Alabama 2014 Position Preview: Defensive Backs
As we inch closer to the 2014 Alabama football season, it’s time to take a look at each and every position on the Crimson Tide squad, breaking down man-to-man what we can expect and look forward to this year.
Previous Previews:
Cornerbacks
Key Departures: Deion Belue (graduation)
Key Additions: Marlon Humphrey (freshman), Tony Brown (freshman)
Returning Players: Anthony Averett, Jonathan Cook, Eddie Jackson, Cyrus Jones, Maurice Smith, Bradley Sylve
Breakthrough Players to Watch: Cyrus Jones, Marlon Humphrey, Tony Brown
If you had to pick out the biggest weakness of the 2013 Alabama team, nine out of 10 people would say the cornerback position.
Alabama was chock full of talent in 2013 at cornerback, but very little experience. The most experienced cornerback on the team, Deion Belue, battled injuries the entire year, and fellow veteran John Fulton just couldn’t seem to get on the field. Geno Smith had experience at the position but found himself in the dog house after a DUI arrest and then moved to safety. This led to former wide receiver Cyrus Jones, true freshmen Eddie Jackson and Maurice Smith, and sophomore Bradley Sylve seeing a lot of playing time.
Each one of the youngsters earned at least one start during 2013. All of them showed glimpses of potential but they also showed their inexperience.
Eddie Jackson seemed to be the most talented corner with the most potential, but after a breakthrough game against Ole Miss, seemed to fall off the map for a few weeks. He bounced back at the end of the year and earned a starting position against Oklahoma, then seemed to turn the corner in spring practice until an ACL tear ended his spring prematurely.
Nick Saban believes Jackson will be back in time for the start of the season, but the question is; how effective will he be after the injury? If he is able to bounce back and get right back into the groove of things it will be a huge plus for the Alabama secondary, but more than likely he won’t be back to 100 percent for at least a few weeks to start the season.
That is where Bradley Sylve and Cyrus Jones come into play. Jones has progressed steadily since transitioning from receiver to cornerback, and will likely earn one of the starting cornerback spots to begin the season. Sylve has blazing speed and can unquestionably run with any receiver in the SEC. Both Sylve and Jones should be much improved after a lot of playing time in 2013 and continued work in the offseason. They will need that improvement to hold off blue chip freshmen Marlon Humphrey and Tony Brown.
Brown made his presence felt quickly in the spring, showing off his track star speed and making several excellent plays in the A-Day game, including a big interception that he leaped high in the air to snag.
Humphrey is also a track star and is considered one of the best cornerbacks in the 2014 freshmen class. The son of legendary Tide running back Bobby Humphrey, Marlon has big shoes to fill, and with his speed and physicality I fully expect him to play early along with Brown.
If Brown and Humphrey are able to pick up the defense and get into the rotation at cornerback, and Eddie Jackson is able to return to close to full speed, what was a weakness in 2013 at cornerback could end up being an advantage for the 2014 Alabama defense.
Safeties
Key Departures: HaHa Clinton-Dix (NFL Draft), Vinnie Sunseri (NFL Draft)
Key Additions: Hootie Jones (freshman)
Returning Players: Landon Collins, Nick Perry, Geno Smith, Jarrick Williams
Breakthrough Players to Watch: Landon Collins, Geno Smith
Ha’Sean Clinton-Dix was one of the best safeties in the entire country in 2013, becoming an All American and first-round draft pick. Before an ACL tear, Vinnie Sunseri could make a claim as being just as effective as Clinton-Dix in 2013, and the two were unquestionably the best tandem in the country before Sunseri’s tear. Not to mention Landon Collins, who helped make up a massively impressive group of safeties for Alabama.
Collins ended up starting at both free safety and strong safety during 2013, and comes into 2014 as one of the leaders of the defense. Collins ended 2013 second on the team in tackles with 70, along with two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. He played most of 2013 at strong safety after Sunseri went down with an ACL injury, but he also started at free safety during the two-week suspension of Clinton-Dix. He will more than likely remain at strong safety in 2014, where he is able to use his hard-hitting physicality against the run.
At free safety will be converted cornerback Geno Smith, who spent all of the spring at the position and seems to have transitioned nicely. Smith has great ball skills, and playing free safety will give him the ability to make plays in the center of the field. Smith is also a good tackler and hard hitter, which bodes well for his move to safety. He should make a nice duo with Landon Collins.
Jarrick Williams will be a backup at safety but will also likely be the primary Star in Alabama’s nickel formation, where he thrives. Williams was Alabama’s best Star in 2013, and that should remain the same unless one of Alabama’s young corners are able to wrestle away the spot.
When Alabama moves to the dime, expect one of the other corners to come in at the Money position. Freshman Hootie Jones will likely see a lot of early playing time on special teams, but he worked a lot at both positions, so he may very well end up at one of those spots at some point this year. Alabama is deep and talented at safety once again this year.
For an in-depth look at all the position battles for the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2014, download our 2014 Alabama Football Viewing Guide.