2012 Post-Signing Day Projected Defensive Depth Chart

by CB969 on Feb 4, 2012 7:01 PM CST

Since we had a discussion about the 2012 Post-Signing Day Projected Offensive Depth Chart, I figured I'd take a stab at the Defense. As you know, this is not as cut and dry as the O depth chart. There will be some big time battles this spring which should make for an entertaining A-Day game (April 14).

Two CBs look to be Dee Milliner and Travell Dixon. Another will need to step up as the Bama defense often goes with 3 CBs. John Fulton? Deion Belue? Other?

Safeties look to be Robert Lester and Vinnie Sunseri. Depending how he heals, Will Lowery should be in the mix too. There are many other candidates including Clinton-Dix, Nick Perry, Landon Collins among others...

At Linebacker, Nico Johnson, C.J. Mosley and Trey DePriest will play vital roles.Many other will fight for field time: Adrian Hubbard, Xzavier Dickson, Brandon Ivory and all those top-notch freshmen (Reggie Ragland, Ryan Anderson, etc.)

The defensive line will have some returnees but a lot of newcomers too. Jesse Williams, Quinton Dial, Ed Stinson, Damion Square and Jeoffrey Pagan should all be in the rotation, Expect some freshmen to see some playing time too:

I am sure I have left some names off and I really have not pinpointed any positions but this is just a jumping off point. September is a long way off. What do you think?

FanPosts are just that; posts created by the fans. They are in no way indicative of the opinions of SBN and the authors of Roll Bama Roll.

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Brandon Ivory

Is definitely not a LB, dude is huge

by Bamabrave4 on Feb 4, 2012 9:37 PM CST reply actions

Will Lowery has tweeted several times

he will not be returning…

by MDB Tide Roll on Feb 4, 2012 9:51 PM CST reply actions

Whoever starts at Jack

between Hubbard and Dickson does the other start at sam?

by Clay Shrader on Feb 5, 2012 12:19 AM CST reply actions

I hope so. I remember the Giants and the Steelers

having great bookend OLB’s in the 3-4 defense. I know at times we have to go into subpackages. But before Jerrell Harris finally achieved his potential, I wonder if we subbed at times because we felt safer that way.

"The same things win today that have always won, and they will win years from now. The only difference is the losers have a whole new bunch of excuses why they don’t win or can’t win."-Bear Bryant

(12-4)+2=12 hoping for a +1

Robot Chicken Star Wars should be canon.

by the thin red line on Feb 5, 2012 2:29 AM CST up reply actions

I would think

that DePriest, CJ, and Nico would be the other three assuming CJ heals up as expected. But as I said below, this is awfully premature and pretty much worthless speculation until at least spring practice.

'There are two pains in life. There is the pain of discipline and the pain of disappointment. If you can handle the pain of discipline, then you'll never have to deal with the pain of disappointment,'- Nick Saban

by J Tadpole on Feb 5, 2012 6:30 AM CST up reply actions

Isn't this a little premature?

by J Tadpole on Feb 5, 2012 6:25 AM CST reply actions

Yes, heard you loud & clear above. It’s okay to speculate.

9th January, 2012: Section 101, Row 1, Seat... I'll let y'all spot that one.

"And a crashin' blow from a huge right hand
Sent a Louisiana fellow to the Promised Land"
-- "Big John" by Jimmy Dean

by TiderUpNorth on Feb 5, 2012 10:52 AM CST up reply actions

I think 75% of JTad's motivation for posting that was just to get a

TWSS!!

God bless our Dark Lord.

by CarrotTop4 on Feb 6, 2012 9:29 AM CST up reply actions

I think Ha Ha

will start at Safety. The nickel and dime package will be Sunseri and Collins. I think when we go to 5 & 6 db’s it will be extra safeties and not extra corners. I know this year it was usually Milliner but he is big corner. I think with the absence of Hightower in the middle we will try to have more physical players on the field. That could change if we get burned on pass routes. However, Sunseri and Collins should be able to cover slot guys, and in zone they are preferable.

I do think Dixon will be a huge part of the rotation at corner. We are probably counting on him more than any other new comer. IF Belue is eligible he will get a lot of playing time too. I would think Fulton is the #4 CB if Belue is eligible so he may not play that much.

But I do think the defensive backfield will be a bit of an experiment in the spring and in the fall. The key is going to be to get ready for Arkansas, that is the real test. I could see Blake Sims switching to corner, I could see Christion Jones trying corner, I could see Shinn as a db.

If Auburn was in New Mexico and we never played them I would still hate them and their dumb coach and their cheating players.

by 5026 on Feb 5, 2012 9:29 AM CST reply actions

By the way Brent Calloway

better switch to LB now if he ever hopes to see the field.

If Auburn was in New Mexico and we never played them I would still hate them and their dumb coach and their cheating players.

by 5026 on Feb 5, 2012 9:31 AM CST up reply actions

Considering we play Michigan and Arkansas within our first 3 games, we should have an excellent idea what our D can handle quite early.

Though Denard Robinson doesn’t exactly scare me, we know he will hurt a soft, disorganized defense either with his arm or legs. Arkansas’s Wilson is better now than Mallet ever will be… and we all remember what the 2010 game was like in Fayetteville. We could easily have a long, shootout-type of day there, especially when considering how much revenge they want for the physical beating Wilson took in the 2011 game.

Considering those two offenses, I’d say Alabama will be without a doubt, the best prepared defense going forward from its first 3 games.

On the safeties, Ha Ha may start, but Sunseri has that weird aura around him right now. That guy just has a knack for making plays — whatever his specific task is at that moment — laying the wood on a pass play, rushing from the edge, special teams, etc. You find a way to get players like that on the field and despite his size, he doesn’t seem vulnerable against the pass.

Regarding Belue, I am really hoping he is eligible, because the combined experience and talent that he and Dixon would bring to the Bama secondary would translate into only a slight dropoff from the 2011 DBs. Saban may be a terrific recruiter, but he is hitting grand slams on the JUCO transfer market.

9th January, 2012: Section 101, Row 1, Seat... I'll let y'all spot that one.

"And a crashin' blow from a huge right hand
Sent a Louisiana fellow to the Promised Land"
-- "Big John" by Jimmy Dean

by TiderUpNorth on Feb 5, 2012 11:28 AM CST up reply actions

I think the type of D we play

against Mich will be different from the type of D we play the rest of the way although I am not up on A&M and Mizzou. Robinson will require lighter, quicker LBs than the rest of the games. So CJ and Depriest will be the key to that game and whomever we start at safety. I think Dickson is going to be another Upshaw, but for that game we may go with the longer and perhaps quicker Hubbard at Jack and even move Sunseri to Sam.

And I agree Sunseri is a future All-SEC play maker.

If Auburn was in New Mexico and we never played them I would still hate them and their dumb coach and their cheating players.

by 5026 on Feb 5, 2012 12:58 PM CST up reply actions

Saban may be a terrific recruiter, but he is hitting grand slams on the JUCO transfer market.

I think those guys have to be recruited too, don’t they?

God bless our Dark Lord.

by CarrotTop4 on Feb 6, 2012 9:32 AM CST up reply actions

Wait a minute! It's not like a lunch line?!? Hooo-leeee shit! You must be in the REC.

9th January, 2012: Section 101, Row 1, Seat... I'll let y'all spot that one.

"And a crashin' blow from a huge right hand
Sent a Louisiana fellow to the Promised Land"
-- "Big John" by Jimmy Dean

by TiderUpNorth on Feb 6, 2012 11:02 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

I thought ever since Castille our primary nickel was always

a corner.

(12-4)+2=12 hoping for a +1

Robot Chicken Star Wars should be canon.

by the thin red line on Feb 5, 2012 4:23 PM CST up reply actions

You may be right...I'd sure someone like OTS knows.

It definitely was this year. But I think Ali Sharrief played a lot of nickel.

I think the main thing is to get the 5 best guys on the field. Not sure Fulton is in that category..

If Auburn was in New Mexico and we never played them I would still hate them and their dumb coach and their cheating players.

by 5026 on Feb 5, 2012 9:54 PM CST up reply actions

agree with you 5026

I think Ha Ha will start at safety, he’s too good to keep off the field.

"Make no mistake, Florida is the South's trashcan" Peter Griffin

by tc16cav on Feb 6, 2012 11:51 AM CST up reply actions

I almost hope Ragland redshirts

because we seem pretty deep at LB and I would hate to waste a year. But i’ve heard that he is a beast so who knows.

"Tommy, completions are way more awesome when you force them through triple coverage." ----Brett Farve (look-a-like)

by Aaron.50cal on Feb 5, 2012 4:42 PM CST reply actions

Just my guess but i'ma say

S- 1. Lester 2. Collins 3. Williams (prolly tranfers)
S- 1. Clinton-Dix 2. Sunnseri (dime back) 3. Perry (prolly tranfers)
CB- 1. Dixon 2. Fulton 3. Smith
CB- 1. Milliner 2. Belue 3. Watkins
Sam- 1. Dickson 2. Atchinson 3. Anderson
MLB- 1.Nico 2. Depriest 3. Lee
MLB- 1. Mosely 2. Ragland 3. Patrick (prolly tranfers)
Jack- 1. Hubbard 2. Orr 3. Devall
DE- 1. Dial 2. Billingsly 3. Fanning
DE- 1. Square 2. Stinson 3. Pagan
NT – 1.Williams 2.Ivory 3.Taylor

Should be a lot clearer after A day but regaurdless we are loaded baby lol

by Clay Shrader on Feb 5, 2012 5:30 PM CST reply actions 1 recs