Early Scouting:
Lot of time still but from what i've seen from the Bama Camp they will still be big upfront as expected they will have lost a TON of reps though..So really comes down to how quick the new guys learns the Saban/Pruitt Defense.
On the DL: Right now they are using a rotation of Hand, Payne, Frazier, Buggs and Raekwon Davis.
Da'Shawn Hand is a guy who has waiting behind the likes of Jonathan Allen and Jaron Reed for his chance to play in the trenches but physically has all the tools to be a great combo edge player for them. Daron Payne is a force inside with the ability to play either the Nose, 1Tech, 2i or the 3 tech. He's incredibly strong and has a great get off. To me how our C/G combo controls the A-Gaps will be the difference in the game. These guys are big boy strong and we've had issues controlling this area the past two seasons since Cam/Stork moved on. I think we did ok against Clemson but the runs Dalvin broke were usually running on the edge away from Wilkens and Lawrence. If we can't gain a few yards inside on some chunk plays we will see a ton of 2nd & 10 or 3rd & 9 which we must avoid to give Francois the RPO ability..Bama like most good teams thrive on 3 and long situations where they can pin their ears back..Frazier is a guy who is stout inside but I see him and Davis rotating in depending on D & D. Buggs has done well early on as a JUCO Transfer and should get a good amount of snaps both inside and in the 5-Tech.
In passing situations we'll see Bama bring in guys like Christian Miller, Anfernee Jennings, Terrell Hall and Ben Davis to play that stand up DE/OLB position like Tim Williams did. These guys are more physical than they are fast but they will keep them fresh to try and get to #12. Inside they will be stout but these two LB's in Rashaan Evans and Shaun Dion Hamilton are not nearly as aggressive or space tacklers like Foster and Mosely were. In addition keep in mind Dion Hamilton is coming off a torn ACL from the SEC Championship Game. By the time we play Bama it will just be starting the 9th month of his recovery so he will be a question mark in terms of how his recovery and development go this summer. If he can't go they will look to veteran Keith Holcombe or prized Class of 16 recruit, Mack Wilson.
Their DB's didn't lose much in terms of reps because of the amount of time Eddie Jackson missed due to injury. Their other loss back there was boundary corner Marlon Humphrey. Early on Minkah Fitzpatrick is playing corner in Spring Ball and bouncing around opposite Anthony Averett while Tony Brown plays the Star. Ronnie Harrison and Hootie Jones have been getting most of the reps at FS/SS but two other names to keep an eye out for are youngsters Trevon Diggs who has been getting reps at both WR and Corner as well as Jared Mayden. Mayden is a well put together kid who is coming off hip surgery so he hasn't done much this spring but should get reps once he recovers this summer.
Still alot of time to get this sorted out but as we will expect these guys will always have players. The major question mark will be how these guys will step into new roles and learn the concepts..Playing them early on is certainly a plus as this will be a team that gets better with age..Been my feeling from day 1 though..this football game will be won in the trenches..If the FSU Offensive Line can mesh this spring/summer and get that mean-streak back the Noles win this game. If Bama comes out and Tee's off on Francois we're gonna get hammered and put a ton of pressure on the defense to create opportunities..
Lot of time still but from what i've seen from the Bama Camp they will still be big upfront as expected they will have lost a TON of reps though..So really comes down to how quick the new guys learns the Saban/Pruitt Defense.
On the DL: Right now they are using a rotation of Hand, Payne, Frazier, Buggs and Raekwon Davis.
Da'Shawn Hand is a guy who has waiting behind the likes of Jonathan Allen and Jaron Reed for his chance to play in the trenches but physically has all the tools to be a great combo edge player for them. Daron Payne is a force inside with the ability to play either the Nose, 1Tech, 2i or the 3 tech. He's incredibly strong and has a great get off. To me how our C/G combo controls the A-Gaps will be the difference in the game. These guys are big boy strong and we've had issues controlling this area the past two seasons since Cam/Stork moved on. I think we did ok against Clemson but the runs Dalvin broke were usually running on the edge away from Wilkens and Lawrence. If we can't gain a few yards inside on some chunk plays we will see a ton of 2nd & 10 or 3rd & 9 which we must avoid to give Francois the RPO ability..Bama like most good teams thrive on 3 and long situations where they can pin their ears back..Frazier is a guy who is stout inside but I see him and Davis rotating in depending on D & D. Buggs has done well early on as a JUCO Transfer and should get a good amount of snaps both inside and in the 5-Tech.
In passing situations we'll see Bama bring in guys like Christian Miller, Anfernee Jennings, Terrell Hall and Ben Davis to play that stand up DE/OLB position like Tim Williams did. These guys are more physical than they are fast but they will keep them fresh to try and get to #12. Inside they will be stout but these two LB's in Rashaan Evans and Shaun Dion Hamilton are not nearly as aggressive or space tacklers like Foster and Mosely were. In addition keep in mind Dion Hamilton is coming off a torn ACL from the SEC Championship Game. By the time we play Bama it will just be starting the 9th month of his recovery so he will be a question mark in terms of how his recovery and development go this summer. If he can't go they will look to veteran Keith Holcombe or prized Class of 16 recruit, Mack Wilson.
Their DB's didn't lose much in terms of reps because of the amount of time Eddie Jackson missed due to injury. Their other loss back there was boundary corner Marlon Humphrey. Early on Minkah Fitzpatrick is playing corner in Spring Ball and bouncing around opposite Anthony Averett while Tony Brown plays the Star. Ronnie Harrison and Hootie Jones have been getting most of the reps at FS/SS but two other names to keep an eye out for are youngsters Trevon Diggs who has been getting reps at both WR and Corner as well as Jared Mayden. Mayden is a well put together kid who is coming off hip surgery so he hasn't done much this spring but should get reps once he recovers this summer.
Still alot of time to get this sorted out but as we will expect these guys will always have players. The major question mark will be how these guys will step into new roles and learn the concepts..Playing them early on is certainly a plus as this will be a team that gets better with age..Been my feeling from day 1 though..this football game will be won in the trenches..If the FSU Offensive Line can mesh this spring/summer and get that mean-streak back the Noles win this game. If Bama comes out and Tee's off on Francois we're gonna get hammered and put a ton of pressure on the defense to create opportunities..
