz that Cam Robinson did or Jonah Williams.
Best Case Offense: Bryce Young is as good as advertised and starts against USC. Jaylen Waddle, Jonathon Menchie (very good look out for him), and (maybe Smith/Ruggs or a break out receiver). Our receivers will be good, you just need to throw the ball to one. Trey Sanders steps up and is RB1 with Bryan Robinson at RB2 and Kelliane Robinson at RB3. Solid depth. OLine will lose a few players but we recruited OLine like crazy in 2018. We will find depth at OLine, plenty at WR, and RB with Bryce Young delivering.
Base Case: Really won't take too many steps back. Trey Sanders drew high praise from Saban before his injury. I have faith in Bryce Young. With Jaylen Waddle and Jon Menchie leading WR we will be fine. OLine has so much depth.
Season overview. Like this year the D and O Lines will need to adjust and jell together. We get past USC but don't expect 52-6. Should be ready by the time we face a most likely George Fromm-less Georgia. I like our chances highly plus its at home. I think if we get the Best case on defense and offense we go 12-0. Base case for both maybe 11-1 but I still feel really good about next years team barring injuries.
Oh by the way, Steve Sark is listed as interested in the Colorado State job for those of you saying you don't see him going anywhere. I hope he stays too, and that Bryce Young is as good as advertised - can't stress that enough.
Roll Tide!
Defense: I heard Greg McElroy say on his radio show (podcast?) that there are some rumors that a few early departing players may end up staying...Now optimistically I view this as Dylan Moses and Xavier McKinney. Best case scenario its Dylan, Terrell Lewis, and Xavier. Josh McMillion is petitioning to get a medical redshirt, and I believe he will get it.
So best case: We have a stacked defense, our freshmen (now sophomore) linebackers get the Jalen Hurts experience (play then bench), and can grow under Dylan and Josh. Xavier McKinney leads our secondary with an experienced Patrick Surtain and Josh Jobe, with Jordan Battle stepping up and progressing. Defensive line: LaBryan Ray stays, DJ Dale grows, Bryon Young has experience, and we have a done of depth first the first time in years. (Ishmael Sophser, Stephen Wynn, Christian Barmore, etc)
Best case: We have a great defense, with senior leadership. Plenty of experience. I believe this team jells and really does amazing things.
Base case: Maybe we get back Dylan or Xavier, still have plenty of experience, DLine wont change (LaBryan, DJ Dale, Bryon Young) with depth behind them, Chris Allen steps up as pass rusher, and Im sure someone will break out at Outside Lineback (King Mwu...). Still have a relatively experienced secondary littered with Juniors (Jayln Amour Davis, Josh Jobe, Patrick Surtain). So still a good defense, and our now sophomore linebacker should have a whole year of experience and off season to grow.
Defensive Summary: We're going to be fine. No one can predict injuries, no one can predict players not progressing (Raekwon Davis), but overall if any JRs come back for Senior year it will be a huge boost, but we have plenty of depth and playing time to make up for it. I'm thinking 2017 defense?
Offense: Tua is most likely gone. He was crying as he left BDS against Western Carolina. It wasn't because of "overwhelming cheers" I promise. It was his last time as a player there. 95% chance he's gone. A lot of you are sold on Mac Jones being the starter. I'm not. The only reason Tua didn't start his Freshmen year was because Jalen was a starter for a full year. Fall camp will be wide open for QB. Bryce Young (should be adjust to college defenses / his Highschool runs very mature defenses so he should adjust easily) will make a huge dent. With an entire spring and fall to practice and learn... he makes a real run. He's kind of like Kyler Murry. Accuracy like Tua, runs like Jalen.
We will lose Jerry Judy, Henry Ruggs, probably Smith too. Only reason Smith or Ruggs stays is because of too many WRs in the draft and just waiting a year. Not sold that we lose Alex Leatherwood. He doesnt have the same buzz that Cam Robinson did or Jonah Williams.
Best Case Offense: Bryce Young is as good as advertised and starts against USC. Jaylen Waddle, Jonathon Menchie (very good look out for him), and (maybe Smith/Ruggs or a break out receiver). Our receivers will be good, you just need to throw the ball to one. Trey Sanders steps up and is RB1 with Bryan Robinson at RB2 and Kelliane Robinson at RB3. Solid depth. OLine will lose a few players but we recruited OLine like crazy in 2018. We will find depth at OLine, plenty at WR, and RB with Bryce Young delivering.
Base Case: Really won't take too many steps back. Trey Sanders drew high praise from Saban before his injury. I have faith in Bryce Young. With Jaylen Waddle and Jon Menchie leading WR we will be fine. OLine has so much depth.
Season overview. Like this year the D and O Lines will need to adjust and jell together. We get past USC but don't expect 52-6. Should be ready by the time we face a most likely George Fromm-less Georgia. I like our chances highly plus its at home. I think if we get the Best case on defense and offense we go 12-0. Base case for both maybe 11-1 but I still feel really good about next years team barring injuries.
Oh by the way, Steve Sark is listed as interested in the Colorado State job for those of you saying you don't see him going anywhere. I hope he stays too, and that Bryce Young is as good as advertised - can't stress that enough.
Roll Tide!
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