Our best hope is that Saban keeps mentoring Pete and helps him learn from successes to where he’s at least reliable. The sad truth is we’ll probably never be shutdown defensively again without some major innovations in defensive strategy, but aggressively opportunistic is well within reach.
I mean no defense is going to be lockdown ever again. Cant have an offense that scores 45 a game and expect to give up 11. Getting off the field on third down and being opportunistic in terms of turnovers
There were some bright spots this year with Pete. Especially in the natty. He's going to have a really experienced defense next year with a lot of confidence. We are already replacing Sark. I just don't think Saban is going to make any more major moves if he can't help it. Only thing I can think of would be promoting Strong to co-DC and giving him play calling duties.
I'm ok giving Golding one more chance. The biggest concern in 2019 was that we all felt like we didn't see anybody get better throughout the year. I don't think you can say that for this season, I saw pockets of continued improvement. And I will give him some credit for getting true freshman like Moore and Branch ready to play at this level. I give the majority of the credit to those guys just being badasses, but still, he was able to effectively teach them the defense. We are really just now overcoming some less than stellar 2017 and 2018 defensive classes. Lets see how he does with a full deck next year. If he screws that up, then yeah, see ya.
Complete defensive classes for '17-'18 2017 Dylan Moses - plagued by injuries LaBryan Ray - plagued by injuries Xavier McKinney - stud VanDarius Cowan - transfer Jarez Parks - nothing yet Isaiah Buggs - stud JUCO Markail Benton - bust Phidarian Mathis - quality depth Chris Allen - stud Daniel Wright - quality depth/borderline starter Kyriq McDonald - transfer 2018 Eyabi Anoma - bust Pat Surtain - stud Stephon Wynn - nothing yet Jalyn Armour-Davis - nothing yet Josh Jobe - stud Ale Kaho - special teams warrior, but probably a transfer Christian Barmore - stud Saivion Smith - sheesh Eddie Smith - forgot he existed Tevita Musika - yeah Jaylen Moody - pleasant surprise but not really somebody we should have to count on
I stayed at a Holiday Inn last night so I am going to give an expert medical opinion. I tore my ACL playing basketball years ago and watching how Bruner reacted I would be really shocked if it was something that serious. Within 90 seconds my knee had swollen up to the size of a beach ball, his knee looked relatively normal. Maybe a partially torn meniscus? Maybe I am just hoping too much. I know knee injuries are so different, but the lack of pain he showed gives me hope.
I agree, he should be considered the starter right now headed into 2021. He played great vs. Arkansas. But when you step back and think about the strength of Alabama ILBs historically, that's the level of athlete/play we should be getting in our 2nd string imo.
Every time Moody came in the game during the season, he made plays and seemed quicker to the ball than our starters.
Compare those '17-'18 defensive classes to the production we have already seen from these two classes: 2019 Battle Harris Dale Eboigbe Young Lee Hellams Banks Turnage 2020 Anderson Branch Moore Tim Smith Drew Sanders Then add guys like: Dallas Turner, Damon Payne, Kool Aid, Lawson, Goodwine, Koht I think we have started to flip the script on the defensive depth.
I saw Rothstein gave Herb a comp to Stacy Augmon. That’s really solid actually, though I think Augmon’s offensive game was better than Herb’s at the current stage. Herb still has a lot of growth in him though. Hope his finger gets better and it was just a dislocation without damage to the socket. I’ve had both happen and the former healed and felt better a lot faster than the latter.
Watts Here is the latest we have on the coaching situation. -I would expect Kyle Flood to leave for Texas relatively soon. He was in the building today (all of the staff was), but sources believe he will be arriving in Austin as early as tonight/ tomorrow. He will be getting a promotion I'm told to offensive coordinator. So it's a good move for him. -Two sources told me Bill O'Brien is in Tuscaloosa today and there is the good possibility he will take the OC job if everything falls in line. Wouldn't call it a done deal but it's trending that way. It's my understanding there are still a few things to work out on O'Brien's end but it is headed in a positive direction. We touched on O'Brien in yesterday's nugget and we've discussed a few times him coming in before the Ohio State game to watch UA prep for the NC game. -If these events fall as expected that will leave UA with one opening on the offensive line where we will be looking for names. One name to throw out there is Jeff Stoutland who was with the Eagles, where the head coach was just fired, and previously worked with Nick Saban at Alabama. There is a connection but Stoutland could be retained by the Eagles or be under consideration from other NFL teams. But I have been told he prefers the NFL. -As for the other coaches on staff we have not confirmed any other movement. Doesn't mean it won't happen. It's the coaching game so it can change at any moment so we are watching. We've chased down a few rumors that turned out to be false. Which is normal. There will be more rumors and we don't rule anything out with a coaching job decision. Lot of jockeying going on around the nation.
Saw some pictures of Sumlin in the stands at the championship game. Couple of rumors that Saban met with him and he will be joining the rehab program.
If he doesn't get snatched after an undefeated championship season with probably his defense's best performance of the year in the title game, I am afraid we are, indeed, fucked (in regards to getting rid of him, of course).
The “it felt like they were playing an AAU game” seemed like it was trying to be an insult and I see the exact opposite when looking at our basketball team. Running plays etc when Kentucky is the one who just tries to play street ball
I don’t think he was that great of a position coach either, I think he got a lot of credit for the monster Pendry created.
I remember him getting a lot of credit here and other places on the internet, but you may just be right
The Huff evolution has been great. Burton leaves - we are devastated Huff comes in and promptly tells a 5* RB to fuck off - we are pissed Huff was actually right all along and becomes our best recruiter -
I don’t follow recruiting like I used to so I missed that. Just read up on the kid and think we might have dodged a bullet anyway
Forgot that he ultimately ended up at TCU. He didn't get a ton of carries but looks like he actually had a decent enough freshman season.
I wonder how many coaches we’d be on if RichRod would’ve stuck with the job. There’d definitely still be a 12 on the helmet.
Some dumbass called in and was trying to make a joke about having burritos in BDS if we’d have hired him...
Sark’s PC frankly was awesome and it’s sad that he’s gone but I’m so happy for him. When he got to the team and players it felt like Saban was talking. I think he will be successful there and wish him all the luck in the world.