By Jess Nicholas
TideFans.com Editor-In-Chief
March 5, 2015
The way the 2014 season ended pleased virtually no one associated with the Alabama football program, but depending on who you ask, Alabama was never supposed to be in that position anyway.
There has been quite a bit of debate as to whether the 2014 team was even supposed to be a contender at all. The defense had suffered substantial losses in the linebacker corps and defensive backfield heading into the year, and quarterback Blake Sims was an unknown quantity – if not worse. But Alabama made its way to the final four before losing in an upset to eventual national champion Ohio State.
But if the 2014 team was “rebuilding,” the implication of such a label is that Alabama was loading up for a future season. So is 2015 it?
At first glance, the answer would seem to be “no.” Alabama must replace 9 starters (actually 10, given that Alabama counted WR Christion Jones as a starter in its oft-used three-wide set) on offense, break in another new quarterback, and rebuild the back end of a defense that all but crashed over the final month of the season. Alabama is still shaky at placekicker and must find a new middle linebacker and defensive signal-caller.
Here’s a look at the positions up for grab heading into the spring:
OFFENSE
Wide Receiver
Gone: Amari Cooper, Christion Jones, DeAndrew White
Competing for the job(s): Cameron Sims, ArDarius Stewart, Robert Foster, Raheem Falkins, Chris Black, Parker Barrineau, Derek Kief
The Favorite(s): ArDarius Stewart, Cameron Sims
The Darkhorse: Robert Foster
Coming in the fall: Calvin Ridley, Daylon Charlot
Analysis: Alabama typically carries a six-man rotation in the fall, split over three positions. Presuming Alabama lists only two starters at this position, ArDarius Stewart seems to be a lock for one and Cameron Sims is ahead of the pack at the other. If Alabama counts its slot position as a starter, Chris Black looks like a natural fit there and is the only player on the roster at the moment with significant experience in his chosen role. The loss of Amari Cooper is obviously the biggest hurdle to overcome, but losing DeAndrew White at the flanker position – White’s route-running ability as well as his ability to adjust late to a ball were rarely matched – is almost as substantial as losing Cooper. Stewart had worked his way into the A-rotation by midseason in 2014 before suffering a knee injury and being hobbled the rest of the way in. He has outstanding body control and the know-how to high-point passes. Like Cooper, he lives across the middle. His choppy running style and aggressive physical approach make him a different kind of receiver than Cooper – think Josh Reed of LSU fame, albeit with less bulk. Sims’ blocking ability sets him apart from the other young receivers, and he can go vertical. But his hands need work. The player with the greatest potential is Robert Foster, who became a fixture on special teams late in the year. Raheem Falkins has the best size of the bunch, but he seemed to regress as a sophomore. Black should slide easily into Christion Jones’ old role, while walk-on Parker Barrineau has a chance to play in four- and five-wide sets as a possession receiver. Derek Kief is also in the mix for that job, and his 6’5” height puts him atop the charts. While Alabama routinely plays six receivers, the real key for all competitors this spring is to be in the top five heading into fall camp, not the top six, because Calvin Ridley almost certainly will be part of the A-rotation as soon as he hits campus.
Prediction: Stewart, Sims, Black (in the slot role)
Tight end/H-back
Gone: Brian Vogler, Malcolm Faciane, Kurt Freitag
Competing for the job: O.J. Howard, Brandon Greene, Ty Flournoy-Smith, Dakota Ball, Michael Nysewander (H-back), Ronnie Clark (H-back), DeSherrius Flowers (H-back)
The Favorite: O.J. Howard
The Darkhorse: Ty Flournoy-Smith
Coming in the fall: Hale Hentges
Analysis: Again, there are some alignment questions to be answered. Will Alabama continue with an I-formation package as its base offense? If so, you can pencil Michael Nysewander into the fullback role right now. Will Alabama go three-wide? Will Alabama open in an Ace look, circa 2008? Until those questions are answered, it’s unclear how the Crimson Tide will handle replacing Brian Vogler, whose career never quite lived up to potential, but who nonetheless was a key cog in the offense. Without Vogler, O.J. Howard seems to be the odds-on favorite to land the starting job, despite a subpar blocking resume. Brandon Greene, a converted offensive tackle, would seem to be the second starter if Alabama trots out an Ace (two-tight-end) look as its base package. For that matter, if Alabama opts to go back to a power running game as its base philosophy, Greene will push Howard for the starting Y position. Beyond those two, there are plenty of questions about each player – Dakota Ball (will he move back to DL full-time?), Nysewander (will he return for a fifth year?), Flournoy-Smith (can he stay out of the doghouse, and does he have enough bulk to play the Y?), Clark (will he move back to defense full-time, or to running back?) and Flowers (can he bulk up quickly?). Neither Ball nor Greene have much of a receiving skill set, but Flournoy-Smith does – except he has the same size questions that Howard has. Expect true freshman Hale Hentges to get a long look in fall camp. This is the most troubling of the open positions on offense due to the swirling uncertainty surrounding the competition.
Prediction: Howard, Nysewander (as FB/H-back)
Right tackle
Gone: Austin Shepherd
Competing for the job: Grant Hill, Dominick Jackson, Ross Pierschbacher
The Favorite: Grant Hill
The Darkhorse: Ross Pierschbacher
Coming in the fall: Matt Womack, Richie Petitbon
Analysis: Alabama will get more athletic at the right tackle position by default, but it won’t necessarily be more effective. Austin Shepherd was one of the great overachievers in recent Alabama OL history, and might parlay his performance in Tuscaloosa into an NFL career (albeit at guard). Grant Hill was Bama’s top backup at both right and left tackle last year and has all the tools, but he needs to stay healthy, something he has yet been unable to do. Dominick Jackson played all over the place in 2014, but appears to be better suited to guard. The wild card is Ross Pierschbacher, who also looks more like an inside player at the moment, but who will be forced to play tackle in 2015 for depth purposes if nothing else. Alabama only has two true tackles on the roster (Hill, Cam Robinson), and walk-on Will Davis may have to start at A-Day for one of the teams due to the shortage. Alabama won’t be thin for long – prototype right tackle Matt Womack and Swiss Army knife Richie Petitbon arrive in the fall – but by that time, the position should be settled.
Prediction: Hill
Right guard
Gone: Leon Brown
Competing for the job: Bradley Bozeman, Alphonse Taylor, Josh Casher, Isaac Luatua, Dallas Warmack, J.C. Hassenauer, Dominick Jackson, Ross Pierschbacher, Brandon Kennedy
The Favorite: Alphonse Taylor
The Darkhorse: Josh Casher
Coming in the fall: Richie Petitbon, Lester Cotton
Analysis: Unlike tackle, where tumbleweeds blow across the bleak depth chart, the guard positions look like a crowd shot at Burning Man. Nine scholarshipped players and a couple of walk-ons will compete for the open slot here, which currently has two players – Alphonse Taylor and Bradley Bozeman – a bit ahead of the rest. Taylor started the 2014 opener but was quickly overtaken by the departed Leon Brown, while Bozeman started a few games at center while Ryan Kelly was hurt before settling into the role of a super-sub. Bozeman will probably be the backup center regardless, but he has a chance to start here if he can be more consistent than Taylor, who had trouble with pass-blocking assignments in 2014. As for the rest, Jackson, Warmack and Luatua are more likely the compete for the left guard position, while Hassenauer and Kennedy may stick more to the center position. Pierschbacher and Casher are probably the next in line behind Taylor and Bozeman, with Casher the more likely of the two given Pierschbacher’s ability to play outside. This was the weakest position on the 2014 line, and Alabama needs to upgrade. If no one stands out in the spring, look for true freshman Lester Cotton to get an extremely close look in fall camp.
Prediction: Bozeman
Left guard
Gone: Arie Kouandjio
Competing for the job: Bradley Bozeman, Josh Casher, Isaac Luatua, Dallas Warmack, J.C. Hassenauer, Dominick Jackson, Ross Pierschbacher, Brandon Kennedy
The Favorite: Dominick Jackson
The Darkhorse: Isaac Luatua
Coming in the fall: Richie Petitbon, Lester Cotton
Analysis: Arie Kouandjio’s breakout senior season was unexpected but highly welcomed, and he won’t be easily replaced. While it’s basically the same set of names competing for the right guard job along with this one, the field is probably narrowed a bit, given the extra touch of athleticism needed to play left guard as compared to right guard. Alabama is looking for a position for senior Dominick Jackson, and this figures to be his best chance at playing time. He backed up Kouandjio, along with Leon Brown and Austin Shepherd last year, and knows the role. With Bozeman in the mix at two positions already (starting right guard, second-team center) and Casher, Pierschbacher, Kennedy and Hassenauer better fits elsewhere, this one essentially comes down to Jackson versus fifth-year senior journeyman Isaac Luatua and true freshman Dallas Warmack. Luatua has been the second-team left guard for two years now, but hasn’t shown the athletic flash needed to be considered starting material up to this point. Warmack did himself a favor by coming to campus a semester early, but it’s not likely he’ll pull ahead of Jackson unless his spring play is phenomenal. As for the incoming signees, both Petitbon and Cotton appear better fits for other slots, although Cotton remains a distinct possibility.
Prediction: Jackson
Quarterback
Gone: Blake Sims
Competing for the job: Jake Coker, Alec Morris, Cooper Bateman, David Cornwell, Blake Barnett
The Favorite: Jake Coker
The Darkhorse: Alec Morris
Coming in the fall: None
Analysis: Alabama will have to retool its offense somewhat no matter who wins this job, as no one on the current roster has the wheels of departed senior Blake Sims. Coker nearly won the job in fall camp in 2014 despite not going through the previous spring with the team, so it stands to reason that he’ll be the presumptive favorite this March. Coker has good running skills, but it’s his arm power that coaches like most. Alec Morris and Cooper Bateman figure to stage a battle for the backup QB job. Morris is a pure pocket passer who reminds many observers of Freddie Kitchens, while Bateman has good scrambling ability and already has a field role as Bama’s holder for kicks. Cornwell, like Bateman, can run a little, but he ended 2014 decidedly behind the top three. All eyes will be on Barnett, who came to campus a semester early, as a guy to push the entire depth chart, or at least from Morris on down. He’s a true dual-threat quarterback with good size and a powerful arm, and if he shows himself to be the real deal, could push for the starting job in 2016. But picking anyone other than Coker right now takes some chutzpah given how far out in front he and Sims were in 2014. Morris, oddly enough, may have the best shot to push him simply because of the arm strength issue.
Prediction: Coker
Running back
Gone: T.J. Yeldon, Altee Tenpenny
Competing for the job: Derrick Henry, Kenyan Drake, Bo Scarbrough, DeSherrius Flowers, Ronnie Clark, Tyren Jones (suspended)
The Favorite: Derrick Henry
The Darkhorse: Bo Scarbrough
Coming in the fall: Damien Harris
Analysis: The return of Kenyan Drake means big things for Alabama in 2015, as Nick Saban will be able to pair the fleet Drake with the bruiser Henry and form a 1-2 punch where each player has a unique skill set. Drake will likely line up as a receiver on many downs. The biggest question of the spring is whether Tyren Jones can finally stop running afoul of team rules. He’s suspended for the spring, an unfortunate development for a player who had started to get meaningful playing time down the stretch and who provided a nice counter to the powerful style of Henry. Bo Scarbrough will be the player everyone watches this spring; his combination of speed and power hints at another Eddie Lacy. But Scarbrough could also grow into the H-back role, as could DeSherrius Flowers. Both are true freshmen with good size. Ronnie Clark could also find a role in the offensive backfield, although it’s safety or perhaps outside linebacker that would seem to be his ultimate calling. If Alabama doesn’t have a third back step up behind Henry and Drake, incoming signee Damien Harris figures to get the call once the season starts.
Prediction: Henry
DEFENSE
Jack linebacker
Gone: Xzavier Dickson, Anthony Orr
Competing for the job: Ryan Anderson, Tim Williams, Denzel Devall, Rashaan Evans, Christian Miller, Walker Jones
The Favorite: Ryan Anderson
The Darkhorse: Tim Williams
Coming in the fall: Adonis Thomas, Christian Bell (if no grayshirt), Mekhi Brown
Analysis: While Ryan Anderson is listed as the presumptive starter here, Alabama could shake things up by moving Denzel Devall over from his strongside linebacker position and installing Dillon Lee at that slot. But assuming there is no shuffling to the depth chart across positions, this one will basically come down to whether Alabama wants to continue to use pseudo-defensive ends at the position (Anderson), or wants to get smaller (Williams, Evans). Given the makeup of the depth chart, it looks like Alabama is already going smaller here by way of its recruiting strategy; only Anderson and Devall are over 240 pounds (Williams is listed at 242, but that appears to be a bit of a stretch just by looking at him). Departed starter Xzavier Dickson provided Alabama with some much-needed pass-rushing help in 2014, but he played almost exclusively as a defensive end, as Alabama seemed to perpetually be aligned in a four-man front and a nickel or dime set. In that regard, having a larger Jack is somewhat of a requirement in order to set the edge against the outside run. But if Williams – or especially, speed-rushing specialist Evans – wins this job in the spring, it will mark a significant departure from Alabama’s defense post-2009, when the Crimson Tide used Eryk Anders in the role. As for depth, while it might look good on paper, Walker Jones may be better-suited inside, and both Evans and Miller are probably better fits on the strong side. So is incoming freshman Adonis Thomas. Christian Bell, who would seem ideal for the spot, is a likely grayshirt. Mekhi Brown could end up being an early contributor if Williams can’t be more consistent on running downs.
Prediction: Anderson
Middle linebacker
Gone: Trey DePriest
Competing for the job: Reuben Foster, Shaun Dion Hamilton, Dillon Lee, Keith Holcombe, Walker Jones
The Favorite: Shaun Dion Hamilton
The Darkhorse: Keith Holcombe
Coming in the fall: Adonis Thomas, Keaton Anderson, Joshua McMillon
Analysis: This is the competition that would scare Alabama fans the most were it not for the fact that safety has to also be addressed. The most obvious problem here is that Alabama has no proven replacement for Trey DePriest, but that by itself isn’t tough to overcome. Reggie Ragland stepped into the starting weakside linebacker slot last year with virtually no prior experience, and by the end of the year was trying to decide whether to come back for his senior year or go ahead to the NFL. The biggest issue here is that Alabama will either be going down the same road it traveled with DePriest – a thumper in the middle with dubious pass-coverage skills – or getting ready to make a change that will redefine both this position and possibly the entire scheme as a whole. Shaun Dion Hamilton played sparingly in 2014 as a backup to both DePriest and Ragland, but he isn’t the most talented option. That would be Reuben Foster, who is a freakish physical specimen, but who can’t stay healthy and, worst of all, his bumps have involved his head rather than his arms or legs. Foster will likely have a role as a short-yardage linebacker at least, but Hamilton’s ability to do more in coverage gives him a big edge. Other players like Jones or Lee could be options, but Lee would be out of position and Jones lacks any experience, not to mention he is also not optimal in regards to lateral quickness. That leaves an interesting option in Holcombe, who is a smaller, faster player. Looking at Alabama’s incoming signees, Keaton Anderson fills the same role, while Joshua McMillon is more of a traditional middle backer. Alabama appears to be getting more flexible in its personnel, but it also runs the risk of 2015 turns into more of a learning year if Alabama is going to make significant edits in regards to scheme.
Prediction: Hamilton
Free safety
Gone: Nick Perry
Competing for the job: Geno Smith, Jabriel Washington, Jonathan Cook, Maurice Smith, Deionte Thompson, Ronnie Harrison, Eddie Jackson
The Favorite: Geno Smith
The Darkhorse: Deionte Thompson
Coming in the fall: Shawn Burgess-Becker
Analysis: Although Geno Smith was a starter for the whole of 2014 at the Star position and was Nick Perry’s backup at free safety, it’s far from a given that Smith will automatically elevate into a starter’s role. Smith improved in 2014, but he isn’t a dominating presence in the middle and he lacks the size to be a true force in rush defense. Of the returning players, Maurice Smith is more physical, but made far too many mistakes in coverage in 2014. Jabriel Washington is probably the most instinctive player and the best pure cover man of the bunch, but he is tiny by comparison to the others and doesn’t have the frame to add weight. Jonathan Cook may end up being an option, but he needs a strong spring showing. Eddie Jackson has been mentioned as a possibility if he moves over from cornerback, but that’s a longshot. True freshmen Deionte Thompson and Ronnie Harrison could end up making a run at the job, but Thompson needs more weight and Harrison may be a better fit at strong safety. Geno Smith figures to end up with the job by default, but he’ll be pushed all year.
Prediction: G. Smith
Strong safety
Gone: Landon Collins, Jarrick Williams
Competing for the job: Laurence Jones, Maurice Smith, Jonathan Cook, Deionte Thompson, Ronnie Harrison
The Favorite: Laurence Jones
The Darkhorse: Ronnie Harrison
Coming in the fall: Shawn Burgess-Becker
Analysis: This is the single toughest position to pick, and probably the most important battle of the spring. At least at free safety, Geno Smith has experience. There’s very little of that here. Laurence “Hootie” Jones played only in blowouts and on special teams. Maurice Smith made a plethora of errors on coverage swaps in 2014, and would need to cut his errors by three-quarters before he could take over this job. The same comments about Cook, Thompson and Harrison made above apply here – not a lot of experience, but plenty of promise. Harrison’s bulk gives him a leg up on the other two, especially if Jones or Smith falters. Fall arrival Shawn Burgess-Becker will be way behind by the time August rolls around, but he has plenty of fans. This battle could rage on into the season – which unfortunately, is not what Alabama needs.
Prediction: Jones