Friday Mailbag: Breakout players on Alabama defense, Gibbs a sure-fire starter?
So if you missed it, we’ve started something new here at BCS Alabama. It’s Friday Mailbag time!
Jimmy Stein and I usually answer mailbag questions for listeners on our podcast, The Bama On3 Show. If you haven’t already, I’d highly suggest going to check that out on Apple Podcast, Spotify or anywhere else you listen to your podcasts. Now, I’m also doing a weekly mailbag in written form on Fridays to answer any questions Alabama fans may have.
Remember, if you want to remain anonymous, that’s totally fine. If you want your name shared so everyone knows who’s behind these fantastic questions, that is also encouraged. Whatever makes you feel comfortable. This mailbag is for you, after all. Alright, let’s begin.
Alabama is pretty much set on defense but are you predicting any breakout guys there? – Ryan M.
You’re right that Alabama has a lot of returning production on defense. There were 165 starts on that side of the ball last year and almost two-thirds of those (107) are back. That includes nine different players who started six or more games and five who started 12 or more.
Let’s break it down position-by-position on players we are fairly certain will see starts (depending on the opening formation from the opposing offense):
- DL: DJ Dale, Byron Young, Justin Eboigbe
- OLB: Will Anderson, Dallas Turner
- ILB: Henry To’o To’o
- CB: Kool-Aid McKinstry, Eli Ricks
- STAR: Brian Branch, Malachi Moore
- S: Jordan Battle, DeMarcco Hellams
If you notice, there aren’t many holes amongst starters. In fact, there’s only one: the inside linebacker spot next to To’o To’o. That’s where I’m predicting Alabama sees its biggest breakout player on defense. And who am I projecting to be that guy? Second-year player Deontae Lawson, the former top-50 prospect out of Mobile.
As things sit right now, Lawson hasn’t beaten out Jaylen Moody or the other off-ball linebackers for this spot, but I’ll go out of a limb and suggest that will be the case before it’s all said and done. With Christian Harris leaving behind over a 90% snap share at the WILL, most — if not all — of those opportunities could go to Lawson.
At 6-foot-2, 225 pounds, Lawson’s frame isn’t too far off from Harris. He also brings plus athleticism to the position with even more consistency diagnosing and reacting to plays. In short, Lawson can run, he can hit and he can cover. He won’t be the same caliber blitzer as Harris, but overall, he plays the position extremely well.
I’ll continue to bang the Lawson drum until it’s proven that it’s not a drum worth banging.
Other than Lawson, I still say there’s some untapped potential with Tim Smith. He may not get any starts barring an injury to another player, but he can be a much more effective piece, especially as an interior pass rusher. His 11 pressures last season were pretty impressive for an inside guy who only played 282 snaps.
How’s [Jihaad] Campbell coming along? You hyped him a lot back when he signed and I got excited. Haven’t heard anything since practice got started. Hope that ain’t a bad sign. – Gia, the monkey
Personally, I don’t think it’s a bad sign. You have to remember, we’re only three sessions into a 14-practice spring. There haven’t been any scrimmages yet, and Jihaad Campbell is a first-year player. That said, he was one of Alabama’s three Student-Athletes of the Week, so his name has come up.
I still think this guy is going to be a heck of a defender by the time his career in Tuscaloosa is over. But we have to remember what’s sitting ahead of him on the depth chart.
Right now, Campbell is working with the inside linebackers.
To’o To’o is locked into a starting job and there are two viable candidates in Moody and Lawson battling it out for the other spot. Considering how early it is in spring, Campbell hasn’t been given enough time to insert himself into that competition — and he might not get the chance if one of those others make a strong claim early.
That’s OK. If he doesn’t make a move for playing time in Year 1, that won’t affect his future outlook at all — or at least not in my opinion.
And if you think moving outside would help his chances of getting on the field, also remember that he’d have Anderson, Turner and Chris Braswell standing in his way out on the edges. Plus, there’s another blue-chip prospect already pushing for a spot in the rotation with Jeremiah Alexander.
Campbell will eventually emerge as a versatile chess piece for Nick Saban’s defense, but the Alabama coach wants younger guys to prioritize mastering one position first.
“It’s always nice to have guys who can play multiple positions,” Saban told reporters on Wednesday. “But when they’re freshmen, you have to put them in one place and teach them how to play one position because it’s too overwhelming for them to try to play multiple positions when they’re young.
“Every player is different when it comes to how they develop. I think the most important thing is that young players focus on development and they don’t worry so much about what team they’re on, who’s in front of them and who’s behind them. They just control what they can control and focus on their development.”
Give Campbell some time. You won’t regret it.
Saban seems happy with Jahmyr [Gibbs]. Maybe I’m asking a dumb question but does he really start over Jase [McClellan] and Roydell [Williams]? – Anonymous
I completely agree. On Wednesday, Saban seems very pleased with how Jahmyr Gibbs is transitioning to Alabama’s offense. For those who missed it, here’s a recap of Saban’s comments on the Georgia Tech transfer:
“He has really been a very good addition to our team,” Saban said. “He’s got great speed. He’s really a good receiver, good third-down back. He’s got great vision. He’s got really good burst out of a cut. I’m really, really impressed with what he’s been able to do. He’s smart, he picked up things. He’s an experienced player. He really does a good job of understanding what we’re trying to do and how we’re doing it, and that’s what experienced players can do. He’s done a really, really good job.”
That’s high praise.
If you’re wanting to know my stance on Gibbs, check out our first Friday Mailbag from a couple of weeks ago where I discussed a potential Heisman campaign coming. And with Jase McClellan and Roydell Williams still limited due to injuries, Gibbs is getting every opportunity to prove his entire worth this spring.
I’m fairly confident Gibbs starts. And if he somehow doesn’t, I still believe that he’ll out-touch every other running back on the roster. Now with that being said, I also love the other five talents in that running back room, as does Saban.
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