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Started By
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Jimmy’s & Joe’s - Bama Player Personnel
Posted on 11/1/18 at 8:07 am
Posted on 11/1/18 at 8:07 am
This thread is intended for the fan who may not be real familiar with the players on Alabama’s starting roster and wants to familiarize themselves before Saturday.
Let’s take a look at their impact players, injuries and what I suspect to be their weaknesses from a personnel standpoint.
First Team All-SEC:
LT - Jonah Williams (1st team All American)
C - Ross Pierschbacher (2nd team AA)
RB - Damien Harris (over rated IMO; not their leading rusher)
DE - Raekwon Davis (2nd team AA)
MLB - Mack Wilson (2nd team AA)
Second Team All-SEC:
LG - Lester Cotton
DE - Isaiah Buggs
S - Deionte Thompson
Third Team All-SEC:
None.
Not mentioned (but should be):
QB - Tua
LB - Dylan Moses (should be 2nd or 3rd team probably)
Injuries:
WR - Devonta Smith. #4 WR in terms of receiving yards. Questionable (appears to be a game-time decision). This won’t hurt their WR production at all IMO.
CB - Trevon Diggs - was their #1 corner. He’s out indefinitely.
Weakness:
This causes their starting CB’s to be true freshman Surtain and 1st year D-1 player Smith. This is a true weakness from a player personnel standpoint.
Their safety (Thompson) is the only “impact” player in the back end.
Bama is ranked 33rd in passing yards allowed.
Strengths:
Their front 7. Obviously. Every fan knows this. They are 21st in rushing defense. I believe the ULL game actually skews this number (they gave up 200 yards with backups). They have 2 all Americans and 4 all SEC in the front 7.
The LEFT side of their o-line. I’d be curious to see where we line Lawrence’s up and how we attack the right side with disguised blitzes as Aranda loves. I doubt they come from the left side. Will be a fun matchup to watch. They have 3 all sec and 2 all Americans.
Matchup to watch:
Bama’s O-Line vs LSU’s front 7. If we can pressure with 3-4 (as Aranda loves to do), we will control the game. If they run on us at will (which LSU has shown a vulnerability there in the past), then they will control the game.
Hope this familiarizes yourself with their players.
Geaux Tigers!
Let’s take a look at their impact players, injuries and what I suspect to be their weaknesses from a personnel standpoint.
First Team All-SEC:
LT - Jonah Williams (1st team All American)
C - Ross Pierschbacher (2nd team AA)
RB - Damien Harris (over rated IMO; not their leading rusher)
DE - Raekwon Davis (2nd team AA)
MLB - Mack Wilson (2nd team AA)
Second Team All-SEC:
LG - Lester Cotton
DE - Isaiah Buggs
S - Deionte Thompson
Third Team All-SEC:
None.
Not mentioned (but should be):
QB - Tua
LB - Dylan Moses (should be 2nd or 3rd team probably)
Injuries:
WR - Devonta Smith. #4 WR in terms of receiving yards. Questionable (appears to be a game-time decision). This won’t hurt their WR production at all IMO.
CB - Trevon Diggs - was their #1 corner. He’s out indefinitely.
Weakness:
This causes their starting CB’s to be true freshman Surtain and 1st year D-1 player Smith. This is a true weakness from a player personnel standpoint.
Their safety (Thompson) is the only “impact” player in the back end.
Bama is ranked 33rd in passing yards allowed.
Strengths:
Their front 7. Obviously. Every fan knows this. They are 21st in rushing defense. I believe the ULL game actually skews this number (they gave up 200 yards with backups). They have 2 all Americans and 4 all SEC in the front 7.
The LEFT side of their o-line. I’d be curious to see where we line Lawrence’s up and how we attack the right side with disguised blitzes as Aranda loves. I doubt they come from the left side. Will be a fun matchup to watch. They have 3 all sec and 2 all Americans.
Matchup to watch:
Bama’s O-Line vs LSU’s front 7. If we can pressure with 3-4 (as Aranda loves to do), we will control the game. If they run on us at will (which LSU has shown a vulnerability there in the past), then they will control the game.
Hope this familiarizes yourself with their players.
Geaux Tigers!
13
Posted on 11/1/18 at 8:13 am to LSUTigers00884
Good write up, thank you. Geaux Tigers!
Posted on 11/1/18 at 8:17 am to LSUTigers00884
If your going to list impact players you should for sure list
Isiah Buggs that is 2nd in the SEC in sacks
Que
Quinnen Williams who is 5th on Kipers big board
Isiah Buggs that is 2nd in the SEC in sacks
Que
Quinnen Williams who is 5th on Kipers big board
quote:I disagree. Devonta Smith is their 2nd best WR imo. Not having Smith would absolutely hurt them.
WR - Devonta Smith. #4 WR in terms of receiving yards. Questionable (appears to be a game-time decision). This won’t hurt their WR production at all IMO.
Posted on 11/1/18 at 8:17 am to LSUTigers00884
Thank you. LSU should be able to run the ball.
I'd be surprised if they can run.
I'd be surprised if they can run.
Posted on 11/1/18 at 8:18 am to Solo Cam
@ Solo Cam
Smith is 4th in yards and tied 3rd in TD (as a WR). Definitely not 2nd.
I did mention Buggs
No I did not mention Williams. I felt like 4 all sec and 2 AA explained it well enough lol
Smith is 4th in yards and tied 3rd in TD (as a WR). Definitely not 2nd.
I did mention Buggs
No I did not mention Williams. I felt like 4 all sec and 2 AA explained it well enough lol
Posted on 11/1/18 at 8:23 am to LSUTigers00884
quote:
If they run on us at will (which LSU has shown a vulnerability there in the past)
This is a bit of a concern. Teams have been able to run against our base defense however the run has been shutdown after Aranda adjust. But that adjustment has always come with risk. The adjustment is bringing a safety in the box for extra run support and that leaves our corners exposed man to man. Our corners have been nothing short of spectacular when they have been asked to man up. I believe it will continue.
Kind of on a side note, on defense I see Phillips having a HUGE game Saturday night.
Posted on 11/1/18 at 8:23 am to GumboPot
Excellent thoughts. Totally agree.
Posted on 11/1/18 at 8:27 am to LSUTigers00884
(no message)
This post was edited on 10/28/19 at 9:17 am
Posted on 11/1/18 at 8:29 am to LSUTigers00884
A bit nitpicky, but CB sniff does have D1 experience. I can't remember what school it was with though...
Posted on 11/1/18 at 8:32 am to LSUTigers00884
5* post, would love to see a similar one for the LSU side of things. You know, for the LSU fan that's been on an oil rig all season, not for the enemy.
Edit: Your observations are pretty spot on. Only things I'd add are:
ILB play has been terrible (from what I've seen, Mack can't run and Dylan doesn't seem like he knows where he's going)
Raekwon Davis hasn't really made as many plays as you would have expected
Quinnen Williams is the highest rated defensive player in the country per PFF (last I checked), and it's obvious when you watch the tape that he's the best player on this defense and it's not close.
As for the corners, Surtain looks like a lot better to me than Saivion. Saivion can make the huge plays but he gets beat too, that's why he got benched (before Diggs got hurt).
Edit: Your observations are pretty spot on. Only things I'd add are:
ILB play has been terrible (from what I've seen, Mack can't run and Dylan doesn't seem like he knows where he's going)
Raekwon Davis hasn't really made as many plays as you would have expected
Quinnen Williams is the highest rated defensive player in the country per PFF (last I checked), and it's obvious when you watch the tape that he's the best player on this defense and it's not close.
As for the corners, Surtain looks like a lot better to me than Saivion. Saivion can make the huge plays but he gets beat too, that's why he got benched (before Diggs got hurt).
This post was edited on 11/1/18 at 8:39 am
Posted on 11/1/18 at 8:34 am to WilliamTaylor21
Interesting points here. Love the data.
Ark St and Arkansas were against bama’s 2nd team.
But A&M was not. And yes, we are better than A&M.
Ark St and Arkansas were against bama’s 2nd team.
But A&M was not. And yes, we are better than A&M.
Posted on 11/1/18 at 8:41 am to WilliamTaylor21
What you posted are facts but unfortunately the majority of those rushing yards came in the final quarter and their starters were not playing.
Posted on 11/1/18 at 8:58 am to LSUTigers00884
quote:
1st year D-1 player Smith.
Ugh ...... do you truly not know who this is? He played here his Freshman year
Posted on 11/1/18 at 9:00 am to tmjones2
Savion can be had for sure.
Posted on 11/1/18 at 9:21 am to LSUTigers00884
Good attempt OP, few things of note:
1) Losing Diggs didn't force a freshman onto the field at corner. He was firmly entrenched as a starter. It brought back the original starter that got benched in the Ole Miss game (Savion Smith) who is kind of boom or bust, but still a solid corner
2) Damien Harris is the best RB in the SEC. Full stop. He doesn't lead the team in carries because 1 - Alabama has legitimately 3 NFL RBs and 2 - because of blowouts, he's not getting many 2nd half carries. He's better than Snell Jr.
3) Not having Devonta Smith out there is actually a significant blow to the Alabama offense. So much so that they were flexing a TE in 3 receiver looks instead of bringing in Waddle vs Tennessee. I think he's the best/most reliable WR on the team, but he's overlooked because of his size.
4) I think you oversold Alabama's front 7 a bit. MLBs have been a weakness and R Davis has been a bit of a no show this year. They're still very good, but susceptible to RBs and TEs in the passing game
5) Someone mentioned Alabama struggling in the run game vs A&M. Mond had a 54 yarder and a 33 yarder. He was 98 of their 130 rushing yards. Williams had 3.9 YPC and 31 yards.
The absolute best opportunity for success for LSU won't be the run or the passing game straight up. It will be:
- RPO keeps & designed runs for Burrow, who is the best running QB LSU has had in a while. And since they're more pro style than ever, him running generally catches the defense off guard
- Wheel routes to the RB (LSU doesn't do a lot), middle screens (LSU does do a lot)
1) Losing Diggs didn't force a freshman onto the field at corner. He was firmly entrenched as a starter. It brought back the original starter that got benched in the Ole Miss game (Savion Smith) who is kind of boom or bust, but still a solid corner
2) Damien Harris is the best RB in the SEC. Full stop. He doesn't lead the team in carries because 1 - Alabama has legitimately 3 NFL RBs and 2 - because of blowouts, he's not getting many 2nd half carries. He's better than Snell Jr.
3) Not having Devonta Smith out there is actually a significant blow to the Alabama offense. So much so that they were flexing a TE in 3 receiver looks instead of bringing in Waddle vs Tennessee. I think he's the best/most reliable WR on the team, but he's overlooked because of his size.
4) I think you oversold Alabama's front 7 a bit. MLBs have been a weakness and R Davis has been a bit of a no show this year. They're still very good, but susceptible to RBs and TEs in the passing game
5) Someone mentioned Alabama struggling in the run game vs A&M. Mond had a 54 yarder and a 33 yarder. He was 98 of their 130 rushing yards. Williams had 3.9 YPC and 31 yards.
The absolute best opportunity for success for LSU won't be the run or the passing game straight up. It will be:
- RPO keeps & designed runs for Burrow, who is the best running QB LSU has had in a while. And since they're more pro style than ever, him running generally catches the defense off guard
- Wheel routes to the RB (LSU doesn't do a lot), middle screens (LSU does do a lot)
This post was edited on 11/1/18 at 9:23 am
Posted on 11/1/18 at 9:22 am to Solo Cam
quote:
I disagree. Devonta Smith is their 2nd best WR imo. Not having Smith would absolutely hurt them.
No it would not at all. They have 5 guys to get the ball too. Waddle, Ruggs, Jeudy are all just as good
Posted on 11/1/18 at 9:26 am to Howyouluhdat
quote:
No it would not at all. They have 5 guys to get the ball too. Waddle, Ruggs, Jeudy are all just as good
Yes and no. Yes they have talented WRs behind him, namely Waddle. But Waddle is more of a slot WR and not an X. Smith is also incredibly reliable (note that's who Tua went to in the championship game for 2nd and 26). Finally, Smith is Alabama's best blocking WR by a significant margin.
Smith does all the little things well, and those things being absent have a cumulative negative effect that outweighs putting another good/fast guy in his spot.
Posted on 11/1/18 at 9:28 am to WilliamTaylor21
quote:
200+ rushing to ULL 170+ rushing to Arkansas State 170+ rushing to Arkansas 140+ rushing to A&M
Just about all of those yards came in the second half when Bama was beating the shite out of them.
Posted on 11/1/18 at 9:31 am to lowhound
quote:
Ugh ...... do you truly not know who this is? He played here his Freshman year
Why did he leave LSU?
Posted on 11/1/18 at 9:34 am to tmjones2
I agree with your assessment(s). I too think that the Bama ILB play for most of the first half of the season was terrible. But Wilson, and Moses have really improved in the last two games. They now seem to understand their assignments better, and are playing a lot faster. I attribute a lot of the coverage breakdowns we've seen to be a result of the ILBs being out of position, or missing their assignment. Didn't see nearly as much of that against UT. The bigger plays that UT made were back-shoulders against the Corners.
I've also watched a lot of the LSU games. I suspect Bama has an edge in the front seven, in that the Tide has a better pass rush (LSU doesn't have a Quenton Williams). LSU usually has to bring a LB or Safety to pressure the QB. Devin White probably blitzes more than any other LSU player, so that will certainly impact the first half.
I expect this to be a great game, with elite athletes all over the field (what Bama-LSU game doesn't have elite athletes all over the field).
I've also watched a lot of the LSU games. I suspect Bama has an edge in the front seven, in that the Tide has a better pass rush (LSU doesn't have a Quenton Williams). LSU usually has to bring a LB or Safety to pressure the QB. Devin White probably blitzes more than any other LSU player, so that will certainly impact the first half.
I expect this to be a great game, with elite athletes all over the field (what Bama-LSU game doesn't have elite athletes all over the field).
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