ScionOfSouthland
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Lots of good gems in here, but I will just paraphrase the entire article. The secondary and both lines had some interesting points that I think could apply to GT. The running backs seemed interesting as well. The only difference is that our A-Backs are still small, and we don't have an elite B-Back rotation yet.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1649924-nick-sabans-secret-recruiting-recipe
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1649924-nick-sabans-secret-recruiting-recipe
Saban’s first full recruiting cycle in 2008 resulted in a class that included Mark Ingram, Julio Jones, Mark Barron, Barrett Jones, Marcell Dareus and a host of others who would form the core of the Tide’s national championship teams in 2009, 2011 and 2012.
He’s since reinforced his roster with five more Top 5 classes—including three consecutive '‘Recruiting National Championships,’' according to 247 Sports.
To put it in perspective, Alabama’s average recruiting class rank during the Mike Shula era (2003-06) was 25th. Under Saban, it’s second.
The Tide’s success begins with Saban and his staff’s ability to identify prospects who will make the most of their talent. It is all part of his famously secretive "process" that begins with the development of a player-type model—which establishes the ideal physical traits for particular positions, all the way down to desirable height/weight ranges.
“He (Saban) would take an athlete with size before a natural 5’8” corner,” said Kevin Jackson, a former Tide All-American safety and defensive coordinator at Dothan (Ala.) High School. “If a kid fits their profile, Saban is confident he can teach that bigger athlete to do the things they want him to do in their defense.’'
‘“With everything else being equal, size would overrule,” Cignettii, currently the head coach of Division II Indiana University of Pennsylvania, said. “The heavyweight knocks out the lightweight in that league every time.”
Saban also searches for the ability to quickly change direction and move in explosive bursts at every position.
“I’ve heard him (Saban) say it a thousand times…ankle, knee and hip flexibility is extremely important because football is a stop-and-start game,” Cignetti said.
Talent always jumps out, but it must be combined with gritty determination to win championships.
Similar to most NFL rookie minicamps, the Alabama program is a hub for development of mental toughness. It’s an aspect that separates Saban and his program from the pack in college football, and a big part of the reason why the Tide have had 14 first-round draft picks since 2009.
Determining a player’s mindset and willingness to learn and improve on a daily basis gives Saban and his staff the best chance to help him reach his full potential on the college level.
One of Saban’s key metrics for measuring mental toughness is how a player reacts after a bad play. Does he sulk enough to let it affect him on the next play or beyond? Or can he regain his focus and move on to the next play?
“Guys like Amari Cooper, myself or T.J. (Yeldon) that are able to come in and play early get on the field because we are able to do that,” Johnson said.
Cornerbacks
In the Tide’s defense, corners are usually rangy athletes who excel in man coverage yet remain physical in run support. Whether locking down one side of the field on the edges or blitzing and covering slot receivers or tight ends, playing corner in Saban’s defense requires a mix of athleticism, size, versatility and high football IQ.
Size is the unquestioned deal-breaker here. Jackson’s experience coaching 2013 Auburn CB signee Kamryn Melton at Dothan High is a testament to that. Melton was a touted prospect, garnering five SEC offers, but Alabama was always lukewarm in its interest, mainly because of Melton’s 5’11”, 174-pound frame.
Alabama’s corners average coming into college at 6’0”, 185 pounds—which is an inch taller and seven pounds heavier than the average of the top prep corners in the class of 2014.
Saban’s philosophy of having bigger corners aligns with the movement toward adding size at that position in the NFL.
“If receivers are now coming at a 6’4” or 6’5”, you know that you need defensive backs that are 6’1” or 6’2” to combat that size,” Stewart said.
Other than size, Saban has specific characteristics he covets in his corners.
“He’s grading size, hips and how they break on the ball,” Jackson said. “How well a corner comes out of his backpedal and how he can hold up covering in man-to-man.”
Saban’s player type model gives him a distinct advantage when it comes to recruiting less-heralded talent at positions like cornerback. Rising senior and former 3-star prospect Deion Belue (6’0" 170 pounds when he entered Alabama) is a prime example of a Saban success story. Instead of taking a shorter, more highly ranked corner in the 2010 recruiting cycle, Saban opted for Belue’s size and molded him into a two-year starter.
Safety
Both safety positions showcase players who are center fielders with deep responsibility in the passing game but are versatile enough to come down into the box and become solid tacklers in open space.
The 6’1”, 196-pound average for safeties recruited under Saban is roughly eight pounds heavier than that of 2014’s top players at that position
Saban has taken versatile athletes such as Courtney Upshaw (6’2”, 220 pounds) and Adrian Hubbard (6’7”, 227 pounds) and helped them transform their bodies into OLB prototypes by adding significant mass without sacrificing athleticism.
Upshaw arrived in Tuscaloosa at 6’2”, 220 pounds. Under Cochran and Saban’s direction, he added 40 pounds of muscle. Upon graduation he measured in at 272 pounds. The scary part is he still runs a 4.65-second 40. In three years, Saban has transformed Hubbard from a lanky defensive end into a huge outside linebacker. He arrived at The Capstone at 6’7”, 227 pounds and now tips the scales with 25 pounds of added muscle while maintaining a 4.64-second 40.
Nose Tackle
The average defensive tackle signee at Alabama in the last six years has measured in at 6’3”, 296 pounds—which is a half an inch taller and six pounds heavier than the average of the top 50 interior defensive linemen in the 2014 class as seen on the graph above.
That said, a lot of the players Saban signs at DT eventually move to one of the end spots, as Alabama’s 3-4 features only one true tackle.
Offensive Tackles
The Tide typically favor taller and more athletic players at offensive tackle. Quickness and athleticism are particularly valued here, as Alabama’s tackles must slow down the SEC’s speedy, elite edge-rushers. However, this athleticism cannot come at the expense of mass—which is evident in the 6’5”, 305-pound average size of offensive tackles signed by Saban. That is 18 pounds heavier than the average of 2014’s top offensive tackles.
“Once you start getting under 6’3” for an offensive lineman, maybe you are pushing it a little bit,” Cignetti said.
“Everybody can find that 6’3” or 6’4” guy,” Stewart said. “Coach wants to find the guys that are 6’6” or 6’7” that can move. You don’t see a lot of big, sloppy guys at Alabama.”
Running Backs
Saban has featured the position by using a rotation of two or three big and physical backs who can get the tough yards up the middle, make plays as a receiver and effectively pass block.
The average size of Saban’s power backs at Alabama is 5’11”, 214 pounds—which trumps the average of the top 50 rushers in the 2014 class by 13 pounds. Alabama has also signed a handful of all-purpose backs, but even the average size of these smaller backs (6’0”, 195 pounds) dwarfs the 2014 class average of all-purpose backs by three inches and 18 pounds.
What makes Alabama’s ground game so potent is that it usually has at least two elite backs on hand to wear down opposing defenses. Players such as Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson, Eddie Lacy and now T.J. Yeldon all served as talented understudies to the players in front of them before eventually ascending to the feature role.
Defensive Ends
Alabama’s defensive ends typically are big and stout linemen who are trained to generate a push without the constant demand of getting after the quarterback. But due to the proliferation of spread offenses, Saban and his staff are looking to find the answer to stopping faster ball-handlers such as the impossibly elusive Johnny Manziel.
The Tide’s defensive end signees under Saban come in averaging 16 pounds heavier than this year’s crop of top pass-rushing ends
“They want kids with long arms who can get upfield and be quick laterally as well. A school like Alabama doesn’t want you shorter than 6’3” on the edge. You want a kid that can go toe-to-toe with these SEC offensive tackles but also has the ability to put weight on.”
Every year Alabama gains an advantage on the recruiting trail by developing uncommonly strong relationships with prospects, their parents and their coaches early in the recruiting cycle.
This early effort helps Saban consistently draw the best talent to his summer camps and gives the Alabama coaches an invaluable chance to judge a recruit’s work ethic, intangibles and character in person.
When it comes down to it, Saban’s focus on specific positions, tireless work ethic and dedication to recruiting make the difference more often than not. When a player signs with Alabama, Saban knows how to get said player to a level of intensity that matches that of the veteran players. And that is saying something.