Newton

[jadennis]

Word about Cam Newton around the program is all good stuff.  Players that have been throwing and catching with him say he's really impressive.  The coaches are happy with his dedication to the off-season program.  He's all over the conditioning and is in the football complex watching film and studying the offense almost daily.

Guarantee a damn thing?  Of course not.  But he has the physical tools (Phillip Marshall, who has covered AU for 40 years, says he has as much physical talent as anyone that's ever taken a snap for AU) and he's making an effort to add the other necessary things....like hard work and time.  It looks like if he fails, it won't be because he didn't do everything necessary to give himself the best chance to succeed.

I have to admit...I have to temper my excitement for next year.  It's not as if we "know" anything, but I just think there is potential to do some good things in 2010.  I'm mostly just curious to see how the next chapter goes.  Not so much "how many games will we win"...but once certain questions are identified, I'm curious to see how they are answered.

Questions like these:

1. Does the current class make an immediate impact on defense? 

1a. Is Chris Todd's replacement an upgrade or a wash?

3. Can special teams cease to be a disaster waiting to happen 4 times per game?

3a. Who replaces Ben Tate?  Aycock?  Dyer?  Fannin?  ie. Can we rush for 2700+ yards again?

5. Is Darvin Adams still the only reliable receiver?  Benton?  Blake?  Reed?  Goodwin?  Richardson?

6. Can the offense find some reliable consistency?  ie. Is 3rd and short still such a mind boggling challenge?

7. What we lose verses what we gain....is depth improved noticeably or are we still a year away from that?

[Mr. Sensible]

What we all really want to know is what jersey # he is going to wear?

[CCTAU]

What we all really want to know is what jersey # he is going to wear?

#22. I hear he is a big Doug Flutie fan.

[jadennis]

#22. I hear he is a big Doug Flutie fan.

Then he'll probably go #44, since he's twice as tall and weighs twice as much.

[eagleair89]

Then he'll probably go #44, since he's twice as tall and weighs twice as much.

44 is a good number for an AU QB to have ............a little historical significance there.

I like it

[eagleair89]

Questions like these:

1. Does the current class make an immediate impact on defense? 

1a. Is Chris Todd's replacement an upgrade or a wash?

3. Can special teams cease to be a disaster waiting to happen 4 times per game?

3a. Who replaces Ben Tate?  Aycock?  Dyer?  Fannin?  ie. Can we rush for 2700+ yards again?

5. Is Darvin Adams still the only reliable receiver?  Benton?  Blake?  Reed?  Goodwin?  Richardson?

6. Can the offense find some reliable consistency?  ie. Is 3rd and short still such a mind boggling challenge?

7. What we lose verses what we gain....is depth improved noticeably or are we still a year away from that?

early crystal ball answers :

1. they will be given every opportunity to contribute....esp. the LB's

1a.  upgrade....more physically gifted, esp. in the run/scramble dept.

3.  slight improvement but still will be a weak spot.

3a.  combo of Smith/Aycock

5.  Adams, Lutz, TZach and one from the bunch will have good years.

6.  see 1a.......Cam's running ability and the addition of Gayden along with Pugh having an extra year playing center help here.

7. Depth is improved but still a year away.  I'm not a coach (thank goodness) but IF AU was in a normal depth situation, i would love to redshirt the majority of this class..........that aint gonna happen, most will have to find a way to contribute some way some how.

just some thoughts

WAR EAGLE
 

[jadennis]

early crystal ball answers :

1. they will be given every opportunity to contribute....esp. the LB's

1a.  upgrade....more physically gifted, esp. in the run/scramble dept.

3.  slight improvement but still will be a weak spot.

3a.  combo of Smith/Aycock

5.  Adams, Lutz, TZach and one from the bunch will have good years.

6.  see 1a.......Cam's running ability and the addition of Gayden along with Pugh having an extra year playing center help here.

7. Depth is improved but still a year away.  I'm not a coach (thank goodness) but IF AU was in a normal depth situation, i would love to redshirt the majority of this class..........that aint gonna happen, most will have to find a way to contribute some way some how.

just some thoughts

WAR EAGLE
 

Good thoughts EA, as usual. 

I like the idea of Newton playing into 3rd and short situations.  For some reason, we were just as likely to convert a 3rd and 9 as we were to convert 3rd and 2.  Hopefully the line and Newton can get the push to get those two tough yards on the ground when we have to grind it out and extend a drive.  I know that drove Malzahn crazy last year that we couldn't do that.

I like Smith.  Aycock, from what we hear, is ready to play at this level.  I know Dyer will be a freshman, but you don't see him getting an equal role in 2010 (kind of how Bryce Brown did in Tennessee and Richardson did for UA)?  I'm thinking at 5' 8" - 200 lbs as a high school senior, he could be 210 by start of the season.  To me, that's physically ready.  I wonder how much responsibility he'll get.

[eagleair89]

Good thoughts EA, as usual.  

.... I know Dyer will be a freshman, but you don't see him getting an equal role in 2010 (kind of how Bryce Brown did in Tennessee and Richardson did for UA)?  I'm thinking at 5' 8" - 200 lbs as a high school senior, he could be 210 by start of the season.  To me, that's physically ready.  I wonder how much responsibility he'll get.

I am no talent expert.  The coaches think Dyer is a good one.  You do not get to be as highly rated as he is and not be any good.  Also, from what the coaches have said and how Dyer handled his recruiting he seems to be very level headed for an 18 year old.

But, imho.........I see a "Dyer" package for his freshman year.  Right now I just don't see him as the main back or as part of a two headed tailback option.  He will have his situations and play in spots.  

Again, have not watched any highlights of him and no doubt he is a special talent and person......however, I believe for a freshman to be THE bell-weather RB on an SEC team as a freshman he needs to be an extra special talent.

Remember.......they originally had BO at fullback in the bone before figuring out they should put him as a half back.   ....It just takes some adjustment and time.

WAR EAGLE
 

[Mr. Sensible]

Right now I just don't see him as the main back or as part of a two headed tailback option.  He will have his situations and play in spots.  

I agree. Who do you see as our front line, two-headed option this year?

[eagleair89]

I agree. Who do you see as our front line, two-headed option this year?

these guys:



WAR EAGLE
 

[Saniflush]

Remember.......they originally had BO at fullback in the bone before figuring out they should put him as a half back.   ....It just takes some adjustment and time.

Exactly.  You never know how they are going to continue growing or other factors.

Fred Beasley was a heralded TB out of highschool and became a hell of a FB.

[AUTiger1]

Exactly.  You never know how they are going to continue growing or other factors.

Fred Beasley was a heralded TB out of highschool and became a hell of a FB.

Woah, wait a damn minute, you mean to tell me that sometimes a recruit winds up playing a different position?  Unpossible!

[wesfau2]

how Dyer handled his recruiting he seems to be very level headed for an 18 year old.

Ask the Arky fans if they agree.  I don't think you were paying very close attention.

Woah, wait a damn minute, you mean to tell me that sometimes a recruit winds up playing a different position?  Unpossible!

Only if the coaches lie to 'em.

[eagleair89]

Ask the Arky fans if they agree.  I don't think you were paying very close attention.

close  attention? your right I wasn't paying close attention (too busy getting my shit ready for Crappie season, priorities you know)

That statement was in reference to the fact that the #1 RB in the country committed to AU fairly early and stuck by his commitment.  He did not drag it out til signing day and pull some hat switcher-roo or other shit. 

As for the Arkansas fans.........I do not give a flying fuck about a bunch of Ozark Mountain inbred fat-asses and what they think........they simply don't do it very often.

WAR EAGLE
 

[wesfau2]

close  attention? your right I wasn't paying close attention (too busy getting my shit ready for Crappie season, priorities you know)

That statement was in reference to the fact that the #1 RB in the country committed to AU fairly early and stuck by his commitment.  He did not drag it out til signing day and pull some hat switcher-roo or other shit. 

As for the Arkansas fans.........I do not give a flying fuck about a bunch of Ozark Mountain inbred fat-asses and what they think........they simply don't do it very often.

WAR EAGLE
 

He was a bit of a loudmouth during the process.  There is a video somewhere on the web where he taunts Arkansas.  He wasn't very level-headed or mature about the process.  That said, he's a kid and some of them act a fool.  Now he's got to strap on his pads and prove his worth.  I'm happy to have him.

[GH2001]

He was a bit of a loudmouth during the process.  There is a video somewhere on the web where he taunts Arkansas.  He wasn't very level-headed or mature about the process.  That said, he's a kid and some of them act a fool.  Now he's got to strap on his pads and prove his worth.  I'm happy to have him.

Its ok, he wasnt doing it to us so it doesnt count. Plus he only did it because he was tired of hearing those sister fucking arkies saying they were 10 deep and didnt really need him....no really - an Arky I work with said those exact words yesterday. Wish I could have recorded it.  He said they really didnt want him. Bwahahahahahahaha.......

[eagleair89]

  Now he's got to strap on his pads and prove his worth.  I'm happy to have him.

yes & yes.

WAR EAGLE

ps: and since the video did not have any pertinent information regarding the location of Crappie beds in NE Alabama, it is totally useless and unworthy for discussion 

[jadennis]

Last year Tate got 263 carries, with McCalebb a distant second with 105 carries.  However, we also had Fannin with 76 touches (698 yds), Burns with 56 carries (175 yds), and Eric Smith with 38 touches (325 yds).

If we intend to run even more plays (and the above list totals 538 touches)...there will be plenty of touches to go around to Aycock, Fannin, Smith, McCalebb, and Dyer.  

One note on Fannin, and why I still think he belongs in the backfield carrying the ball, not catching it in space.  For some reason, when Fannin catches in space, he takes too long getting down field and tries too hard to make every catch a huge play.  He averaged 9.8 yards per catch.  Compare that to Eric Smith's 12.6 yards per catch.  Smith catches and immediately heads north-south and gets down field.

However, from the backfield, Fannin is much better at just getting up field.  He carried it 34 times for 285 yards (that's 8.4 yards per carry with a long of only 32 yds, so it wasn't skewed by one 90 yard run or anything).

Anyway, I see Malzahn getting the ball in the hands of all five of these guys anywhere from 75 to 190 times each.
The five guys from last year got 589 touches.  I don't see Kodi continuing his 3 yard per carry wildcat role.  However, if Newton does become the starter, he'll get those carries I'm guessing (and maybe more).

Taking Kodi's 61 touches out of the 589, and assuming we run a few more plays, let's figure 550 touches for the five guys listed for next year.

Aycock - 190
Fannin - 130
Dyer - 80
Smith - 75
McCalebb - 75

This is a completely made up scenario, but it just shows how many touches there are to go around.  Regardless of the breakdown of who gets them, everyone will get a chance to get involved.

[Godfather]

I just like the fact he invented gravity, that makes him a winner in my book.

[wesfau2]

I just like the fact he invented gravity, that makes him a winner in my book.

Yeah, well he ain't no Alfred Einstein.  Amirite?