catdaddyp

I love the way this staff is attacking the defense. So much versatility on the defensive line.

That’s a good question. With all the transfers I don’t think there will be a need for any of the freshmen to play on defense. My best guess as to who might see PT would be one of the linebackers - probably McCoy if I was pressed for just one.

I wasn’t sure where to put Tim Terry as we haven’t heard much about him. I could definitely see Durant and Hawkins pushing for starting minutes.

Yes, this is all speculation. I think the offensive two deep is more clear, but I still don’t know what our base defense actually is. If it’s a 4-2-5, that changes things. But since it doesn’t seem to be a 3-4 as I originally thought, I’m using a 4-3 as the base. With all of the new additions there’s a lot of flexibility, which is exciting.

Probably in the mood? Hence the arrival of Antavious.

Another solid pickup. He’s physical, a thumper, and falls right in with our other LBs in this class. https://www.hudl.com/video/3/8251856/616c79c02aa6e603b8a541c4

Looking through that list made me wonder how much football the columnist actually watched last year. Where he has some of those players rated is laughable.

It’s early, but assuming we line up in a 4-3 I’m guessing the defense will look something like what’s listed below. What I like about the 2022 version is the versatility we have - especially on the defensive line. If we go into a 4-2-5, like was mostly shown in the 2nd half of the spring game (I missed the first half), we’d drop the SAM LB and add a Nickel. In that case, I’d guess Boateng would be shifted to WILL and one of defensive backs would be slotted at Nickel. For pass rush, we shifted down the OLBs to the edge and slid one or both DEs inside. WDE: Ryan Johnson Zach Morton NT: Curtis Harper Bryce Wilson DT: Devon Robinson Ravontae Holt SDE: Victor Jones Curtis Fann WILL: Corey Thomas Jr. Julian Richardson MIKE: Bubba Arslanian Andrew Behm SAM: Jeslord Boateng Ryan McClain CB: Cam Threatt Tyson Durant FS: KJ Martin Nate Thompson SS: Jaylen Kelly-Powell Jaden Woods CB: Jaylen Hooks Devonte Golden-Nelson There are a number of different combinations that could be fielded. We definitely have more talent on the defensive side of the ball than in 2021, so it’ll be interesting to see how it all plays out. What are the board’s thoughts?

One thing is for sure, our staff is not satisfied where we stand with the DL - in particular the interior of the DL. I probably came across a little harsh on my assessment of them before spring ball, but the fact is we didn’t get the production we needed last year. I like where we are headed.

What’s funny is I read an article just the other day that was almost the opposite of this columnist’s opinion. Similar to our own message board, there are disagreements all the way around about how NIL will change the landscape. This columnist is also focused on Alabama, like some of our own members. It’s interesting to see how people view NIL and who it’ll effect the most. What’s being lost, or not mentioned very often, is the affect it may have on coaches. Without some type of limitations put in place, we may see an exodus of coaches at the non Power 5 level that aren’t paid as much as some of the Power 5 coaches. Recruiting year round and at this pace likely isn’t a sustainable model.

JUCO Highlights linked below. https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16804050/6180a7cb478cc60a40ec3089

Love the potential of this pickup! I’m not sure what the deal was at Memphis, but Nelson was a stud in high school. Rivals had him rated as a 5.5 - 3 star when he probably should have been 5.7 (their 3 stars are from 5.5-5.7). He’s more in line with Cam Threatt. Nelson has long arms, flips his hips well, and is excellent at getting his hand in to break up the pass. He, unlike some of the CBs we have on the roster now, has the burst to cover ground quickly if he gets disconnected from his man. Nelson will come down hill and hit as he displays plenty of physicality. Not all of these transfers will pan out, but no one can rightfully argue about the physical talent and potential the staff continues to bring in.

Im sure he’s still a QB. There was never much chance of him playing this year outside of a rash of injuries. He’ll be behind the other QBs in picking up the offense and in experience. With so much of the QB position being mental, it’s not always easy to project who will pan out. My guess is he’ll redshirt and potentially be asked to move to WR is he doesn’t show progress by the end of the year. Assuming Wasel stays committed, we are likely to have a competitive QB group in 2023. At least that’s my hope, as I’m going off the assumption Irons and Undercuffler will make strides in 2022. We’ll probably add one more QB to the roster for 2022, but who knows if that’ll be by scholarship or walk-on.

It won’t be easy, that’s for sure. Tennessee’s offense moves faster than any we’ll see this year. They put a lot of stress on the middle of the field and can hang points up in a hurry.

I thought I watched the majority of them on one of the ESPNs last year, but couldn’t recall which ones. I hope they are all televised because I doubt I’ll be able to attend many - if any- of them.

If I’m reading the graphic correctly, we are guaranteed to have at least 7 of the 12 games televised. Not too bad. If by some stroke of luck we knock off MSU or Tennessee, I bet we get a few more games televised.

I assume so. He’s signed and officially a Zip, but they haven’t updated the roster since his signing.

I did include guys that could potentially play special teams in the position groups. But like @Zipmeister said, we have no way of knowing. The information we receive from the team is limited. I’m just going off of what I’ve seen on film and what I suspect will happen. We currently have one kicker and one punter listed on the roster, so we’ll have to see how things unfold as we get closer to the season. Thankfully, we have a great group of posters here that help collect information for us all to view.

I didn’t do a position group for special teams, but I suppose I should. Maybe as we get closer to the season. I honestly don’t know much about what we have besides Smigel drilling attempt after attempt in the spring game.

Bump for updates. Of note: A few former walk-ons are no longer listed on the official roster, nor is scholarship tight end Matthew Monaghan.

I like the potential Bowen possesses. He has a nice frame, moves well, and has some decent straight line speed. He strikes me as a guy who hasn’t fully grown into his body and will continue to develop. If that’s the case, he could turn out to be a steal. I’m guessing he’ll be slotted as an edge guy and either fill the OLB or DE role.

Spot on. Great assessment!

I hope Draft Guy Jimmy is right, but saying that about a guy who has yet to take an FBS snap and likely to be the backup in 2022 sounds more like wishful thinking or clickbait.

A few of the 2022 class must either be walk-ons or we are blueshirting guys. Blueshirting would make a lot of sense since those scholarships would count towards the 2023 class and the 25 scholarship limit no longer applies for 2023.

Interesting that the majority of his highlights on his Twitter feed are of him playing safety, but yet he’s listed as a cornerback. He’s definitely a better fit at safety. He plays the ball well in the air and will come down and hit. At cornerback, he loses a step when he flips his hips and doesn’t possess the burst to catch back up on a well thrown ball. All of his breakups at CB are on under thrown balls. He flashed the same traits on his high school film. I think we landed a solid player if we play him at safety. He’ll fit right in laying some hits with our young ILBs.