Alabama runs a 3-4 and need LBs with size and speed and plenty of them. Our Jack sealing the edge and often using our OLBers for push require hybrid personnel. Alabama often recruit explosive guys who played in the 4-3 defensive end positions in high school. All-America, CJ Mosley doesn't fit that prototypical description at inside LB. A position that requires a lot of brute force, but frankly at 6'2" and 235, I wouldn't call him tiny.
Right, but Bama plays to this scheme well. I think though that Bama can get away with a slower front 7 with speed and skill at the CB level.
They might be slower, but there are four of them. That picks up the average speed of the front seven overall, so they pull it off. I've always like Chavis's approach of "faster is better". Speed over size. Players like Mathieu and Mingo.
LSUDad, you understated. Stud athlete, Melvin Jones, also did the following in high school, besides play QB: punted kicked PAT kick offs (that landed in the end zone) played RB played FB played TE If he wasn't such a stud ILB, I would not be surprised to see him play FB ala Copeland style, because he can run, catch, block, and even throw the rock. But also line up as a TE. Contained Chaos, I think Melvin Jones will be an "Alabama-type" LB -- big, strong, and with surprisingly agile speed.
Like I said, LB seems to be the deeper position on that side of the ball. I was talking with a coach that was at A&M when his Dad played there. Same thing, stud athlete. A lot like in 2006, many said Les had signed the top LB, TE and DE from the state of Mississippi, but that year we only signed 2 kids, how was that? I too want to see a little more help on the offensive side of the ball. Cam has more than enough to work with, but it would hurt.
He's fast and a hard hitter. He's got swagger, too. But I think if he stays healthy, Kwon Alexander will be the best of that 2012 cohort. I think Kwon has better "instincts" and skill-set than everyone else. Anyone remember that tackle-for-loss-of-yardage of Jeremy Hill in the 2013 spring game? He's got a lot more of those TFLs to come. Plus he's going to force some fumbles and get some interceptions.
