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Surely its time to bash everything we know about Saban and turn on him like like a corrupted Jedi, but here's the skinny on Saban and his draftees.
Ronnie Brown - Best RB of the trio that year. Benson has yet to beat out T. Jones, and Brown has proven more durable, has a better all-around game and is more consistant than Cadillac. His vision has been knocked, but that will come with an imporved OL and more time reading the blocks in the backfield, rather than breaking them. Brown can break tackles, and can break away. This pick still stands as a solid pick at #2. The alternatives could have been Merriman, or Ware, but they were too far out of the box for Saban to reach for them @ #2 at that time.
Roth - Maybe the one knock on this draft. Roth was a bit undersized for a DE in Saban's scheme which puzzled me, but Roth plays fast and hard, and played under Kirk Ferentz's 3-4 system in Iowa. There was logic there. Remember, Saban wanted Corey Webster (starter in NY) but he went a pick earlier.
Crowder - He's a starter and a solid 3-4 LB physically. Any starter in the 3rd round is a good find. Saban gambled on Crowder's knees, but has proven wise to this point as Crowder would have gone much higher.
Daniels - Not sure if Saban would have drafted Daniels if he got Corey Webster in the 2nd, but regardless, Daniels is servicable and has the ability to start without being picked on. He's a good tackler, smart in the system, and most important, a 4th round starter.
Alabi - In later rounds, you draft for potential and upside to develop players. Its smart organizationally, both personnel wise and financially. Alabi was a good athlete at TCU, but lacked bulk. Hopefully Alabi can add bulk, but athletesism cant be taught in a big man. Can you fault Saban for picking a guy with upside at such an important position?
Vickerson - Another valuable big man that has proven he can stick to an NFL roster. Not bad for a 7th.
What is wrong with this draft? Did Saban blow any picks? Everyone is one the team and contributing in a capacity that would be expected of that draft position. Did Saban pass anyone up that we are kicking ourselves for like Wanny? Just cus this team is losing, doesn't mean Saban doesn't know personnel and should give up GM duties. Rome wasn't built in a day- if I may. The rule of thumb is you must have 2 starters from each draft, 3 is good, and 4 or more is excellent. Saban is right on course with 3, plus Roth might be starting next year with the potential loss of Holliday.
Dont want to start in on the 2006 draft because its sure to be inconclusive (as is the 2005 on to some extent). But to do a quicky
Jason Allen - unless he has zero football intelligence, he will be a starter next year
Cullpepper - is the future QB, for better or worse
Hagan - will at least contribute through his rookie contract
Toledo - dont know, but good physical criteria
M. Wright - Doesn't look good. But no busts in the 5th round.
Evans - Shown potential for a 7th rounder
R. Wright - Dont know, but good value in 7th
Aromashodu - gone - would have been a bonus.
2 sure starters (Which includes a QB!) with a lot of potential in rounds 3-7. Any team would be pleased with that. After watching Wannstedt blow pick after pick, Im extremely pleased with the new cycle of life that Saban is infliltrating through his drafts.
And before you start with "Saban blew the Culpepper deal", just stop for a minute and understand that the jury has yet to even deliberate on him. He is injured. The jury starts next year when he's healthy.
Ronnie Brown - Best RB of the trio that year. Benson has yet to beat out T. Jones, and Brown has proven more durable, has a better all-around game and is more consistant than Cadillac. His vision has been knocked, but that will come with an imporved OL and more time reading the blocks in the backfield, rather than breaking them. Brown can break tackles, and can break away. This pick still stands as a solid pick at #2. The alternatives could have been Merriman, or Ware, but they were too far out of the box for Saban to reach for them @ #2 at that time.
Roth - Maybe the one knock on this draft. Roth was a bit undersized for a DE in Saban's scheme which puzzled me, but Roth plays fast and hard, and played under Kirk Ferentz's 3-4 system in Iowa. There was logic there. Remember, Saban wanted Corey Webster (starter in NY) but he went a pick earlier.
Crowder - He's a starter and a solid 3-4 LB physically. Any starter in the 3rd round is a good find. Saban gambled on Crowder's knees, but has proven wise to this point as Crowder would have gone much higher.
Daniels - Not sure if Saban would have drafted Daniels if he got Corey Webster in the 2nd, but regardless, Daniels is servicable and has the ability to start without being picked on. He's a good tackler, smart in the system, and most important, a 4th round starter.
Alabi - In later rounds, you draft for potential and upside to develop players. Its smart organizationally, both personnel wise and financially. Alabi was a good athlete at TCU, but lacked bulk. Hopefully Alabi can add bulk, but athletesism cant be taught in a big man. Can you fault Saban for picking a guy with upside at such an important position?
Vickerson - Another valuable big man that has proven he can stick to an NFL roster. Not bad for a 7th.
What is wrong with this draft? Did Saban blow any picks? Everyone is one the team and contributing in a capacity that would be expected of that draft position. Did Saban pass anyone up that we are kicking ourselves for like Wanny? Just cus this team is losing, doesn't mean Saban doesn't know personnel and should give up GM duties. Rome wasn't built in a day- if I may. The rule of thumb is you must have 2 starters from each draft, 3 is good, and 4 or more is excellent. Saban is right on course with 3, plus Roth might be starting next year with the potential loss of Holliday.
Dont want to start in on the 2006 draft because its sure to be inconclusive (as is the 2005 on to some extent). But to do a quicky
Jason Allen - unless he has zero football intelligence, he will be a starter next year
Cullpepper - is the future QB, for better or worse
Hagan - will at least contribute through his rookie contract
Toledo - dont know, but good physical criteria
M. Wright - Doesn't look good. But no busts in the 5th round.
Evans - Shown potential for a 7th rounder
R. Wright - Dont know, but good value in 7th
Aromashodu - gone - would have been a bonus.
2 sure starters (Which includes a QB!) with a lot of potential in rounds 3-7. Any team would be pleased with that. After watching Wannstedt blow pick after pick, Im extremely pleased with the new cycle of life that Saban is infliltrating through his drafts.
And before you start with "Saban blew the Culpepper deal", just stop for a minute and understand that the jury has yet to even deliberate on him. He is injured. The jury starts next year when he's healthy.
