POLL: What Alabama Player Most Needs to Step Up in 2011?
by kleph on Jul 14, 2011 10:00 AM CDT
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Over the past week, Todd has been outlining the key players on the Crimson Tide roster who need to push their game to the next level. The Time to Shine series highlighted players who have shown tons of potential but need to more fully realize it for Alabama to succeed in 2011.
Players like Trent Richardson, Mark Barron and Dont'a Hightower have already shown they can play at the highest level of their game. They need to maintain their high level of play. But guys like Brad Smelly, Nico Johnson, Brandon Gibson, Josh Chapman and Eddie Lacy have all been around the program awhile and it's time for them to become champions.
Now Todd made it a point to leave some newcomers off his short list arguing these are players who have to prove themselves from scratch. By definition they have to step up their game since that's what it will take for them to see any playing time. Some disagree with that point of view.
So to conclude the Time to Shine series we leave it to you. What Crimson Tide player do you think we most need to see step up their game for Alabama to have a successful season? We have listed Todd's five but if you feel it is someone else, click "other" and lets us know who you think it should be in the comments.
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Josh Chapman...
I thought Josh Chapman was going to be able to step right into Mount Cody’s spot last year and our D-Line would not miss a beat…Hope that it just took a season to adjust and the D-line can get some pressure on the QB this year. I was going to choose Nico Johnson; but the one position that we possibly have the most depth is LB as long as the injury bug doesn’t take hold. But overall I have been kind of disappointed with Nico Johnson, I thought that he would step right in as a freshman and be an impact player and really haven’t seen that from him. Furthermore, I thought Nico and Tana Patrick were going to be the future of that recruiting class and Patrick I don’t think has played a down, or at least no significant playing time.
Chapman.
Him stepping up affects the highest number of people.
"Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that." - George Carlin
For real?
"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban
by NiceLittleSaturday on Jul 14, 2011 11:08 AM CDT up reply actions
Chapman
’cause CJ Mosley is gonna make us forget about Nico Johnson.
Audemus jura nostra defendere
Every day we make it, we'll make it the best we can.
Voted for "Other"
Don’t care who the QB is on opening day but that guy better step up or we’re screwed.
"It's o.k, Chang babies love the sauce... alcohol and duck"
-Senor Chang
by tc16cav on Jul 14, 2011 11:53 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
I don't know...
…with our D and RBs, if he needs to step up as much as not step in it….
"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban
by NiceLittleSaturday on Jul 14, 2011 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions
I think "step up" implies increase production from last year.
No doubt, whoever the new QB is will do that.
"I don't know; we haven't played Alabama yet." -Vince Lombardi
Is this sarcasm?
Or do you mean that whoever plays QB this year will have to increase their own personal production from last year, as a backup or not playing at all?
As has been pointed out numerous times on this board, including by me here, Greg McElroy’s production last year compares favorably with some of the best college quarterback seasons of all time, and certainly among the best at Alabama.
Specifically:
So let’s get some perspective here. What exactly is everyone’s problem with Greg McElroy? Summary analysis of senior seasons (except Sam Bradford, whose senior year was cut short by injury):
Greg McElroy couldn’t throw "the deep ball?" What are you basing this on? Anecdotes and idle supposition? While he had fewer passing yards than any of these guys except Tom Brady, he averaged 1.9 yards per attempt (ypa) more than Tom Brady in his senior year, 1.5 ypa more than Peyton Manning his senior year, 2.0 ypa more than Colt McCoy his senior year, and 2.2 ypa more than Brady Quinn his senior season, and only 0.3 yard per attempt less than Sam Bradford during one of the best quarterback seasons of all time.
Nobody could doubt his completion percentage, certainly. 8.1% better than Tom Brady, 10.7% better than Peyton Manning, 0.3% better than Colt McCoy, 9% better than Brady Quinn, 3% better than Sam Bradford.
Assuredly no one can say he was interception-prone in 2010. His interception percentage is 0.2% lower than Tom Brady, 0.7% lower than Peyton Manning, 1% lower than Colt McCoy, 0.1% higher than Brady Quinn, and 0.2% lower than Sam Bradford.
What about his ability to get the ball into the end zone? It’s true, he had fewer touchdown passes than any of these other guys (while being tied with Tom Brady), but his touchdown percentage is 0.5% better than Tom Brady, 1.1% lower than Peyton Manning, 0.7% higher than Colt McCoy, 1.5% lower than Brady Quinn, and 4% lower than Sam Bradford (like I said, his 2008 season really was remarkable).
If only there were some way of rating quarterbacks’ overall performance… Oh wait, there is! He was 26.7 points higher than Tom Brady, 21.3 points higher than Peyton Manning, 21.6 points higher than Colt McCoy, 22.3 points higher than Brady Quinn, 11.8 points lower than Sam Bradford. So, with the rating system that smart people use to rate quarterback’s overall performance, Greg McElroy was closer to Sam Bradford’s ridiculous season, than these other guys were to his.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d have been tickled pink if he threw for 400+ yards and 4 touchdowns in every game, but that’s not realistic. If you have a problem with Greg McElroy’s numbers, looks to me like your problem is more with the play calling than with his performance. Take it up with Coaches McElwain and Saban.
Either of these quarterbacks would do well to do as well as Greg McElroy; Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Brady Quinn, and Colt McCoy couldn’t.
Thirteen.
It was a poorly-worded joke
Whoever plays quarterback will increase HIS OWN production this year. I’m a huge McElroy homer. If either of them even get 80% of GMacs production, go ahead and book your tickets to New Orleans now.
"I don't know; we haven't played Alabama yet." -Vince Lombardi
Oh, ok.
Yeah, hopefully this year’s QB completes more passes this year than they did last year!
Thirteen.
by Darth Saban on Jul 15, 2011 11:58 PM CDT up reply actions
Let me tell you one of punters needs to step up.
And, Cade does too.
If Auburn was in New Mexico and we never played them I would still hate them and their dumb coach and their cheating players.
Of the coices given, it is Smelley
A good TE is an inexperienced QB’s best friend when it hits the fan. Look at how Peek helped McElroy his first year; that worked out pretty well. IMO, the defense overall will be good enough that one individual between the two choices cannot have that large of an influence. It is the offensive side of the ball where we lost the most experience. At this level, a leader on the field is what is most difficult to replace.
by ApothecaryMark on Jul 14, 2011 12:39 PM CDT reply actions
I tend to agree with your assessment on the TE for a new QB
…and I almost voted for him, but ultimately, DEFENSE wins championships and it all starts with the DL, so I voted for Josh. He (they) don’t have to have huge stats and get on the ESPN top ten plays (although Mt Cody managed his fair share) every week, but they have a critical role to play particularly in this conference.
There's no way, *no* way that you came from *my* loins. Soon as I get home, first thing I'm gonna do is punch yo mamma in da mouth! - B.T.J.
Lacy
If we were talking only a mediocre team, I think it would be someone else. But Lacy has the most potential to turn a good team into a great one. For that, we need something like the “Richardson Effect” of the last two years. Dealing with Ingram was bad enough for the opposition. Then Richardson comes in, and they get no slack! It isn’t the same as starting your whole second team, on the old demoralizing scale, but is still a hit.
By that same logic, of the people listed, on defense I’d pick Chapman. Yeah, he is starting, but with his size and the way the defense plays, he isn’t expected to be the prime matchup problem. He is a role player. We don’t need him to do more than play his role well, but certainly him exceeding that would be very demoralizing for another team, and could be a factor going from good to great.
Of course, if Millner or Menze suddenly turned into a true shut-down corner, I think some opposition offensive coordinators might sue us for trauma. How would you like to game plan against a secondary where Barron, Kirkpatrick, and Lester played well, but none of them were the best DB on the field? Heh.
by Steven Mitchell on Jul 14, 2011 3:04 PM CDT reply actions
Crap, I didn't know there was gonna be a quiz about those posts.
I knew I shoulda paid more attention!
How much longer till kickoff?
by CarrotTop4 on Jul 14, 2011 3:25 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Chapman!
But with the exception of Lester, Barron, Upshaw, Kirkpatrick, and Richardson everybody needs to step-up their game.
Agreed... most of the team could step up their game
If I have to pick one person though, it would be Chapman, I knew he would be in the lead without seeing the results.
Lacy on O, Chapman on D.
Lacy gets my tie breaker just because we’re going to need the RB’s so much more this year with our new QBs. Im pretty hopeful the DT rotation will be able to improve on last year…
In an industrial society which confuses work and productivity, the necessity of producing has always been an enemy of the desire to create. - Raoul Vaneigem
take this job and shove it - Johnny Paycheck
You guys may well be cursing yourselves.
We had a similar feature at BSD and I believe at least three of the featured PSU players were injured shortly after their appearance.
So, with all due respect, I have to say, for my own sake, TIME TO STEP UP: TRENT RICHARDSON. PLEASE STEP UP.
"Give us more water now. Give us more hydrogen now. Grow more of us." - My corn
by ReadingRambler on Jul 14, 2011 10:13 PM CDT reply actions
we don't believe in curses, jinxes and juju
we believe in the process. injuries are part of the game and sometimes they happen in bunches. the best way to control them is having a top notch strength and conditioning program, which we have, and a quality training staff, which we also are lucky to boast.
there is enough depth on the roster now we can handle a reasonable amount of injuries which we’ve already seen a few we’d prefer not to. but the real point of this series was these are guys who have done pretty well there time in tuscaloosa but now is the time they need to realize the potential that got them on campus in the first place.
that’s a lot different than, say, hoping a freshman hotshot turns out as good as billed because he’s all you have in that position. or, in the case of established stars like richardson, asking them to do more than they have proven completely capable of (in fact, that’s why we need lacy’s contribution – to keep trent from carrying too much of a workload.)
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"I don't know; we haven't played Alabama yet." -Vince Lombardi
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by ReadingRambler on Jul 15, 2011 9:35 AM CDT up reply actions
I'm sure you'd just hate to have Coach Saban replace JoePa when he steps down...
…thirty years from now….
"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban
by NiceLittleSaturday on Jul 15, 2011 3:21 PM CDT up reply actions
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