DEFENSE
While the offense is undergoing retooling, the defense figures to mostly stay the same. The issues, whatever issues this unit may yet prove to have, are going to come from the personnel side, particularly up front. Alabama is effectively replacing its entire defensive line, save for Da’Ron Payne, and doing it with former role players and new signees. As for the linebackers and defensive backs, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Alabama will continue to use the same 3-4 over/under scheme it has utilized since Saban’s arrival, with the only substantive changes being a gradual move to smaller, quicker linebackers.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Da’Ron Payne may prove to be one of the best defensive tackles Alabama has ever had. He’s also the only returning player with a bankable resume. Payne is not just a strong monster of a player, he’s also able to play any of the three positions in Alabama’s front, and he’s more than most interior offensive linemen can handle. Depending on how much Alabama turns him loose this season, Payne is a legitimate threat to be not just another first-round draft pick, but potentially a top-five draft pick overall. His rare combination of size and agility make him frustratingly difficult to deal with. However, he can’t do it alone, and depth here is as thin as Rocky Mountain air.
Da’Shawn Hand figures to be a lock to start at one of the other positions, probably weakside end, but so far he has failed to live up to billing as the No. 1 overall recruit out of high school four years ago. Hand has, however, been very effective as a role player and was reliable, if not overpowering, as Alabama’s top reserve end last year. Across from him will most likely be JUCO signee Isaiah Buggs, who proved himself nicely in the spring. The key to success for this unit will be the second line, because as Alabama’s coaches learned against Clemson, trying to play entire games with only four defensive linemen isn’t going to cut it.
Alabama was hoping that Joshua Frazier would continue to improve, as he was slowly working his way into the playing rotation by the end of last year, but he seemed to take a step back in the spring and finished spring work third on the depth chart at nosetackle behind Johnny Dwight rather than competing with Buggs for a starting end position. Dwight, who came out of nowhere in the spring, played tight end for a time and could be one of those rare late bloomers that first contributes as an upperclassman. Raekwon Davis, who entered school late as a true freshman and spent last fall trying to catch up, figures to get every chance to prove himself. He’s a mountainous body (6’7”, 310) who has the strength and quickness to play end, but his technique is so raw it has Pillsbury stamped on it.
Redshirt freshman Quinnen Williams finished the spring as Hand’s backup. It’s a safe bet at least six of these players will see regular time, with Frazier suddenly the outlier, but less clear is whether senior Jamar King will get snaps. King only played in a few games as a JUCO signee last year but seemed to take a step up in the spring. Signees Phidarian Mathis and LaBryan Ray will both push for time as well. This is a young, unproven group overall but like all positions on a Saban team, they don’t lack for talent.
LINEBACKERS
The recovery of Shaun Dion Hamilton from an ACL injury suffered against Florida last December will likely tell the tale for this group. Hamilton will take over for Reuben Foster in the middle, with Rashaan Evans, Mack Wilson and Keith Holcombe battling for time alongside him. Evans figures to grab the WLB position outright thanks to the weight he’s added and the top-end speed he’s been able to maintain along the way. Wilson will probably back up Hamilton and Holcombe cover Evans’ six. Since all four players have no worse than decent experience, the question marks come at outside linebacker, where Tim Williams and Ryan Anderson must be replaced.
Three names seemed to rise above the others in spring: Anfernee Jennings, Terrell Lewis (formerly Terrell Hall) and Christian Miller. Jennings is cut from the same cloth as former run-stuffing Jack linebacker Denzel Devall, while Lewis and Miller are rangier and quicker. In the past, this has meant Alabama will rely on Jennings to eat snaps, preserving Lewis and Miller for spot pass-rush duty. There was somewhat of a drop from there to the next trio, which is made up of Mekhi Brown, Jamey Mosley and Ben Davis. Davis, who moved over from inside linebacker, has taken longer than expected to make a move but appeared to find a home as a pass-rush specialist. That’s the same role Mosley has, although Mosley is more polished in coverage. Brown is a clone of Christian Miller.
Inside, Keaton Anderson and Joshua McMillon provided depth in the spring and return for the fall. Alabama added even more riches in February, inking Vandarius Cowan, Markail Benton, Christopher Allen and Dylan Moses. This is the deepest position on the team once quality is taken into consideration, and everyone on this list appears ready to play. It’s just a matter of putting the right parts in the right places now.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
The defensive line is getting all the attention in fall camp but if there’s a place things could go sideways unexpectedly, it’s here in the secondary. Personnel matchups will be difficult in 2017
, as Alabama has several players who either don’t have a primary position or may be forced to play out of their primary position. Example A is Minkah Fitzpatrick, who could be forced to start at cornerback if Trevon Diggs isn’t ready. Diggs moved over from receiver in the spring and while his frame and athleticism got people excited, when the lights went on at A-Day, he wasn’t ready. Primary corner Anthony Averett on the other hand is shooting up NFL draft boards at the moment, and his quiet, steady and high-technique play probably have him punching a good bit above his weight at the moment – and winning most of his bouts.
Diggs would be an excellent complement if he can get everything down, which would allow Fitzpatrick to stay at safety next to veteran Ronnie Harrison. Harrison is the typical enforcer Alabama likes to have patrolling the field, and his coverage skills have gotten better. He’s still better against the run and when someone else has primary coverage responsibilities. Fitzpatrick’s best position is actually the Star safety spot, but the lack of a second true safety ready to go at the moment probably means he’ll have to stick in center field.
Tony Brown will get the Star assignment, with the only question being whether he can rein in his enthusiasm and steer clear of things like targeting penalties. Of the second-line players, the best of the bunch is probably a former walk-on, cornerback Levi Wallace, who got a start against Florida in the SEC Championship Game and played solidly. Wallace has great length and it’s a battle between him and Averett as to who has the best pure technique on the team. Behind him, Shyheim Carter and Nigel Knott are the next reserve corners, and Carter will likely see opportunity at the Star position as well. The loss of Aaron Robinson to transfer hurt this group, as it took out probably Alabama’s most physical of the younger corners.
At safety, Laurence Jones has the dime safety spot all but locked up, but he needs to clean up the details heading into 2017. There were times in 2016 where he allowed himself to get suckered out of position on big plays. Deionte Thompson briefly ran into off-field legal trouble in the spring, but returned for fall camp. He’s got the ideal size and speed for a safety, but hasn’t learned to play downhill just yet. Jared Mayden is a combo safety/corner who could find a bit part now that Robinson is out.
Alabama’s two early-entrant freshmen, safety Xavier McKinney and corner Kyriq McDonald, both had strong springs and may have played themselves into roles in the fall, especially McDonald. Daniel Wright is another true freshman competing at safety. Rogria Lewis adds depth as a walk-on. The raw numbers all look good here but until Diggs either steps up or steps out, Alabama won’t truly know what it has.
SPECIAL TEAMS
There is no doubt what punter J.K. Scott brings to the table, and there is equally no doubt he’ll be drafted come April. The rest of this unit, though, must be rebuilt. Ole Miss transfer Andy Pappanastos was expected to lock down at least short-kicking duties in the spring, but he had a shaky time of it and entered fall without any guarantees. For that matter, Scott looked as good or better kicking field goals, and might stick as Alabama’s kickoff man in addition to his punting duties.
All eyes are on true freshman Joseph Bulovas to see if Alabama might finally have a true freshman kicker who lives up to the hype during Saban’s time here. There are no more kickers in the mix, but Alabama has some depth at punter with Brannon Satterfield, Preston Knight and Eastern Illinois transfer Mike Bernier all jockeying to see who gets the first chance to replace Scott in 2018.
Kickoff and punt returns should be a little easier to pick, although the loss of B.J. Emmons takes out the favorite at kick returner. Trevon Diggs figures to get first shot at returning punts, with Xavian Marks and a host of freshmen also in the discussion. Damien Harris and a similarly large group are competing at kick returner. Of lesser discussion, but of no less importance, is the fact Alabama must replace holder Cooper Bateman and snapper Cole Mazza. Tua Tagovailoa and J.K. Scott appear to be the first two options at holder, while snapper will be a battle between walk-ons Ryan Parris and Scott Meyer and true freshman Thomas Fletcher.
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