Re: 2009 College Football Notebook
ALABAMA (an insiders take)
Our Defensive Line just looks outstanding. Its almost unfair when you line Cody, Deadrick, Washington and Hightower up and when you consider the depth we have behind them its scary good. It is amazing how quickly we have gone from the bottom of the SEC in D-Line play to the top of the league.
Rolando McClain (LB) is a football machine. Coach Saban has said Ro is the smartest player he has ever coached. He just understands defense. Coach will joke with him and tell him if he doesn't catch on with an NFL team he will always have a spot on Coach's staff. I know Brandon Spikes is getting all the attention, but I feel Ro is the best LB in the SEC and it isn't close. He is up to 260 and has a frame that could handle more weight. He has not lost any speed. In fact, he ran a better 40 this year than he did last year.
Dont'a Hightower (LB) is cut from the same mold as Rolando. He eats, drinks and sleeps football. If he is able to move to Jack full time this year he will be an All-American as a sophomore and our pass rush will be much, much better.
Nico Johnson (LB, freshman) has been very impressive. Cory Reamer (LB) has a game he plays with the young LB's by pop quizzing them on defensive calls. Johnson has yet to miss a question. He is a Coach Saban LB and early indications are the he can make a McClain/Hightower type of impact. If so, look for Hightower to move to Jack full time.
Kareem Jackson (CB) has been our best looking DB thus far. He has started the previous two years and is primed for a great season.
Incoming High School All-American (DB) Dre Kirkpatrick has veen very impressive. Coach Saban has this game he plays with the DBs where he will catch them not paying attention and then throw a ball at them. To this point, Dre has caught every Saban thrown ball. Coach will say "I'll get you" and then storm off.
Overall I think out defense is going to be the best one we have put on the field since 1992 (National Champions). We have size, speed, defensive back play and heart. This group, and this team, has a chance to be special.
On Offense, look for us to mirror Oklahoma's offense from last year. We will run some out of the Spread and our traditional power offense and we will do it running without a huddle. The feeling is that QB Greg McElroy can run a no huddle offense. This is not something new. Coach Saban has been trying to run a no huddle since he has been here.
Greg McElroy is a rock and the unquestioned leader of the offense. He has dinner with each group of offensive set during the week and some members of the defense. Greg can be a special player and is destined to do great things. I have no doubts he will go down as one of Alabama's better quarterbacks. He has much more talent than John Parker Wilson and the dude can bench press almost 400 pounds.
Mark Ingram (RB) is a bowling ball in cleats. The hardest hit thus far in practice was when Mark and Rolando met on an off tackle play and it sounded like a cannon went off. It was such a big hit that it got Coach Saban excited and jumping around. Most thought the play was a draw between Ro and Mark. Neither will shy away from contact.
Trent Richardson (RB, freshman) is living up to the hype. He looks like a 4 year veteran of Coach Cochran's brutal weight program. His only real issue has been his pass catching. Coach Saban keeps telling him he is going to make him practice in boxing gloves if his pass catching does not improve. The kid is a worker and coming in with all the hype has earned the respect of his teammates.
Julio Jones (WR) looks like an NFL player right now. He is uncoverable in practice. Not because of bad DB play but because he is the best WR in the country. Unlike a lot of players with his talent, he does not take it for granted. On most days he is up by 5 am running routes by himself. He has been a positive influence for all the receivers. He and McElroy are really working well together.
Michael Bowman (WR, freshman) has been very impressive. Some say he looks like a USC type receiver. A Mike Williams, Dewayen Jarret type. He's 6'4" and 215 pounds and could take a lot of pressure off Jones. He has really impressed in pre-season.
Mike Johnson (T) has become the General Patton of the offense. He is stepping up and getting into the faces of players like Caldwell did last year. He has been a great player for us and will be a good NFL player.
Chance Warmack (G, freshman) is impressing everyone with his work ethic and his non-stop motor. He gets to the 2nd level as good as anyone on the offensive line not named Johnson.
D.J. Fluker (T, high school All-American, freshman) had a rough start, but the last few practices he has really stepped his game up. During one practice he was getting whipped by Brandon Deadrick. Some felt he was losing his confidence and then Mike Johnson lit a fire under him. The next play he put Deadrick on his back and that one play seemed to flip the switch on for him. Some feel he developed lazy habits last year in high school because he could just dominate the oposition. Since the Deadrick pancake, he has looked like a starting left tackle. Andre Smith started as a freshman and DJ may also. If not, he will before the season is over.
The players are excited and feel this could be a special season. One thing for sure, they are working hard getting ready for a really good Virginia Tech team.
ROLL TIDE!
