Nordstroms Notes: Preseason thoughts after SEC Media Days
Well, SEC Media Days for the 2008 season are in the books. Did we learn anything? Not really. Oh wait, yes we did. Phillip Fulmer got served. Other than that coaches didn’t really get too deep about their teams. It is more like the Rose Bowl parade than anything else. I think we will all agree that the most important thing about Media Days is that football season is here.
Alabama coach Nick Saban was quoted a few weeks back as saying that 5 or 6 freshmen will see playing time. At SEC Media Days, he said that 5 or 6 freshman would play ON DEFENSE and more could see action on offense. He said that it just depended on their level of commitment. By all reports this freshman class is ready to play. Of the 25 expected to report on July 31 and the two early enrollees, don’t be surprised if 15 see a good amount of playing time. The upperclassmen will have to fight for their time now more than ever. This class is hungry and lives in the weight room. Most of you know the big names that are being thrown around - players who are coming in at a position of need.
There are some guys that are not as big on everyone’s radar and will surprise the multitudes when the season starts. A few guys I am looking at to make some big plays are Marcel Dareus and Terrence Cody. Most people “out of the loop” only know Cody as, “the 6′5″ 400lbs defensive lineman”. Well, Cody has lost some weight; he is down to about 375lbs now. He is in as good of shape as any lineman on the team, running 110s and finishing them, NOT in last place. He is a dream nose tackle. He is hard to handle by any of our offensive lineman including our 2008 Playboy All-American Andre Smith. Smith is used to catching speed rushers and is a big guy himself. Cody will demand double and triple teams, freeing up linebackers and defensive backs to make plays at the line. Dareus brings something else to the table. His work in the weight room has added a good 25 pounds to his 6′4″ frame putting him at the 300lbs mark. At the DE/DT position, where he is expected to play in
Saban’s 3-4 schemes; he can be as dominate as any player ever to play at Alabama. He is a relentless player and he will see action in every game this season. Cody will be a Junior and Dareus a true Freshman.
There will be more rotation this fall with players moving positions just like they did last year and in the spring. One move that was said to be temporary may be permanent and that is Motley’s move back to offense. Caldwell is a Senior and Cardwell, his back-up, is a Junior. Motley will be a Sophomore and would be a nice back-up there and would be more likely to play there in 2009 than on the defensive line.
As Coach Saban stated in the Spring, he will have Offensive, Defensive, and then there will be Special Teams players. He feels that starters playing Special Teams wears the players out and they are not fresh in the fourth quarter. We will see this implemented this season with several Freshman starting. Guys like Baron Huber,Charlie Higgenbotham, Eryk Anders, Charlie Kirschman, and Chris Rogers will be head hunters on Special Teams this season. Prince Hall, after serving his suspension, along with Rolando McClain, Jerrell Harris, and Brandon
Fanney will start at linebacker. We will have a nice combination of skill and experience this season. The young guys can ease into the rotation and by the Auburn game should be significant contributors. The SEC West is getting better, as is the whole conference; there will be no easy games and one thing I do know is that we will be a better team, one that has alot of potential. How far we go depends on the players and if the freshman attitude wears off on the upperclassmen, WATCH OUT.
The pieces are coming together for Coach Saban. It is like a huge wave that you see forming out on the ocean and as it gets closer it grows. You know what is coming and when it arrives it never disappoints. It is just the waiting that can be agonizing….kind of like waiting for football season to arrive.
Tim Nordstrom
Tags: nick saban, SEC
