Which player was the keystone to Bama's D?

[Jetstream Green]

You have Hightower and Upshaw at the LB position, and then you have the safety Barron high on the list from this stellar defense. Sometimes such a defense can be attributed to consistent better than average talent across the defense as a whole with a great defensive coach, but from the games I saw, Hightower seemed to be the one name which consistently was in on every play and made everyone around him better. Curious what others observation was concerning the Tide's great defense and the players available. This as we know is the NFL, and being better than average on the college level is not enough, especially to be a first round pick.

 

[joeshmo]

Coaches and players alike will all tell you it was Hightower.

It was Hightower calling the plays, calling the audibles, moving the Dlinemen around, pushing the linebackers into place, doing all of the pre-snap reads and adjustments. Dude was just as active pre-snap as he was during the play.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Coaches and players alike will all tell you it was Hightower.

It was Hightower calling the plays, calling the audibles, moving the Dlinemen around, pushing the linebackers into place, doing all of the pre-snap reads and adjustments. Dude was just as active pre-snap as he was during the play.

+1

 

[juza76]

hightower is the man...intelligent leader mature with great work ethic ..is what this organization look in a player

 

[Jetstream Green]

been looking more and more as the draft nears and actually Hightower is becoming the player which I think will give us the most immediate help and bolster an already up and coming defense...and most importantly, he should be there when we pick

 

[joeshmo]

I love me some Hightower, said long time ago he is one of my favorite players in the draft.

But there is no way possible someone can make an argument to me to pick Hightower over the consensus top 3-4 OLB in the draft.

 

[Chopper0080]

I love me some Hightower, said long time ago he is one of my favorite players in the draft.

But there is no way possible someone can make an argument to me to pick Hightower over the consensus top 3-4 OLB in the draft.

One reason I wouldn't mind trading back if Ingram is gone. Late first has some solid players, Donta Hightower, Shea McClellin, Chandler Jones (though I'm not sure of the fit, Andre Branch, Ruben Randle, Kevin Zietler, Mercilus, and Barron. Plenty of solid options late.

 

[Duckjake]

You have Hightower and Upshaw at the LB position, and then you have the safety Barron high on the list from this stellar defense. Sometimes such a defense can be attributed to consistent better than average talent across the defense as a whole with a great defensive coach, but from the games I saw, Hightower seemed to be the one name which consistently was in on every play and made everyone around him better. Curious what others observation was concerning the Tide's great defense and the players available. This as we know is the NFL, and being better than average on the college level is not enough, especially to be a first round pick.

How can you really say who was the leader of that Defense. Who was the leader of Texas' 2005 National Championship Defense? That team had:

Brian Orakpo
Michael Griffin
Aaron Ross
Cedric Griffin
Michael Huff
Brian Robinson
Tarrel Brown
Frank Okam
Tim Crowder

9 guys still in the NFL 6 years later!

There were just a bunch of bad azz football players on that team. Just like with Alabama.

 

[Jetstream Green]

but if Alabama then is all bad azz, who is the guy with the most junk in the trunk lol

 

[WildBB]

Hightower made it go. He had plenty of help.

 

[Mitch]

If you ask Nick Saban---and he has already inferred this---the player who was the MVP of their defense was S Mark Barron.

Barron will be the first Alabama defensive player off the board. The scouts also realize what Saban has.

And versatile hard hitting in the box, rangy playmakers in deep cover safeties are the vogue in the NFL right now and rightly so.

 

[kerouac9]

What Nick Saban says is always true. Just ask him about Rashard Johnson.

 

[Bodha]

Jordan Jefferson

 

[Dougmo]

What Nick Saban says is always true. Just ask him about Rashard Johnson.

Yeah, I think his quote was something about being one of the smartest football players he's ever coached (or something like that). That's what makes me hesitant about Barron.
Actually it makes me hesitant about all Alabama players. I'm nervous that alot of their success is the scheme and the coaching, not neccessarily the players.
Don't get me wrong, I think they have a ton of talent but I also think their players might get bumped up for the success they had with the expectation that it means all the players were great.

My memeory sucks, so this isn't a challenge but an honest question - have any of the Saban's 'Bama defensive players done much in the NFL?
The only two that come to mind are Mt. Cody and Rashard, both of which have underperformed IMO.

 

[kerouac9]

Yeah, I think his quote was something about being one of the smartest football players he's ever coached (or something like that). That's what makes me hesitant about Barron.
Actually it makes me hesitant about all Alabama players. I'm nervous that alot of their success is the scheme and the coaching, not neccessarily the players.
Don't get me wrong, I think they have a ton of talent but I also think their players might get bumped up for the success they had with the expectation that it means all the players were great.

My memeory sucks, so this isn't a challenge but an honest question - have any of the Saban's 'Bama defensive players done much in the NFL?
The only two that come to mind are Mt. Cody and Rashard, both of which have underperformed IMO.

His first recruiting class is just coming out (came aboard in 2007, but not quickly enough to get a full recruiting class, IIRC). But since 2007 he's brought Rolando McClain (huge disappointment for Oakland), Javier Arenas (Special teams demon for the Chiefs), Cody (playing well for B-more), and Marcell Dareus (lived up to draft status as a rookie for the Bills, at least).

If you read The Blind Side by Michael Lewis (It's a great football book, even if the film adaptation ended up a chick flick), Saban comes off as a complete phony and d-bag. Nothing that he's done in his career--including leaving Miami in the lurch--tells me otherwise.

He knows that if he continues to mainline players to the NFL, he'll get better recruits. He'll tell NFL scouts whatever the want to hear to get that done.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I love me some Hightower, said long time ago he is one of my favorite players in the draft.

But there is no way possible someone can make an argument to me to pick Hightower over the consensus top 3-4 OLB in the draft.

And who would be the top "3-4 OLB in the draft"

 

[juza76]

And who would be the top "3-4 OLB in the draft"

people here following draft board so if they see him listed as better olb in the draft they say is the better..but did they hAVE any idea about how an olb has to play for cardinals..MY OPINION HIGHTOWER is more ready to play olb in Arizona

 

[joeshmo]

And who would be the top "3-4 OLB in the draft"

Do I really have to answer that or you just being facetious?

 

[joeshmo]

people here following draft board so if they see him listed as better olb in the draft they say is the better..but did they hAVE any idea about how an olb has to play for cardinals..MY OPINION HIGHTOWER is more ready to play olb in Arizona

So you are assuming no one has seen any of these players actually play or knows what they think the Cards are looking for?

You are not giving near enough credit to a lot of people on this board it would seem.

 

[Jetstream Green]

the object of most forums is not to give enough credit to the front office or the posters silly rabbit

 

[joeshmo]

the object of most forums is not to give enough credit to the front office or the posters silly rabbit

 

[Dougmo]

His first recruiting class is just coming out (came aboard in 2007, but not quickly enough to get a full recruiting class, IIRC). But since 2007 he's brought Rolando McClain (huge disappointment for Oakland), Javier Arenas (Special teams demon for the Chiefs), Cody (playing well for B-more), and Marcell Dareus (lived up to draft status as a rookie for the Bills, at least). quote]

I guess that isn't too bad. I didn't think Cody was doing much at Baltimore but really haven't followed it.

 

[john h]

You have Hightower and Upshaw at the LB position, and then you have the safety Barron high on the list from this stellar defense. Sometimes such a defense can be attributed to consistent better than average talent across the defense as a whole with a great defensive coach, but from the games I saw, Hightower seemed to be the one name which consistently was in on every play and made everyone around him better. Curious what others observation was concerning the Tide's great defense and the players available. This as we know is the NFL, and being better than average on the college level is not enough, especially to be a first round pick.

They were solid all the way with backups who could start for most teams. They are sort of the Kentucky Basketball of College football. Great defensive players flock to that school.

 

[john h]

been looking more and more as the draft nears and actually Hightower is becoming the player which I think will give us the most immediate help and bolster an already up and coming defense...and most importantly, he should be there when we pick

I am still more worried about signing Campbell than the draft. Did we sign him or is that on the back burner? He is the real deal and no gamble. One of the best in the NFL at his position. I see no post on what has been going on with Campbell. He and Dockett are the defensive stars on this team and certainly ones we need for the long haul. Best pass blocker and kicking blocker I have seen.

 

[Duckjake]

His first recruiting class is just coming out (came aboard in 2007, but not quickly enough to get a full recruiting class, IIRC). But since 2007 he's brought Rolando McClain (huge disappointment for Oakland), Javier Arenas (Special teams demon for the Chiefs), Cody (playing well for B-more), and Marcell Dareus (lived up to draft status as a rookie for the Bills, at least).

If you read The Blind Side by Michael Lewis (It's a great football book, even if the film adaptation ended up a chick flick), Saban comes off as a complete phony and d-bag. Nothing that he's done in his career--including leaving Miami in the lurch--tells me otherwise.

He knows that if he continues to mainline players to the NFL, he'll get better recruits. He'll tell NFL scouts whatever the want to hear to get that done.

I don't understand this. According to nfl.com McClain had 99 tackles 14pdf and 5 sacks last season. That hardly seems disappointing. Is there more to the McClain story than just the raw numbers?