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University of Alabama: NFL breathing ground or just another feeder college?
by Kevin Cunningham
May 22nd 2013
Since Nick Saban decided to turn his back on the NFL and return to the college ranks, his Alabama Crimson Tide football program has pretty much dominated the BSC National Championship Game. Three national titles in six years at ‘Bama has cemented Saban’s name in the college football history books, while all along losing his star players to the pros. Year after year, Coach Saban has lost cornerstones of his team, yet, he continues to discover and nurture new stars of equal or, even better quality, without his team missing a step. However, do these collegiate stars transition seamlessly to the big stage? Are the Crimson Tide standouts simply a product of Saban’s system and team discipline?
The philosophy of the Crimson Tide is a stout, dominating defense and a pounding rushing attack. No surprises then that the majority of players selected in the NFL Draft are defensive linemen, linebackers, cornerbacks, offensive linemen and running backs. And I’m not talking about low draft picks either. In this year’s draft, three players were taken in the first round. In both 2012 and 2011, four players were selected during the first 32 picks in each of these drafts.
So, that means that NFL teams are pinning their hopes on these collegiate standouts replicating their successes in the pros. But have they made the leap? What type of futures lay ahead of the Alabama draft class of 2013?
Currently, in the NFL, there are 35 Crimson Tide graduates signed on with teams from the Nick Saban era 13 rookies and 22 veterans. That number seems very low for such a formidable college football program. Of the 22 veteran players, 10 were selected in the first round. However, none of these veteran players have made the Pro Bowl and only two have Super Bowl rings to show for their efforts (Terence Cody and Courtney Upshaw of the Baltimore Ravens’ Super Bowl XLVII winning side).
Those facts would suggest that drafting an Alabama Crimson Tide alumnus is far from a home run hit. In fact, you are taking a gamble on a complete bust.
 Take Rolando McClain, the three year veteran that shockingly retired last week only a month or so after signing a one-year contract with the Super Bowl champion Ravens. There had been high hopes for McClain who was the centre piece on defense of Saban’s first BCS Championship winning side at Alabama. He also left college as a highly decorated Junior winning numerous awards in his final season including the Lambert and Butkus awards, both for outstanding play at the linebacker position. Drafted by the Raiders 8th overall in the 2010 Draft, the middle linebacker’s pro career had been disappointing and marred by a number of run-ins with the law, including 3 arrests in the last year.
Another ‘Bama player that had question marks over his head coming into the NFL, was left tackle Andre Smith. Concerns about his weight and doubts about his work ethic didn’t stop Cincinnati taking him 6th overall in the 2009 Draft. Considered as a run-blocking tackle, Smith held out for a month during his rookie training camp over contract issues and upon return to training camp, he broke his foot. In four seasons in the NFL, he has started 35 games, mainly at right tackle.
It hasn’t been all bad for the Crimson Tide graduates in the NFL. Some players have had solid careers so far in the NFL, just not lived up to their hype, such as Kareem Jackson and Javier Arenas. Others have been hampered by injuries, like Dre Kirkpatrick and James Carpenter, so it is difficult to fully evaluate their progress. The likes of Julio Jones and Mark Barron are ones for the future no doubt. Jones has been steadily improving year on year in the Falcons’ high powered offense and will one day succeed Roddy White as the Falcons No. 1 receiver, while Barron had an impressive rookie campaign at Safety for the Buccaneers.
So, what can we expect from this year’s crop of Alabama rookies? Well, the 3 first-rounders of Milliner, Fluker and Warmack should start for their respective teams and running back Eddie Lacy will feature in some part for the Packers’ ‘running back by committee’ scheme. Chance Warmack has the best chance of producing a solid rookie season at Guard for the Tennessee Titans. He is coming from a run first offense so he should feel right at home with the Chris Johnson led Titans.
However, I have my doubts over cornerback Dee Milliner. The Junior was taken ninth overall by the New York Jets and has the unenviable task of having to fill Darrelle Revis’ cleats. That’s the least worrying think about Milliner for me. I was disturbed by his lack of ball skills, especially his performance at the Combine, where he looked like he didn’t know how to catch a ball. Six interceptions in three seasons at Alabama is less than impressive. Also, in Saban’s defensive scheme he wasn’t asked to backpedal. That’s not something you get good at overnight and could leave him with a few bad habits in rookie season.
Overall, I think the reason that the college powerhouse of Alabama has had such a stymied effect on the NFL is down to Saban’s team philosophy. For example, run first and pass second is not something you associate with modern NFL teams. It’s a ‘pass happy’ league with spread offenses, pass blocking linemen and running backs that can block and catch the ball out of the backfield. Only a handful of teams are interested in load carrying RBs and lane clearing linemen.
This doesn’t explain why Saban’s defensive players have had a limited effect on the NFL. Surely, all teams want a swarming, smothering defense. But maybe, the Crimson Tide’s defensive strength is attributable to the strength of the group and scheme, and not the individuals. Saban has proved that he can continue to plug the gaps in his team once his ‘stars’ head off for the bright lights on the NFL.
Time will only tell if this year’s Alabama draft class will have the same effect on the NFL as it did on the collegiate ranks. There is no doubt, that come next April, Saban will have another batch of highly sought after talent waiting to be chosen by 32 hopeful NFL teams.
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