Alabama Football Daily Insider: 2017 Team Will Be Prepared Despite Losing 11 Starters
By Ronald Evans
Alabama football is looking for answers to replace eleven 2016 starters. The roster is full of capable replacements and potential stars.
There was a time 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 and the football program.
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.
The Daily Insider: April 18
As we discussed in an earlier post, 102 of 129 FBS teams return more starters than Alabama. Alabama football will be young and somewhat inexperienced next fall. Even powerhouse recruiting programs are challenged trying to replace 11 starters.
The situation is far from bleak. Every vacant starting position has a line of highly recruited young men fighting to earn a regular slot.
In terms of new first teamers, most slots have established new leaders. DaShawn Hand became a starting defensive end as soon as the championship game ended. Isaiah Buggs began earning his starting role on the defensive line during winter playoff practices.
Rashaan Evans became a starter when Shaun Dion Hamilton was injured. Anfernee Jennings, Christain Miller and Terrell Hall are well prepared for their expanded roles.
Despite the impact of younger, less experienced players, only five of 22 offensive and defensive starters will be filled by untested players. Those five positions are right tackle, tight end, two wide receivers and left cornerback.
More simply, who will replace Cam Robinson, O.J. Howard, Ardarius Stewart, Gehrig Dieter and Marlon Humphrey. Technically, Jonah Williams has replaced Cam, so who replaces Jonah is more accurate.
Right guard was somewhat of a revolving door last season. Lester Cotton may become the 2017 right guard and he is neither young nor untested.
So who are the key five players to complete the Alabama starting puzzle? The new wideouts are likely to be Robert Foster and Cam Sims, both seniors. Not young, though not fully tested in their careers.
The replacement tight ends include experience and youth. Hale Hentges and Miller Forristall have played a good bit. Irv Smith and Major Tennison are young but very talented.
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Considering past practice experience and playing time of Lester Cotton, Robert Foster, Hale Hentges and Miller Forristall – these guys provide talent and dependability.
The only unknowns for 2017 starters are the fifth starting offensive lineman (assuming Cotton joins Williams, Pierschbacher and Bozeman), and Trevon Diggs at corner. There are strong indications that Diggs will do well as a new starter. Potentially Diggs’ exceptional athletic ability could make him a star at the position.
That leaves the offensive line. As we have often written this spring, finding the fifth offensive line starter may continue until FSU game week. The competition for both the right guard and right tackles slots will be engaged daily.
Recent observations from some close to the program are that Cotton had done well this spring. The coaching staff is not dissatisfied with his play at right guard. He is only being considered at right tackle because no player has seized control of that position.
The winner at right tackle could still be Matt Womack. Alex Leatherwood may have a shot but it has been rumored that Hand and Buggs have been too much for Leatherwood to handle.
If Womack cannot win the job, Cotton is the favorite and the battle shifts to right guard. The current hot name at right guard is Deonte Brown. Despite his impressive weight room heroics, Deonte Brown might need the summer to shed his extra body weight.
Next: Teams are Locking in on Reuben Foster
The Tide appears close to getting the five best offensive linemen on the field by September. At the other positions, there is more known than unknown. Replacing 11 starters is beginning to not look quite so daunting.