Alabama Football: So Who Who Who Will Be Julio? Who's Julio Jones Replacement?

Larry Burton (Syndicated Writer) First of all there may not be a Julio Jones replacement on the entire Alabama team; he had a skill set that is very rare and they don't grow on trees.

Nick Saban is a role-playing kind of coach. He gets the athletes to buy in to a role and that every role is important. It isn't about number of touches, numbers of plays or super stats, just that you did your job and fulfilled the role you were supposed to.

Though you can find highlights films of Jones catching deep passes and streaking into the end zone, that was the exception and not the rule. Jones' role as the go-to receiver was to move the chains and get the tough yards.

He would often take a four-yard pass and gut out five more yards, fighting off tackles on a 3rd-and-8.

He had a stiff arm that embarrassed many a defender, and a shoulder he wasn't afraid to lower for that last important yard. That was his role.

Something else that was often overlooked except by the best of fans was Jones blocking ability. That is something that both candidates have in common.

Hanks ran the intermediate routes, and Maze was the deep threat—that was their roles.

So who has the muscle and the hustle to be that gutty go-to guy?

Saban has never been afraid to experiment with players and have them "try on" a new position. Right now he is doing that with Michael Bowman.

Last year he worked with the tight ends as he had that kind of size and muscle. Now they've got him running with the receivers, and he looks very good doing it.

He may not have the streaking speed that Alabama seems to have in abundance, but he looks to have the size and muscle mass to drag a cornerback as far as he'll need to to reach the down marker. At 6'4'' and just over 225 pounds, he's more than a match for the average corner back who comes in at 6'0'' and 180 pounds.

But Bowman is not the only one getting a good look. Brandon Gibson is 6'2'' and 194 pounds and good upper body strength. Gibson is a senior and has been waiting for his time to shine, and this could be the year.

Kevin Norwood is the only other "Big Man" at receiver who has any playing time and at 6'2'' and 193 pounds, he has similar size and bulk as Gibson with perhaps a little more elusiveness.

Saban has two other big men, new freshmen who may likely see red-shirt years this year, but could be go-to men at some point down the road. They are freshmen Marvin Shinn, a 6'4'' 195 pound young one who needs to add some badly needed muscle and weight to his frame, and another Mobile-area native like Julio, Danny Woodson, who is 6'2'' 200 pounds and still growing.

Alabama will need to fill this hole with a capable pass snagger or maybe they'll work by committee, but however they attempt to fill this position, it must be done well for the Tide to roll as expected.