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Scrimmage, depth chart, etc.

J

JessN

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Oct 13, 1999
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I didn't get a chance to go today, but I did get some notes from someone who was there:

* DL depth has gone from nothing at the start of last year to top five in the league, easy, in 2008. There's going to be a real logjam at nose tackle and you might see us go 4-2-5 more often to take advantage of it. EDIT: This means UA's nickel set, which can also be a de facto 3-3-5 depending on where the Jack (or OLB, if used) lines up.

* Cody is the breakout player of camp, by far. Some of the others that have really opened eyes include McCoy and Maze on offense and Chapman, Kareem Jackson and Hightower on defense.

* I don't know what Cody's stamina is like, but I would not be surprised to see him push for the starting job. Chapman is also in that mix. Washington is going to have to take it up another gear to keep his job.

* I feel better about the DE situation but we need another pass rusher from that group. It could come when Dareus gets healthy but don't count out Square. There are going to be some hard choices to make regarding redshirting on the DL, because literally everyone Alabama signed this time is capable of helping -- there are no busts -- yet we all know you can't fit a dozen guys into three spots.

* To answer the question of where's Upchurch: Probably behind Ingram, but just know that not all the stats from the scrimmage were released, so there are likely some that played (maybe even a bunch) and Saban is keeping it close to the vest. If I'm interpreting how things went correctly, it would seem you have RBs now grouped by role much like the TEs/H-backs are. Coffee and Ingram are one "role" and Grant is another.

* This recruiting class is going to end up having the smallest number of non-contributors three years from now that we've signed since I've been covering the team. Remember that a "successful" recruiting class is about 55-60 percent and an eye-popping one is about 66-70 percent. This one could go higher. You never can tell about injuries or who will turn into a scofflaw down the road but ability-wise, this class was just awesome and is proving it.

* McElroy is the backup QB for now but if UA lost Wilson for an extended length of time you could see some changes there, or perhaps a mix of players. And I don't think this position is settled.

* Drew Davis, barring something wild and unforeseen in the next couple of weeks, is your RT. It's possible the entire OL class will redshirt and you could have gotten a lot of money out of my pocket had you bet me on that prior to the start of the year. Still want to see what Love does when he's 100 percent.

* Underwood will make some plays to help UA this year.

* In the discussion of wideouts, don't overlook Alexander. It's easy to considering what's coming up behind him, I know.

And now, for a quick guess at a depth chart:

SE 82 Earl Alexander 8 Julio Jones 11 Brandon Gibson
FL 80 Mike McCoy 9 Nikita Stover 19 Chris Jackson
WR 15 Darius Hanks 1 B.J. Scott 4 Marquis Maze
TE 88 Nick Walker 87 Chris Underwood 17 Brad Smelley
HB 83 Travis McCall 85 Preston Dial 40 Baron Huber
RT 79 Drew Davis 68 Taylor Pharr 72 Tyler Love
RG 76 Marlon Davis 74 David Ross 57 Brad Pounds
C 59 Antoine Caldwell 70 Evan Cardwell 66 Brian Motley
LG 78 Michael Johnson 73 William Vlachos 67 John Michael Boswell
LT 71 Andre Smith 60 Scott Deaton 75 Barrett Jones
QB 14 John Parker Wilson 12 Greg McElroy 2 Star Jackson
RB 29 Terry Grant 38 Glen Coffee 22 Mark Ingram
PK 99 Leigh Tiffin 44 Corey Smith

---

DT 93 Bobby Greenwood 52 Alfred McCullough 57 Marcel Dareus
NG 97 Lorenzo Washington 99 Josh Chapman 62 Terrance Cody
E 95 Brandon Deaderick 96 Luther Davis 58 Nick Gentry
OLB 55 Chavis Williams 32 Eryk Anders 5 Jerrell Harris
RILB 25 Rolando McClain 30 Don’ta Hightower 51 Michael DeJohn
LILB 13 Cory Reamer 45 Charlie Higgenbotham 42 Jennings Hester
JACK 98 Brandon Fanney 91 Alex Watkins 41 Courtney Upshaw
RCB 28 Javier Arenas 8 Chris Rogers 15 Alonzo Lawrence
FS 27 Justin Woodall 26 Ali Sharrief 43 Sam Burnthall
SS 49 Rashad Johnson 4 Mark Barron 20 Tyrone King Jr.
LCB 3 Kareem Jackson 24 Marquis Johnson 23 Robby Green
P 97 P.J. Fitzgerald 98 Heath Thomas 44 Corey Smith
 
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Kind of surprised at J. Harris being 3rd string, what with all the hype. Is it that he came in small, having a hard time picking up the defense, or have Williams and Anders just picked their games up a few notches?
 
chris said:
3 cheers and a hot-dang! on the 4-2-5!! ROLL TIDE!
2 nose tackles at once! man it's been a while!
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Keep in mind that when we talk about "4-2-5" in Alabama's terms, we're actually talking the nickel set. Depending on where the Jack lines up (or whether UA uses the OLB as a stand-up end, as Zeke Knight used to do), it could be a 3-3-5. I'm about to edit the original post to reflect this.
 
bamasoldier71 said:
Kind of surprised at J. Harris being 3rd string, what with all the hype. Is it that he came in small, having a hard time picking up the defense, or have Williams and Anders just picked their games up a few notches?
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I expect Harris to be the backup once the season starts. Anders has gotten a lot better since the end of 2007 but I think Harris has much more upside and can do more things in coverage.
 
Good news about the DL is really good news.

I remember years ago reading someone express the opinion that, next to QB, DL is the most important position on the team.

Not sure if that's so or not, but it may well be. LSU and Auburn's recent success has been strongly linked to a dominant DL ... as of course was our last national championship.
 
TexasBama said:
Jess, you mentioned D Square but didn't have him on the depth chart. Do you expect him to redshirt?
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I don't know if he will or not. The only reason he's not on the chart is it stops at three people deep. Undra Billingsley is another whose name isn't on there and he's done well, too.

In many of these cases, we'll all be learning together at the first game.
 
I think the big points are still that Maze is doing really good but BJ is still listed at two, same for E.A. and JJ. I think we will have several good WRs and JPW can pick someone diff. each throw. I just get to caught up in the last few years with JPW to D.J. even when he had three people on him, looked good with the catch up in Knoxville that he won the catch with three vols all over him.

Still really wanting to see Harris up there on the chart and get some good mins. with the first game. Still think he will but will have to wait and see.

RT-wow, thought it would be all about T.Love but if he gets a shirt out of it that will help big time.

Arenas,,big question on teams that have to go third and long, if he will be tired come punt return, he is a big help in the return game even if he does not score. He fields the ball really well and gets the ball into the other side of the field more times than not. Just hope we can get the best out of him or anyone else be it another punt return guy or someone in at CB so he can return.

Last, Barron with his size at FS is good but thought he might be pushing Woodall more. I guess Ali is doing enough to be the number 2 and with Johnson gone next year this might be the best spot, for now.

One more, L.Davis I am really pulling for this guy he has good SEC DL size and he is an out of state guy that went with us and he would be a big story in the future LSU games. Gentry seems to have a good motor and that looks like a good battle between the two behind Deadrick.
 
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And if you really want me to throw a twist in, here goes: Rodney Orr, in a message board post on TI, said that Chris Jackson would have started had we had a game today, at the slot WR position occupied by Hanks, Scott and Maze. Perhaps it's because Hanks has been hurt, I don't know. But Saban supposedly told Jackson he's with the 1s.

Also, an observer says he did go out with the 1s today.

That qualifies as the first shocker of fall camp, for me.
 
JessN said:
And if you really want me to throw a twist in, here goes: Rodney Orr, in a message board post on TI, said that Chris Jackson would have started had we had a game today, at the slot WR position occupied by Hanks, Scott and Maze. Perhaps it's because Hanks has been hurt, I don't know. But Saban supposedly told Jackson he's with the 1s.

Also, an observer says he did go out with the 1s today.

That qualifies as the first shocker of fall camp, for me.
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Second, noticed he looks smooth in the drills. I was thinking he might get a shirt, heck, at this point I don't know if anyone will get a red shrit,:eek2:.
 
I think Dareus will be pushing for a starting job at DE or at the very least the #1 backup DE

also with saban talking about moving some of the younger guys up the chart to develop them for upcoming games/seasons, this will be an interesting year
 
crmzn said:
Has anyone heard CNS comment on Zo or Green at CB? JessN, what role do you see them in this year?
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Not a mod, but I don't think that CNS mentioned either by name. He did have very positive things to say about Arenas and Kareem at CB. SO, it would seem that the 1s at CB have separated themselves from the rest, making it likely a redshirt year for one and a ST contribution and possibly nickel or dime work for the other.
 
I read earlier in the week that Alonzo was working at the Star position with the first group and I seen a video with him grouped with Rashad, Javy, Barron, and Kareem. I think it was the nickel package but you never know what goes through CNS head!! :). I think once the season starts you will see Alonzo grab at least the nickel spot and when we do that you will him go to the outside while Javy mans the slot receiver!!
 
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