DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE LINE
What was expected: No one really knew what to expect, given the thin nature of this unit heading into the year. There were high hopes for all three starters – Dalvin Tomlinson, Jonathan Allen, Da’Ron Payne – but Tomlinson had never been able to stay healthy for a whole year and Allen had slimmed down as part of a new wrinkle in philosophy. Heralded signee Raekwon Davis was expected to make an early contribution, and former top recruit Da’Shawn Hand was expected to develop into a force off the bench. The biggest question mark was depth at nose tackle, where Joshua Frazier had yet to develop. This would be the linchpin that would either make or break the defense as a whole.
What actually happened: If the DL was the make-or-break element, consider the defense made. Tomlinson stayed healthy, and Allen dominated to such a degree that he might be the Tide’s first overall pick in the NFL Draft in some 60 years. Payne could wind up being the best nose tackle to ever play at the school. Depth never did develop, outside of Frazier, who came along at the end of the year, and Hand, who was acceptable but not great. Davis’ first month was lost to questions about his eligibility, and eventual backup Dakota Ball was lost just before the playoffs to a hunting accident.
Grade/analysis: A+. You really couldn’t get much better than this, especially with the pressure to stay healthy. The DL faded in the fourth quarter against Clemson after having been worked to the point of exhaustion, but the line checked every box fans and coaches alike had set up.
Looking ahead: Again in 2017, Alabama will rise or fall depending on how this unit plays. The key will be the development of JUCO signee and early enrollee Isaiah Buggs, a Tomlinson clone who should step into Tomlinson’s strongside end position. Hand will take over for Allen, but he also needs to take the next step in his development. As for backups, Davis should be more ready to play next year, but the question is, where? Davis is huge, and Alabama’s M.O. for the past couple of seasons has been to get smaller on the defensive line so as to better defend spread teams. For the same reason Davis doesn’t make ideal sense as a starting end, nor does Payne moving out to end so that Frazier can start at nose. Alabama also needs to develop at least one capable backup from a list that includes O.J. Smith, Jamar King and Johnny Dwight. King, a JUCO signee last year, seems to be the most likely of the three. Alabama was looking at bringing in 5-7 defensive linemen not a month ago, but now, that number sits at two (Buggs, Akial Byers) with one of them (Byers) potentially not making it into this class. Unless Alabama closes exceptionally well these last three weeks, it will go into spring potentially not having enough scholarshipped players to fill two A-Day rosters.
LINEBACKERS
What was expected: Expected to be the strength of the Tide defense, the only question was whether Reuben Foster could stay healthy an entire year. Shaun Dion Hamilton was moving into Reggie Ragland’s old role, and Tim Williams was coming back for his senior season in order to up his draft stock. Ryan Anderson was seen as a solid complementary player, but not necessarily a star. Fans were envisioning a larger role for pass rusher Rashaan Evans, while there were no questions regarding depth given the vast number of scholarshipped players available.
What actually happened: Foster made it out the door unscathed, but Hamilton did not, tearing his ACL against Florida. His loss proved to be devastating, as while Evans was capable of replacing him, Alabama never developed any other depth at inside linebacker and stamina became a factor against Clemson. At outside linebacker, Williams had a phenomenal season, but was overshadowed by Anderson, who was a demon down the stretch and through the playoffs. While the Tide never did find a fourth (or fifth, or sixth) inside linebacker, outside, it was a different story. Anfernee Jennings, Terrell Hall and Christian Miller all developed into capable players with bright futures.
Grade/analysis: A+. Outside of injuries, there were no weaknesses here. Foster, Anderson and Williams will all hear their names called early in the draft, and there is plenty of depth for the future.
Looking ahead: With Foster, Anderson and Williams gone, the two big questions are where Evans will play and where Jennings will play in the long-term. It would seem the easiest transition would be for Hamilton to slide into the middle linebacker spot Foster occupied and start Evans at WLB, but Mack Wilson has drawn raves for his play in practice and may be ready to fill the middle linebacker spot now. If that happens, Evans will likely play SLB on early downs and move either to WLB or DE in passing situations, somewhat the way Cory Reamer did early in Nick Saban’s tenure. Jennings, Miller and Hall would then compete at Jack along with Mekhi Brown. The biggest question mark for Jennings is whether he can avoid eating himself into a defensive line assignment. If Evans stays inside, look for Jennings and Hall to compete at Jack, with Miller and former walk-on Jamey Mosley, along with Shawn Jennings, competing at SLB. Joshua McMillon and Ben Davis will provide depth at inside linebacker.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
What was expected: With prized redshirt Kendall Sheffield and veteran Maurice Smith both transferring just prior to the start of the season, all eyes turned to Anthony Averett to see if he could pick up the slack as Alabama’s sixth defensive back. Minkah Fitzpatrick was penciled in for cornerback opposite Marlon Humphrey, while Eddie Jackson and Ronnie Harrison were both being looked upon to step up at safety. A host of freshmen, along with Hootie Jones, who had developed more slowly than expected, were being looked to for depth. Although not the strength of the defense, this group was expected to more than hold its own.
What actually happened: Averett turned out to be more than just an adequate replacement for Smith; he may have been Alabama’s most consistent cornerback throughout the year. Marlon Humphrey announced recently he would enter the NFL Draft early, and he is expected to be selected in the first round, but he battled bouts of inconsistency and a couple of nagging injuries. Fitzpatrick never really played corner, moving early to Star safety, and then to strong safety when Eddie Jackson was lost for the year to a broken leg. Jackson’s injury may have been the most important factor, defensively, in the loss to Clemson, as it forced Fitzpatrick out of position. Tony Brown, who was suspended four games to start the year, eventually became the replacement at Star, and his aggressive play was both a blessing and a curse for the defense. Jones had a mixed year, but still made several leaps forward from where he was as a player in 2015. The most surprising story, and certainly the most feel-good storyline, was the emergence of walk-on Levi Wallace as a key reserve at cornerback, and his story may have an even more dramatic next chapter.
Grade/analysis: B+. For the second straight year, it could be argued Alabama’s statistical rankings (24th in raw pass defense, 9th in pass efficiency defense) were somewhat misleading, as Alabama beat up on sub-average passing attacks but were vulnerable to top quarterbacks. Aside from Jake Browning in the Washington game, and perhaps Joshua Dobbs in the Tennessee game, Alabama struggled somewhat against better-than-average QBs. Chad Kelly at Ole Miss and Austin Allen at Arkansas both torched Alabama for 400-plus yards, as did Deshaun Watson in the Clemson game. Once Jackson went down, Alabama looked slow across the middle, and Humphrey’s on-again, off-again season seemed to either come up aces or snake eyes. Given this is the specialty area for both Nick Saban and defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt, anything less than “A” work here has to be considered somewhat of a disappointment.
Looking ahead: With Humphrey and Jackson both gone to the NFL, the real question is where Fitzpatrick lands full-time in 2017. Averett will be Alabama’s primary cornerback, with the off-corner spot being up for grabs primarily between Brown and Wallace if Fitzpatrick stays at strong safety. If Brown wins the open CB job, Fitzpatrick might have to make Star his primary assignment, which would likely see Jones starting at SS. Harrison got better in his second season of work, but raw speed is an issue and Alabama preferably would like to have a coverage-oriented safety playing with him. That might be the impetus needed to push Brown to star and bring Wallace, a former walk-on, into the starting lineup. Shyheim Carter, Nigel Knott, Aaron Robinson, Jared Mayden and Deionte Thompson will all compete for playing time, along with Keaton Anderson.
SPECIAL TEAMS
What was expected: J.K. Scott was coming off a somewhat disappointing (for him, anyway) sophomore campaign, after nearly winning the Ray Guy Award as a true freshman. Placekicker Adam Griffith had been uneven in 2015 but had finished it off with a masterful performance against Clemson in Alabama’s win there, giving Alabama fans hope for 2016. Cyrus Jones had left for the NFL, leaving Alabama needing new kick and punt returners, and Bobby Williams’ retirement meant the Crimson Tide would have a new coach heading up the unit.
What actually happened: As expected, Scott bounced back, and should have been a Ray Guy finalist again but was criminally omitted from the list. Griffith improved slightly on his 2015 numbers, and from inside 40 yards was a weapon. For most of the year, he was a superb kickoff specialist as well, but against Clemson, poor field conditions and high winds proved to be too much to overcome, as the Tigers benefited from good field position after nearly every kick. As for the return teams, Eddie Jackson, Xavian Marks and Trevon Diggs picked up Jones’ mantle, making Alabama again one of the best punt-return teams in the country. But kickoff returns were never better than average, and Alabama’s kick and punt coverage teams were both poor.
Grade/analysis: C+. Despite Scott’s prowess as a punter and a punt return unit that was solid for all but the very end of the year, the fact Alabama wilted in the playoffs in nearly all phases of special teams and that coverage teams were never able to get their footing the entire year sends this grade into the middle levels. Bobby Williams’ retirement, seen by some as an opportunity to improve on performance, ended up being a wash at best and a detriment at worst.
Looking ahead: Alabama lost a long-time commitment from prep kicker Brandon Ruiz over the weekend, which means former Ole Miss grad transfer Andy Pappanastos is now the odds-on favorite to win the job in the spring, at least for short kicks. Pappanastos is an accuracy-first, length-second kicker whose effective range tops out somewhere between 40 and 45 yards. J.K. Scott will likely add long field goal kicking and kickoffs to his repertoire, which may turn out the best for him, anyway, as it adds value for NFL teams. Trevon Diggs and Xavian Marks both return to compete for the punt returner’s job, while kickoff returns will have to be rebuilt from the ground up. Coverage units must get better quickly, especially with the loss of Griffith on kickoffs. Scott has plenty of leg, but up to now has been more of a line-drive hitter on kickoffs, meaning the ones that don’t reach the end zone are prone to giving up long returns. If Ruiz doesn’t come back to the fold in the fall, Alabama will need to identify one or two preferred walk-ons who can join the PK battle at that time.
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