2006 Statistics

Toughest to call is going to be the offense, where Saban and coordinator Major Applewhite are keeping mum about the Tide’s look here. But some things are predictable, like Alabama’s Gatorade Player of the Year (2003) and prep record holder John Parker Wilson getting the start at QB. As a soph last campaign, the Birmingham native showed he has the wares at this level to take Bama far, with either his arm or his feet. Timing, precision and perseverance are what Saban demands, and JPW embodies them all. Applewhite will coach him up even more and will prove why Saban grabbed him from Rice so confidently. Something will give after the line allowed 28 sacks, and that means Freshman All-American left tackle Andre Smith will need to continue his strong efforts. Center Antoine Caldwell, like Smith, had a great showing this spring, making Saban confident his line will improve its overall effort from last year’s marginal effort. Marlon Davis appears to have the inside track to be the new right guard after B.J. Stabler has been bumped with Mike Johnson into competition for right tackle. With everyone being reevaluated and all positions open to possible change, the line could be reshuffled three times (weekly) before opening day…seeing Saban’s pension for abrupt changes. The running game will be reborn after finishing ninth in the SEC and 77th in I-A. Saban has been pretty high on soph Terry Grant so far, but heir-apparent Jimmy Johns and Glen Coffee are sure to see the rock plenty as Bama rotates backs for maximum effect. Whether the vacated fullback slot plays an important role in this year’s scheme remains to be seen, but if Saban’s past at LSU is any indication, poignant carries by some sort of bigman will benefit production. TE Travis McCall is likely worth more than one catch per game, as is Nick Walker. D.J. Hall has supplied much leadership throughout spring and into summer, something Saban has noted, along with his sure hands in inclement weather and his All-SEC tag. Fellow-senior Keith Brown also grasps the new offense well, and his precision rout-running especially fits. Add in a handful of four-star recruits over the past two incoming classes and see how deep this corps can go. This offense will start slowly, but that doesn’t mean they will struggle, either. Look for more lateral movement (often prior to the snap) to distract defenders as Bama employs multi-receiver sets and then zone reads to exploit their foes’ soft spots. This will guarantee ground production. Parker Wilson and Applewhite will do the rest. backfield that will allow for such, or else he will just do it himself.

Inconsistencies that existed here before the coaching changes are meticulously being worked on. And all indications show that the recent load-up of recruits on defense will coincide perfectly with the new schemes (3-4) and efforts being introduced. But with only four upperclassmen on the line’s two-deep, 2007 might be a learning year. The Tide won’t again finish in the league’s bottom half for run stopping with senior end Wallace Gilberry returning. New starter Bobby Greenwood is solid on the other side, but he needs to produce more big plays to remain on the field. RS frosh Brian Motley will continue the tradition of Saban-led teams having a monster tackle clogging the middle. Still, youth at tackle would be the first thing that keeps this line from fulfilling its potential. The JACK position, a hybrid end/OLB, looks to be Keith Saunders’s, though Brandon Fanney had a great spring and shows the versatility to excel there. Soph MLB Prince Hall also etched his name into the new staff’s minds this spring, though his Freshman All-American showing leaves little for him to have to prove. OLB Darrin Mustin seems strongest at run stuffing, while ex-WR Ezekial Knight should drop into coverage successfully. Size issues behind the corps’ starters could impact Bama’s ability to stop (SEC) opponent’s ground attacks. Senior corner Simeon Castille has been touted by Saban’s staff as someone who can buoy the entire defense with both his vocal and by-example leadership skills. Junior Lionel Mitchell, also over six-feet, will have another huge campaign as foes avoid Castille. Rashad Johnson will likely be the man at strong safety after earning the nod as the starter in ’06 at the free slot, and starter Marcus Carter grounds the DB efforts but needs to show more to keep rotations from biting into his playing time. Eric Gray as a senior nickel back also brings experience to the new schemes. Kevin Steele arrives from Florida State to be the coordinator here (also ILBs), and we know this is a good fit all around to produce the results needed to make Bama feared again on this side of things. Saban has classically had great secondaries, so look for that dimension to get better first, especially with the returning talent there.