Welcome to the Fierce 40 series of my 2015 College Football Rankings, where I will be counting down the top 40 ranked teams in the NCAA. Today I will be analyzing the Alabama Crimson Tide, 4 overall for the 2015 college football season.

I will be releasing one NCAA team preview per day, providing my analysis on each team in the top 40 rankings. There will be a focus on every key area of each college football team, thereby determining my overall ranking, with an emphasis on future NFL Draft prospects. Stay tuned.

Previous articles in the Fierce 40 college football rankings series can be found here.

 

#4 Alabama Crimson Tide

2014 Recap:

Alabama had things on cruise control, looking like they were going to be the favorites to win the inaugural College Football Playoff. Alabama dropped a hard fought contest in the semi-final to the eventual Champion Ohio State 42-35.

Coaching:

Nick Saban. What else needs to be said? Saban is by most accounts the greatest head coach at the FBS level, going 91-17 in his eight years as the head man at Alabama. The choice to bring in Lane Kiffin as the offensive coordinator last season raised a lot of eyebrows, but the offense responded by averaging 36.9 PPG and setting numerous records. Kiffin is back and Kirby Smart will lead a defense that ranked 12th overall and finished 6th in scoring defense allowing 18.4 PPG.

 

Offensive Analysis

Quarterbacks/Running Backs:

Jake Coker finally gets his chance to start after coming to the Crimson Tide last year and having to sit behind Blake Sims. Coker has good size and can move around the pocket despite not being a player that will be a threat to run with the football.

One player that is a threat with great size is Derrick Henry. Henry is back after a broken leg late last season ended his year, but he has a clean bill of health. Henry goes 6'3" 245 pounds and looks more like a linebacker than a running back. Kenyan Drake plays behind Henry, and he would be a starter on about 100 other NCAA football programs. This rushing attack will be deadly, and it should allow Coker to take advantage of his play action pass skills which the coaching staff raves about.

Best Draft Prospect: Derrick Henry RB 2nd Round 2016 (if he declares, part of the 2017 draft class).

 

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends:

Alabama is one of the few previews we have done where when looking at prospects and the passing game it starts with tight end O.J. Howard. Howard may not put up the biggest numbers for a tight end but he is a large part of the passing game, especially in the red zone where his mere presence will help another receiver or two get free.

ArDarius Stewart and Robert Foster will be the leading wide receivers with Richard Mullaney acting as the other starter. It may not be long before we see freshman Calvin Ridley on the field. Ridley was considered by many to be the best receiving recruit in the 2015 class, and he is said to be Alabama's next Amari Cooper.

Best Draft Prospect: O.J. Howard TE 2nd Round 2016 (if he declares, part of the 2017 draft class. Howard could be the top tight end selected if he declares).

 

Offensive Line:

Alabama is in a state of rebuilding their offensive line. Rebuilding an offensive line at Alabama simply means you have four and five star recruits everywhere without significant game experience. The gem along the line looks to be left tackle Cameron Robinson who played well as a freshman. Robinson needs to have his pass protection become as consistent as his run blocking, but there were games last year where he graded out higher than the more experienced lineman around him. Ryan Kelly is the leader of the line, and the veteran center is back. Freshman Ross Pierschbacher mans the left guard position.

Best Draft Prospect: Cameron Robinson OT 1st Round 2017 (if he declares, part of the 2018 draft class).

 

Defensive Analysis

Defensive Line:

Alabama is another team that runs the 3-4 as it’s primary defensive alignment, but Alabama rarely deviates from this formation unless it is to add a fifth defensive back and they drop to three linebackers. A’Shawn Robinson looks like a future 1st rounder, but the question is whether he will declare after this season or wait for the 2017 draft. Jarran Reed and Jonathan Allen could all be in this draft class, as Reed is a senior and Allen could declare as well leaving Alabama with three new primary starters for next season. We haven’t even talked about Darren Lake who himself has the talent to be a 2nd or 3rd rounder, and he technically is not even a starter. Youngsters like Daron Payne and Da’Shawn Hand simply wait in the wings for their opportunity when called upon.

Best Draft Prospect: A’Shawn Robinson DT 1st Round 2016 (if he declares, part of the 2017 draft class).

 

Linebackers:

Reggie Ragland is the only returning starter after he chose to come back for his senior season. Ragland is the emotional leader of the defense and charged with helping call audibles and formations on the field. Reuben Foster is a hard hitter along the outside, and he should start with Ryan Anderson. Denzel Devall is another senior linebacker that should be drafted by the middle to late rounds of the draft. The linebacker spots are loaded, but the linebackers don’t put up the monster stats because the defensive line is so good at penetration and tackling runners before they reach the linebackers.

Best Draft Prospect: Reggie Raglund LB 2nd Round 2016.

 

Secondary:

If there is an Achilles heel with the football team it will be in the secondary. Again, the defensive line is so good at getting pressure that opposing teams rarely have time to exploit the most glaring weakness of the team. Eddie Jackson is emerging as a top flight safety, but Tony Brown at cornerback seems to hold the most promise if he plays to his potential. Cyrus Jones is back at cornerback, and you will see him get more work because we assume teams will do their best to avoid Brown and his side of the football field.

Best Draft Prospect: Tony Brown CB 3rd Round 2018.

 

Special Teams

Despite being just a freshman last season, J.K. Scott has established himself as one of the top punters in the NCAA. Kicker Adam Griffith was only 12-19 last season, but he has the potential to be very reliable. The return game will be led by Kanyan Drake, as Alabama always excels in the return game, and they usually have 2-3 return touchdowns a season between kickoffs and punts.

Best Draft Prospect: J.K. Scott P 5th Round 2018.

 

2015 Schedule

Ole Miss will be the first big test as Alabama tries to right last seasons 23-17 defeat. Ole Miss has to come to Tuscaloosa this year. The middle of the schedule sees Georgia, Arkansas, Texas A&M, Tennessee and LSU, but of those games only Arkansas will be on the road. Alabama will play Auburn on the road to end the year, but Auburn should be a step below Alabama this season.

 

Draft Prospects & Outlook

This team is absolutely littered with 1st and 2nd round picks.Cameron Robinson looks like the long term prize, but the development of Tony Brown will be interesting to watch. O.J. Howard, if he declares, could be the top tight end taken in the draft, so that would make his play and decision one of the most watched stories surrounding the Crimson Tide.

 

NCAA & College Football Chat

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