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Alabama's depth

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Posted: #1
Surely they don't have the depth for a 3rd consecutive National Title do they ???
 
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Posted: #2

Going to be hard to replace that OL next season.

 

 

 
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Posted: #3
Quote Originally Posted by Vic-Vega:

Surely they don't have the depth for a 3rd consecutive National Title do they ???


Alabama was extremely young this season.  They only had 8 senior starters, and only 9 on the entire roster.  One of the starting seniors is walk-on Kelly Johnson who became the starter when Jalston Fowler was lost to a season-ending knee injury early in the season.  By comparison, I think Notre Dame had 24 seniors.

We'll find out in the days and weeks to come, but in addition to losing the 9 seniors, Alabama will almost certainly lose 2 underclassmen - CB Dee Milliner and RB Eddie Lacy.  They could lose two others - RT DJ Fluker & MLB CJ Mosley - but my sources indicate that those two will likely return for their senior seasons.

If DJ Fluker returns for his senior season, Alabama will only be losing 2 offensive linemen (Barrett Jones & Chance Warmack).  Granted those will be two monster losses, but Alabama's offensive line will still be very, very solid next season.

To answer your original question, Alabama's depth is insane.



 
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Posted: #4
My guess is that Bama will be just fine and will be in good shape to make another run.
 
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Posted: #5
Alabama loses two all American OLs, Jones was probably the most versatile and best overall OL in CFB. Hard to recover from that.
 
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Posted: #6
 I'm sure they'll have the schedule to do it.
 
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Posted: #7
Quote Originally Posted by Laroja:

Alabama loses two all American OLs, Jones was probably the most versatile and best overall OL in CFB. Hard to recover from that.



It's really about a month too early to have this discussion, but in terms of the offensive line, Alabama will lose at least two, and possibly three.  If they lose three, meaning that DJ Fluker comes out early, the offensive line could become a weakness.  If Fluker stays for his senior season, then Alabama will only have to plug two spots.  If that's the case - and that's what I think the most likely scenario is - then Alabama's offensive line should be very good again.  The replacements Ryan Kelly at center and Cyrus Kouandijo's brother Arie at LG are both very good.

Are Kounandijo and Kelly as good as Jones and Warmack???  No, of course not, but they don't necessarily have to be.  Both are very capable, and both have been at Alabama for several years so they know the system well.

Alabama's key losses right now are:

Defense:

*** CB Dee Milliner (the best CB in college football)

*** NT Jesse Williams (one of the top 2 or 3 NTs in college football)

Offense:

*** C Barrett Jones (the best C in college football)

*** LG Chance Warmack (the best lineman in college football)

Of those losses I would say the one that hurts Alabama the most is CB Dee Milliner.  They have don't have an experienced CB of his caliber on the roster.

Another huge loss for Alabama would be if LB CJ Mosley opted for the NFL draft.  As of now I'm pretty confident he won't.

They key game for Alabama next season is going to be the week 2 game with Texas A&M.  If they can get past the Aggies, and I'm not sure they can, they'll be in great shape to make another run.


 
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Posted: #8
Quote Originally Posted by THEMUGG:

 I'm sure they'll have the schedule to do it.


Alabama's schedule is very favorable next season.

Before SEC expansion every team played the 5 teams in their own division, and three in the opposite division.  One of the teams from the opposite division is a constant.  In Alabama's case the "constant" (or rivalry) team they play every year is Tennessee.  Alabama catches a break with this rivalry match-up because Tennessee has been abysmal the last few years.  Auburn's "rivalry" game out of the East, for example, is Georgia.

Before expansion, aside from the rivalry game, the other two opposite division games rotated.  You play a home and home with each team that rotates on your schedule.  Now after the expansion, only 1 team from the opposite division rotates onto your schedule.

As luck would have it, the team from the opposite division that rotates unto Alabama's schedule is Kentucky.  In other words, Alabama plays Tennessee and Kentucky out of the Eastern Division this season, and they have been two of the worst teams in the East the past few years.

After Kentucky rotates off the schedule in 2014, Georgia will rotate onto Alabama's schedule in 2015.

Odd years are also favorable for Alabama because the odd years are when Alabama plays most of their tough games at home - LSU, Arkansas & Tennessee.

So yes, the schedule is very, very favorable for Alabama to make another run next season.  The key game will be Texas A&M in week 2.  That game will be in College Station, and it is shaping up to be Alabama's toughest road test.


 
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Posted: #9
A&M loses 2 first round OT's, one of them will likely go in the top 10 and their 3 best receivers. Would be curious to know what the line is. But I like Alabama.
 
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Posted: #10
Forget top 10, Luke Joeckel could be the 1st pick overall. I hear A&M only returns one player from that D-line in Jenkins.
 
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Posted: #11
Alabama is going away anytime soon. I'm an OU fan, not a Bama fan....but I'm more of a football fan than anything. And as a football fan you can appreciate what Bama does: They find players to fit there system and develop them into studs. 

People probably don't realize Chance Warmack was a 3 star recruit, and Bama developed him into the best lineman in college football. Same with Steen (their other guard), he was a 3 star as well. Marcell Dareus was a 3 star. Hightower, Upshaw, Mosley....they were all good recruits but not necessarily the top recruits in the class. 

Bama finds people they want, yes most are top recruits, but they can take guys that aren't and make them 1st round draft picks. 

The only way Bama goes away is if their coaches and staff gets worn out from Saban's work ethic and pursuit of excellence. 

As for the A&M game next year....I'll be all over Bama on that. Pretty much giving Saban a whole offseason to prepare for Manziel. Saban is the best coach in football, especially with a long time to prepare. 
 
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Posted: #12
Quote Originally Posted by Laroja:

A&M loses 2 first round OT's, one of them will likely go in the top 10 and their 3 best receivers. Would be curious to know what the line is. But I like Alabama.


TAMU lost a lot last season, including their head coach.  That's why TAMU was such a mystery to me (and a lot of other people too I'm sure) coming into the season.

TAMU's tackles Luke Joeckel & Jake Matthews are both juniors, so we'll have to see if they declare for the draft.  Both could very well be top 10 picks, so I'd be shocked if either returned, but we still need to wait until they announce their decision.


 
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Posted: #13
Joeckel has already announced that he's leaving, Matthews says he wants to stay but I think he will also depart.
 
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Posted: #14
Also, Bama has an open date before both Texas A&M and LSU...should be key. I think a tough game might be Ole Miss, but luckily that game is sandwiched by Colorado St and Georgia St.

Jimmy: we also lose R. Lester, but should have a solid replacement for him. 

Mosely (the best LB in college next year) and AJ coming back are huge. 

I think Fluke, Eddie, and Millner all leave. If Fluker comes back go ahead and put money on Bama +300...
 
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Posted: #15
2010 did not go so well after the 2009 championship,

three-peats are unheard of,

that said, if there is a group i would NOT bet against (players, coaches, everything), it is this one,

they seem hellbent on making history.
 
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Posted: #16
Quote Originally Posted by usmabama:

Also, Bama has an open date before both Texas A&M and LSU...should be key. I think a tough game might be Ole Miss, but luckily that game is sandwiched by Colorado St and Georgia St.

Jimmy: we also lose R. Lester, but should have a solid replacement for him. 

Mosely (the best LB in college next year) and AJ coming back are huge. 

I think Fluke, Eddie, and Millner all leave. If Fluker comes back go ahead and put money on Bama +300...


I was not listing all of Alabama's personnel losses, I listed the the one I thought would have the most impact.  I love Lester, but his departure will have little impact on the defense IMO.  If Alabama has anything, they have stud safeties,  I look for safety to be an area of improvement next season despite Lester's departure.

DJ Fluker did announce his intention to enter the NFL draft this season.  Losing that third lineman will hurt.  Of course with Saban, the cupboard is never bare.  It'll be interesting to see what kind of chemistry the new line has next season.

CJ and AJ coming back is of course huge for Alabama.




 
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Posted: #17
Agreed. Landon collins will end up being a beast safety. 

Drop off could happen when AJ leaves though 
 
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Posted: #18
Quote Originally Posted by HammersSpreads:

Agreed. Landon collins will end up being a beast safety. 

Drop off could happen when AJ leaves though 


. . . and don't forget about Eddie Williams.


 
 
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Posted: #19
I know you were listing the players whose departure might hurt us the most, but losing a 3 yr starter will hurt a little. I know we have E Williams, Collins, Perry, Jarrick Williams, and Vinnie...but I think we'll miss his leadership back there a bit. It'll be exciting to see who steps up...I honestly think if J. Williams comes back strong from his injury he'll start, he's my dark horse. 

We'll definitely have some studs back there, I just hope we dont have a busted coverage against A&M at the beginning of the year. 

Bamaonline said yesterday Fluke, Lacy, and Millner are declaring...Think the OL will have Kelly @ C, Arie or A Taylor step in at LG and maybe L. Brown at RT? How do you think it'll shake out? My biggest concern next year is RT...
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