Bama's Offensive Line Is Finally Staffed, Stocked, and Stacked

If anybody thought Nick Saban would lose sleep over the loss of three his five starting offensive linemen, they don't know Nick. 

Saban is excited because for the first time since his arrival at Alabama, rather than just playing who they have to because of limited manpower at that position, Bama will have a old fashioned brawl and winner-take-all for positions on the line.

Starting with the biggest hole at left tackle due to the departure of Andre Smith for the NFL, there is a wide-open battle that may last all spring.

Drew Davis has some experience and his 6'7' 305 pound body seems to be the heir apparent to the untrained eye, but in talks with Saban, I believe they'll move him back to the right side almost immediately.

So with no one with any significant playing time on the team at left tackle, it would seem to be open for the incoming signees to have more than a slight shot at playing time.

Who can deny that D.J. Fluker could have an impact from day one?  It would not be crazy to think he could even compete for a starting job. 

I can see the huge 6'7" and 350 pound frame of D.J. and the transfer of Jr. College player James Carpenter and his 6'5", 350 pound body coming in impressing the coaches enough to let Davis go back to the right side where he is more comfortable and experienced. 

That would leave 6'6", 285 pound Junior Taylor Pharr and Tyler Love as the only players in that spot with some Tide experience.

So with the left side new and in place and the right side in the hands of Davis, Sophomore John Boswell, a 6'5" 300 pounder, is being looked at as the man to back up Davis.  Barret Jones, another sophomore with a little experience, looks to be another 6'5" 300 pound backup at right tackle.

Jr. Mike Johnson, 6'6" 300 pounds, will anchor left guard and will have ample backups in Sophomore Brian Motley, 6'2" 293, and many great incoming signees.

That brings us to center, where Evan Cardwell, a 6'2" 280 Junior, and 6'0" 306 pound Redshirt Freshman William Vlachos will do just fine. 

In talking to Joe Pendry just a few weeks ago, he told me that they also think they may even find a back up center from the list of talented signees who haven't played much if any center yet.  Joe also says that some of these talented signees could also play either side of the ball.

That only leaves right guard, where 6'3" 298 pound Sophomores Davis Ross and Alfred McCullough. 6'2" and 295 pounds look to hold their spots over the incoming signees.

Therefore, if I had to do a projected depth chart right now based on no spring drills and my gut instinct and the scuttlebutt from meeting with the coaches, it would look something like this:

Left Tackle

D.J. Fluker - incoming freshman - Starter

James Carpenter - Jr. College Transfer - main backup

Taylor Pharr and Tyler Love backups

Left Guard

Mike Johnson - Starter

Brian Motley - main backup

Center

Evan Cardwell - Starter

William Vlachos - backup

Right Guard 

David Ross - Starter

Alfred McCullough - backup

Right Tackle

Drew Davis - Starter

John Boswell - main backup

Barrett Jones - backup

With all the other talented signees in the group arriving on campus to fill the offensive lines, some may be redshirted, some may see playing time, but all will help with much better practices and depth and starting job fights for years to come.

For anyone who thought that the offensive line would be our undoing this year, I can assure you the coaches have not placed this on the list of things to be concerned with.  Sleep well, Bama fans; Nick Saban will.