Remember that British girl I hinted may become the face of the Joker Report this season? Well, here she is. Cheryl Tweedy, aka Cheryl Cole, who either still is or was married to "footballer" Ashley Cole. Hey, soccer boys are pimps too, don't think for a second Christian Ronaldo can't pull whatever trim he wants at the drop of a hat---current chick, old chick.
Yeah.
Anyway, right now ol' Cheryl is neck and neck with Miss Beckinsale, so only time will tell who reigns supreme. And yes, I'm quite aware I said "Miss", clearly knowing she's married...don't kill my dreams.
So we're finally to the exciting part of this series---the defense. Everyone around the country knows how good our defense is, was, and will be...but do they really? And do you? Are you aware of the talent we have on that side of the ball?
Let's start off with the big boys:
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Defensive End - Sometimes I see things, just real quick, split-second things in either practice or a game that makes me go "oh wow" in my head, kinda like pop rocks, ya dig? And two years ago, I remember watching a defensive line drill, where all the guys were just going through the motions, and no one was really separating himself from the next guy. Then Lorenzo Washington showed a quick burst to contact, spinning off the dummy, and from that point on I have patiently waited for his coming out party. Here's hoping the light goes on in his final year, cuz I saw it firsthand. Dude's got talent...it's hard to explain, but it's the reason I saw Justin Woodall's success last year while everyone else counted him out. Zo---get your head straight and dominate, I know you have it in you. Winning the Bart Starr "Most Improved Player Award" following spring practice is a good start.
So who's his running mate on the other side? Well the odds say Brandon Deaderick. Dead showed some glimpses here and there last year, and he may get the start, but I'm going with the more talented, soon to be rockstar to hold down the position by midseason---Marcel Dareus. He's listed at 6'3, 280 pounds. At defensive end, as a sophomore in the college game, that's great size coming off the corner.
And while Dareus makes his push on Deaderick, I'm crossing my fingers that an incoming rush end will push for time as well---Ed Stinson. Watching his film, he has the motor of Bobby Greenwood and the speed of a linebacker (4.6 40). FINALLY Alabama has a speed rusher. It'll probably take him a while to learn the tricks of the trade at this next level, but MAN the things Saban can do with this kid once he starts to get all the reads and terminology right. And he may become the next Jack linebacker.
Speaking of Jack, the "hand up/hand down" position of the LB/DE hybrid, there are a lot of whispers, including myself, that one of the best players on the team may take over this spot---Dont'a Hightower. If you read this site, you know I was a fan of Dont'a's the minute I heard "the story": While on the recruiting trail, Phillip Fulmer and an assistant showed up at his school to talk to him, and he told his coach to tell them he didn't want to talk to them, and to just go away. BAM, instant favorite. Tell Fulmer to piss off, you have more important things to do...like text ole girl what kind of panties she's wearing. Anywho, I don't think Brandon Fanney has a chance at holding down the jack position if Dont'a starts to grasp it better---and being one of the smartest guys on D, he will. Hightower is already one of the best sophomores in the nation, at any position. That's scary. And my insider says Saban has been quoted saying he's the best blitzer on the whole team. And have you seen his coverage skills? Look out for #30, yo.
Let's see...we've covered the DE's and the Jack in Saban's 3-4 defense. Who are we missing? Oh, that's right, everybody's favorite teddy bear.
Defensive Tackle - Terrence Cody. I'm pretty sure people around the country know of TC just as well as they know about Julio Jones. He's just that big of a presence on the field and in real life. Dude's probably hovering around 360 right now, and depending on what he eats, anywhere from 350-380. We all know he has the size, the feet, and the athleticism to be one of the best in the game at his position in '09. But when he got hurt last year, few people talk about how well Josh Chapman stepped up in his place. It was as if there was no drop off---seriously. Chapman is Hollywood-Cole-strong, and he'll definitely be in the mix, as well as to give TC a breather every now and then.
The youngster coming in who might make a statement at DT is Darrington Sentimore---and believe it or not, Quinton Dial could push him. As I alluded to in the last article, we finally have a grasp on this whole "depth" thing everyone keeps talking about. It means more talent with less of a dropoff. And damn it's nice. It's even nicer when they're 4-stars who aren't afraid of competition.
Other DLs coming in include Chris Bonds, Anthony Orr, and 4 star DE William Ming. But guys already on the team might have something to say about their place on the depth chart---Undra Billingsley, Luther Davis, Nick Gentry, Kerry Murphy, Damion Square, Milton Talbert and more.
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Those are some big names, and that's why fall practice is so fun and unpredictable---some of these guys are just going to get "it", and their development will take off. Who it'll be is just a crapshoot. But that's a LOT of talent up front, which makes it even easier for the next level of guys to make plays, who I'll write about next----LINEBACKERS.
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