Alabama Football: Defense Will Lead Tide Back To BCS Title Game in 2011
Over the years I've witnessed quite a few changes take place throughout the SEC Conference as far as football is concerned. Offensive philosophies change which lead to new and improved defensive formations, which leads to even more complicated offensive schemes and round and round we go.
As a former player, one of the most important lessons I learned from my head coach was what he called the K.I.S.S. principle. And that is Keep It Simple Stupid. K.I.S.S can be characterized by stating the only thing better than a simple idea is an even simpler one.
And a very simple yet effective formula for winning in the SEC throughout the years have consisted mainly of two principles and that is running the football and stopping the run. If you find that hard to believe look no further than the 2009 Alabama National Championship team, or for that matter any successful Crimson Tide squad.
Barring any major injuries and a complete meltdown at QB, the 2011 Crimson Tide football team should be even better than the 2009 championship squad that produced six-first team All Americans, a Heisman Trophy winner, a Butkus Award winner, and two first-round draft picks.
The Tide brings back 10 returning starters and nine that contributed significantly to a defense that finished ranked sixth overall in total defense for the 2010 season. And looking back into Bama's rich tradition of winning, you'll find that behind every National Championship team is a great defense.
In the following pages you'll get a closer look at each defensive position. Returning players that look to build upon foundations already laid and incoming players that have high expectations on making an immediate impact on a defense that looks poised to join the ranks of some of The Capstone's best ever.
Defensive Line
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POSITIVES
The defensive line will be the area where we'll see the most improvement in 2011. In order for the 3-4 to be truly successful, the line needs that Mt. Cody like space eater in the middle to draw double coverage and the Crimson Tide did not have that in 2010.
For the upcoming 2011 season the Tide brings in one of the most impressive d-line recruits I've seen at the Capstone since Antwan Odom signed in the late '90s. That player is 6'4/340 lb. nose tackle, Jesse Williams. Williams could very well be the single most important recruit Bama signed in this years top rated class.
When healthy Williams is practically unblockable. A player that never quits, always gives a 150 percent on every play and benches 500 lbs. No one lineman will be capable of blocking Williams single handed. Williams will give the Tide that force in the middle that they so desperately needed in 2010.
Another classic 3-4 nose guard on the Crimson Tide roster is redshirt freshman Brandon Ivory. At 6'3/335 lbs., Ivory has the size and the skill to play the position but lacks game experience. But look for that to change as the season starts because Ivory should see playing time at NT throughout the year.
Two players that can and probably will be used at both NT and DE are Josh Chapman and Brandon Moore. Chapman (6'1/310 lbs.) lacks the girth to be a true NT, but what he lacks in size, he more than makes up for in strength and speed. With Marcel Dareus leaving early for the NFL, Chapman could move effortlessly over to DE and will probably have a lot more success at the position.
Brandon Moore is another gifted player that has all the tools needed to wreak havoc in the offensive backfield but lacks any significant playing time. Moore is 6'4 and weighs in at around 310 or 315 lbs and while Chapman is more of a run stuffer, Moore could be as effective in passing situations as he will be at stopping the run. Look for both of these guys to play a major role in the Crimson Tide's defensive success in 2011.
The two most impressive players coming back from the 2010 defensive line is Nick Gentry and Damian Square. Gentry came on strong towards the back end of last season playing both NT and DE. Nearly all of Gentry's four solo tackles, 10 assists and one sack came in the last two games of the regular season. Gentry hopes to build off of the strong finish he enjoyed during last years campaign and will likely be a main stay on the defensive front for the Tide next year.
Damian Square also had a strong finish to the 2010 season. After suffering a season ending ACL tear in 2009, Square returned for his sophomore season but never seemed to fully recover until late in the year. With the injury behind him and back to full speed, expect to see Damian Square back and hungrier than ever to compete.
Darrington Sentimore, Ed Stinson, Undra Billingsley and Quinton Dial round out the list of players that are most likely to see significant playing time on the defensive line in the fall. Sentimore has the necessary tools to be a great pass rusher coming off the edge. Stinson began his tenure at LB but towards the end of the season was moved to DE. There is a possibility Stinson could get moved back to LB but we'll find out more concerning the situation come April 16th when Alabama plays it's annual A-Day, Spring game.
NEGATIVES
There is no doubt Marcel Dareus' presence on the defensive line will be sorely missed. During his career at The University of Alabama Dareus recorded 70 tackles of which 20 were for a loss and racked up 11 sacks. Dareus has the ability to change the momentum of the game with one play and has done so on more than one occasion.
Heading into the 2011 season, it's yet to be proven that the Crimson Tide defensive line has that player with those types of game changing abilities. The candidates are definitely in place but until that time arrives there will be an air of uncertainty lingering.
It also seems that former Hoover High standout and recent Alabama NT Kerry Murphy will not be returning to the team in 2011. Murphy's football career was over before it really even begun due to chronic knee problems stemming from an old prep-school injury that was never properly repaired and never healed correctly.
Murphy will remain at the University on medical scholarship and hopefully stay on and receive his degree. You'll hear the Saban haters come out in droves screaming attrition but the fact is Kerry Murphy was an integral piece to the team and the defensive line. Murphy is a player that Saban and the rest of the Crimson Tide coaching staff really wanted to see back on the field next year and he will be missed.
DEFENSIVE LINE DEPTH CHART
DE - Damian Square/ Darrington Sentimore
NT - Jesse Williams/ Josh Chapman/ Brandon Ivory
DE - Nick Gentry/ Brandon Moore
Linebackers
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POSITIVES
You will not find a better group of linebackers anywhere else in the country than those in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide brings back all four starters and every player that contributed at the position from last years squad.
All eyes will be focused on returning seniors Dont'a Hightower and Courtney Upshaw to lead the way on defense. Upshaw lead the team in sacks and tackles for a loss in 2010 with five of the seven sacks taking place against Auburn and Michigan St. Expect to see Upshaw pick up where he left off when the 2011 season starts as he'll continue to dominate from the Jack linebacker position.
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and make a very bold prediction, and after it comes true just keep in mind you heard it here first. When the 2011 football season comes to a close, Dont'a Hightower will be known as the best linebacker to have ever played at The University of Alabama.
I can already feel my ears burning from the many old school Bama fans cursing my name. Yes, a tall order, especially considering just a few of the names that have played the position during their time at The Capstone. But people, believe me when I say there isn't one single player on the Crimson Tide's defensive side of the ball that is as smart, as determined, as experienced, as hungry, as athletically gifted and knows Nick Saban's pro-style defense as well as Dont'a Hightower.
The stars are aligned, the road has been laid, and all of the signs point to the same direction. And that is right towards the 6'4- 258 lb. mammoth inside linebacker wearing the number 30.
Hightower spent the first half of the 2010 season shaking off the rust left behind from a torn ACL sustained the year before while playing against Arkansas. Hightower looked more and more like his former self as the season drew to a close and when the fall arrives Dont'a Hightower will be faster and more mobile than ever.
Hightower's reign as "The Greatest Ever" might be short lived considering the meteoric rise of super sophomore C.J. Mosely. Mosely finished up his freshman year with 67 total tackles, which was third best on the team, and two picks that he returned for touchdowns.
His playmaking abilities reminded me a lot of a young Rolando McClain when he played as a true freshman. Expect to see Mosely starting at either Sam or Will linebacker from day one. The Alabama coaching staff wants to get more production from the Sam position in 2011, so if I had to guess I'd say the staff will turn to Mosely to play on the strong side.
If in fact Mosely does earn a starting position at Sam, the most likely candidate to start at Will is Nico Johnson. Johnson's numbers in 2010 weren't eye-popping but I would imagine that everyone reading this article would agree that Nico Johnson's best games have yet to be played.
Nico Johnson has proven however that he's equally impressive at both stopping the run and defending the pass.In fact, during the 2010 season when Courtney Upshaw and Dont'a Hightower were less than 100 percent, Johnson stepped up to the plate and actually looked liked the Tide's best inside linebacker.
The Alabama coaching staff shuffled the linebackers around quite a bit last season, experimenting with different players at different positions. So, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Nico playing Mike and Hightower playing at Will, a position that he is all to familiar with.
Jerrell Harris, Chris Jordan, Alex Watkins, Tana Patrick, and Jonathan Atchinson will all be competing for playing time this fall. The two players that are most likely to get significant playing time in 2011 will be Jerrell Harris and Alex Watkins. Harris is a versatile linebacker that can play both OLB and ILB but is more suited to play outside.
Both Watkins and Harris will be seniors next year so obviously this will be their last chance to prove themselves on the field. Harris came out of Gadsden City high school ranked as one of the top LB prospects in the country but has yet to live up to the hype surrounding his recruitment. So, he'll probably have a bit of a chip on his shoulder entering into his final year which is a good thing.That could be the push Jerrell Harris needed to finally have that break out season we've all been waiting for.
There's been a lot of talk from Bama fans concerning incoming freshman linebackers Trey DePriest and Brent Calloway receiving early playing time. DePriest should see playing time on special teams and maybe a little at linebacker against Kent State, North Texas, and Georgia Southern. I expect to see the Alabama coaching staff redshirt Brent Calloway.
NEGATIVES
The only negatives concerning this group is the unforeseen. Injuries, suspensions, etc.
LINEBACKERS DEPTH CHART
Sam - C.J. Mosely/ Alex Watkins
Mike - Dont'a Hightower/ Chris Jordan
Will - Nico Johnson/ Chris Jordan/ Jerrell Harris
Jack- Courtney Upshaw/ Jerrell Harris
Secondary
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POSITIVES
When your head coach just happens to be the absolute best secondary coach in college football there's really no need to worry about the defensive backfield, right? That is unless of course your team happens to be replacing three out of four starters from the previous year. Which is exactly what Nick Saban had to do in 2010.
Last season was definitely a baptism by fire for every member of the secondary excluding strong safety Mark Barron. Saban and staff couldn't even turn to the back-up players to start the season. Robbie Green was serving a one year suspension for marijuana (winking suggestively) use, Alonzo Lawrence had left the team the year before, Rod Woodson left the team because as Coach Saban said, "It was mutually agreed it would be better for him to continue his career elsewhere."
So that left redshirt sophomore Robert Lester to play free safety, first-year starter Dre Kirkpatrick playing corner, true freshman DeMarcus Milliner and incoming junior college transfer DeQuan Menzie spilitting time at corner and to top it all off Will Lowery, a walk-on, playing the role of nickle back.
When the 2011 season gets underway, this group will be unbelievably better because of the trial and error they had to endure last year. You could begin to see improvement in the secondary towards the end of the season. And when the 2011 season arrives this squad will be one of the best in the nation.
Starting safety Mark Barron will return for his senior season after leading the team with 75 tackles the year before. Barron, along with Dont'a Hightower, will provide the team with an "on-the-field" coach much like the way Rolando McClain did during his tenure at the University. And on the field leadership is something that last years defense seemed to lack at times.
Another major piece of the defensive puzzle that will be back this season is Robert Lester. Lester was by far the biggest surprise in the secondary last year, leading the team with eight ints. And his best games have yet to be played.
And speaking of players that have yet to reach their full potential. Both Dre Kirkpatrick and DeMarcus Milliner return with a much needed full year of playing time under their belts. Expect to see Dre Kirkpatrick emerge as one of the top corners in the country in 2011.
Kirkpatrick is a tall, well put together cornerback with a long set of arms and really impressive fluidity in and out of his breaks. Possesses natural bend in his stance off the line, can sit into his drop and for a big guy isn't real leggy when asked to transition.
Needs some work with his overall footwork off line, as he has a tendency to almost jump backward or out of his breaks initially when up in press bail instead of just calmly working his feet into his backpedal, causing him to initially lose his balance and can give up separation in the three-step game. However, because of his natural fluidity is able to regain his balance quickly.
DeMarcus Milliner looked overwhelmed often last year due to the immediate transition from high school to college football. Milliner has unbelievable speed, a thick upper body, and tackles well. After he sits down and watches all the film from last year's games, he'll quickly see and understand the mistakes that were made and will be a much better player in 2011 because of the year of experience.
Dequan Menzie will challenge Milliner for the starting corner position this spring and fall. Menzie suffered a torn Achilles tendon in June 2010 and after talk of missing six months and a possible red-shirt year quickly recovered to play in the Tide's first few games.
But it seemed the injury plagued him for most of the season. Menzie was expected to come in right away and contribute and when the 2011 season arrives he will be at 100 percent. Will Lowery will add his name to a growing list of blue collar, walk-ons that come in and impact The Crimson Tide football team in a big way.
Lowery was usually the first off the bench when the Tide defense went to the nickel formation, which is about 50 percent of the time, and I don't see that changing in 2011. The high point of the season for Lowery came in The Capital One Bowl where he was selected by the coaching staff to start in place of injured SS Mark Barron. Lowery called all of the plays in the secondary during that game.
Robbie Green will return in 2011 from a year long suspension for violating NCAA rules. What role he will play on the team next season is undetermined at this point but I doubt very seriously that he'll knock Robert Lester from his starting job as free safety. What it determined is that it adds depth to the position. Green will be a much welcome return to the Tide's roster.
Also, look for players such as Phelon Jones, Nick Perry, John Fulton, and Jarrick Williams to contribute on dime and nickel packages.
Incoming blue-chip recruit Hasean Clinton-Dix is slated to play safety at The Capstone but will be used primarily on special teams as a true freshman. A recruit that every Tide fan has seemed to have forgotten is Minor High School standout, Chris Jones. Jones will most likely be red-shirted for the 2011 season but will be a name we'll hear from in the near future.
NEGATIVES
Injuries. Suspensions.
SECONDARY DEPTH CHART
CB - Dre Kirkpatrick/ Phelon Jones
CB - DeMarcus Milliner/ Dequan Menzie
SS - Mark Barron/ Will Lowery
FS - Robert Lester/ Robbie Green
Nickel - Will Lowery
Dime - Robbie Green/ Nick Perry/ Jarrick Williams
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