Projected Starting Lineup (Alligator Army)

T REX

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Of course it would be better...but it's not realistic. There are very few "elite" (or SEC level DTs in the JUCO ranks) and the odds of TWO of them signing w/ one school is very long. I'm not greedy, I just want one. And hopefully we don't whiff again on the HS DT's.

I don't think we are favorites for any of the top 5 in the state of FL, which really is awful since it is a huge position of need. Kivon Bennett going to Bama really really hurts.
 

TheBigClaw

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I don't see Thompson starting at RB yet, I expect Cronk to start there due to already having experience and with Thompson's fumbling issues.
 

LongTooth

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I don't see Thompson starting at RB yet, I expect Cronk to start there due to already having experience and with Thompson's fumbling issues.

totally agree. Cronk had the stronger spring and we haven't seen his ceiling yet. he's gonna end up being one of the best in the league.
 

Swamp Donkey

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The two weakest links on the first team are Rolin and Riles.
Rolin isn't bad if he's healthy and playing SAM. He's probably our best LB in coverage (covering the TE as sam). He's too damn light to play inside at Mike or Will though.

Yes, NT/DT depth is terrible as is LB (as evidenced by true freshmen needing to be ready to hit the field day 1).

Riles and the safeties (Maye only weak in coverage but strong against the run) are the weak point in that lineup. I hope Gardner earns a spot quickly bc we know what Washington will be.
 
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Swamp Donkey

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I don't see Thompson starting at RB yet, I expect Cronk to start there due to already having experience and with Thompson's fumbling issues.
I suspect it will be committee. I expect all three to be fine in there.
 

Swamp Donkey

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He lists 8 solid D-lineman above,
You can't just say DL as if they are interchangeable. I'm sorry if you don't get that, but none of those guys are true NTs or even real DTs, capable of handling two gaps. The Saban defense (which Flatbill runs) actually requires basically three true NTs/DTs and the buck/jack/rush and LBs handle the sacks.

If you don't have those 2 gap guys, your backers get hit (and hurt) and your safeties are your leading tacklers for the third straight year. It's as simple as that.
 

aka

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That's it, we suck, let's just forfeit.
 

Swamp Donkey

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Yeah, that's exactly what I said, birthday boy.
 

Concrete Helmet

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Of course it would be better...but it's not realistic. There are very few "elite" (or SEC level DTs in the JUCO ranks) and the odds of TWO of them signing w/ one school is very long. I'm not greedy, I just want one. And hopefully we don't whiff again on the HS DT's.
Didn't we sign Damien Jacobs and Bear Cummings in the same year ? Unlike DE's you just can't expect true freshmen to play at DT/NT imo. It's almost like a mirror of offensive linemen, rarely are they ready to play meaningful downs in this conference.
 

GatorJ

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Didn't we sign Damien Jacobs and Bear Cummings in the same year ? Unlike DE's you just can't expect true freshmen to play at DT/NT imo. It's almost like a mirror of offensive linemen, rarely are they ready to play meaningful downs in this conference.

We need to really raid the JUCO ranks. We obviously we need some freshman DT but we should be pulling in JUCO DT every year.
 

BMF

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Didn't we sign Damien Jacobs and Bear Cummings in the same year ? Unlike DE's you just can't expect true freshmen to play at DT/NT imo. It's almost like a mirror of offensive linemen, rarely are they ready to play meaningful downs in this conference.

Jacobs and Cummings were a year apart, both were JUCO teammates. (IMO) It's going to be a rare situation to get two top JUCO DT's in the same class....they'd be competing w/ each other for playing time (or a starting position). A graduate transfer would be more likely (than 2 JUCO's in the same class).
 

Concrete Helmet

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We need to really raid the JUCO ranks
Especially for the next 2 years because it will take that long for any incoming freshmen to be ready to play. Also I'm not sure if it's just me but it seems this position has a higher percentage of guys that well just aren't classroom whizzes...JuCo seems to give them the time they need to be able to keep up academically and play against better than HS competition and get stronger/bigger. Mac worked under Saban so I'm sure he's well versed in it's importance at this position.
 

BMF

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My bad. I knew they had something in common. Didn't Reed also initially commit to us before switching to Bama the following year?

Yeah, he actually signed w/ us....but didn't get enough credits to graduate. So he went back to JUCO and then was re-recruited. He ended up at Bama and had a hell of a career and was drafted in the 2nd round (?). He was the best JUCO DT of the one's we've signed, too bad he didn't actually play here. Jacobs and Cummings were legit too, but not as good as Reed. I know we're in on some JUCO D-lineman, so hopefully it works out this year.
 

GatorJ

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Especially for the next 2 years because it will take that long for any incoming freshmen to be ready to play. Also I'm not sure if it's just me but it seems this position has a higher percentage of guys that well just aren't classroom whizzes...JuCo seems to give them the time they need to be able to keep up academically and play against better than HS competition and get stronger/bigger. Mac worked under Saban so I'm sure he's well versed in it's importance at this position.

That and you eliminate the kids that either outgrow their bodies or just couldn't make the jump from high school competitively. It's the one position that should have a JUCO plan every year.
 

EuroGator

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totally agree. Cronk had the stronger spring and we haven't seen his ceiling yet. he's gonna end up being one of the best in the league.

Let's hope for that, right. After all, it is the off season, isn't it.
 

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