Alabama Football: The Daily Insider – March 23
By Ronald Evans
Alabama football fans have a big appetite for information and we’ll be serving up healthy portions of hot food for thought with a side of seasonal inside information every morning this Spring.
There was a time (and I am old enough to remember) when getting to the Waysider early on a weekday morning was the best way to learn what was really going on with Alabama football.
In the compact dining area, all you had to do was listen. Most conversations included tidbits of information about the University. Back then – ‘The University’ – meant the University of Alabama, other state colleges only having peripheral status.
These days there is more to be gleaned by surveying the digital landscape of multitudinous sources. The problem with this wondrous abundance of information is in separating the sense from the nonsense.
That’s where we come in. This column will endeavor to guide that process of discernment.
We’ll peruse message boards, podcasts, tweets, talk radio and numerous digital communication platforms. We’ll ferret out the most worthwhile information and offer our take on what it means.
Alabama football fans, check in with us here each morning and send us your comments and questions through Facebook or Twitter. We would love to hear from you.
The Daily Insider: March 23
Many of us have been wondering about the Alabama football defensive line for 2017. At Nick’s first press conference of the season, he did not seem overly concerned.
As we discussed in an earlier piece Tide’s Base is 4-2-5 Defense due to 2016 attrition, numbers have appeared to be suspect. In his press conference comments, Nick disagreed and that should reassure us.
Here are the names we suggest you follow closely throughout spring: Isaiah Buggs A JUCO Who Will Start in 2017; Terrell Hall; Anfernee Jennings; Quinnen Williams; and Christian Miller.
Da’Ron Payne and Da’Shawn Hand will lead the front seven but they will need help.
Alabama Crimson Tide Football
Buggs took part in the practices leading up to the CFB Playoff games. He passed the early test and is expected to deliver next fall.
Hall is reportedly up to 251 lbs. and should become the replacement for Ryan Anderson. Miller is the next Tim Williams to come off the edge. Jennings, Williams and Josh Frazier will figure heavily in the 2017 rotation.
On the other side of the line, Saban said the staff is searching for the five best. Bradley Bozeman and Jonah Williams will be two of the five.
The highest priority is replacing Cam Robinson and fans should look to redshirt freshman Scott Lashley. Lashley appears to have the current advantage over JUCO Elliott Baker Top JUCO Tackle and true freshman Alex Leatherwood A Freshman With an Attitude.
Baker generated serious concern when he struggled through a recent 40 time. It turns out Baker injured his ankle in January and is still recovering. Leatherwood has also created some doubt by not being able to adequately complete the Tide’s 4th Quarter program.
Insiders are saying Leatherwood needs to either shed or muscle up some bad weight. Earlier insider reports were that like Buggs, Leatherwood had done well in January practices. No one is suggesting Leatherwood has a weight problem anything like D.J. Fluker when he arrived in T-Town a few years ago.
ICYMI: Monsters are REAL and on Bama’s practice field.
No one is suggesting Leatherwood has a weight problem anything like D.J. Fluker when he arrived in T-Town a few years ago. Leatherwood has plenty of time to firm up or trim down.
For an overall summary on all the offensive line options check out The Big Uglies
Over the next few days, we will consider if Robert Foster can finally make an impact on the offense. We will discuss if moving Trevon Diggs back and forth to offense and defense makes sense. That and more as we work our way through spring.
Next: What To Expect from Saban-Daboll Offense
Check back with us again tomorrow when we’ll offer more food for thought. Tweet us your comments or check in with us on Facebook. We would like to hear your thoughts on Alabama football.