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BAMA ON3 SHOW: Alabama's defense + QB/RB after first scrimmage

47377776_10156854436900775_2208546246019252224_nby:Clint Lamb•04/10/23•

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Photos courtesy of UA Athletics

The Bama On3 Show is back for Episode 129, which includes BamaInsider’s Clint Lamb and Jimmy Stein breaking down all the latest happenings surrounding the Alabama football program. Today’s list of topics include the following:

  • Alabama’s defense following the first scrimmage
  • Versatility is key in the secondary
  • Has anyone separated themselves in the QB battle
  • Performances of Roydell Williams and Justice Haynes
  • And more!

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Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/43d5egC

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3meqDpi

Megaphone: https://bit.ly/40WKXum

Projecting the DL rotation (Preview)

Tier 1 – Over 40% snap share

Who: Jaheim Oatis, Justin Eboigbe

Why: Going into last season, I slightly undershot the percentage of snaps Oatis would be on the field. I projected him to fall in that 20-30% range, but by season’s end, he was at 31.3%. Yes, we’d been hearing the buzz throughout the offseason. I just wasn’t sure if he’d hold up on more than 30% of the snaps as a freshman while still weighing 342 pounds.

Needless to say, I learned my lesson.

Right now, I’m putting him in the over 40% tier for two reasons: 1) he’s a year older and should be able to handle a larger workload mentally and 2) he’s another 20+ pounds lighter from last season. Considering his immense talent and disruptive abilities, I think putting him in this range makes a lot of sense. Just don’t expect to see 58.2% like we saw from Byron Young last year.

I’d predict somewhere between 40-45%.

Now, Eboigbe is a different story. In the four games prior to his season-ending neck injury in 2022, the then senior was on the field for 50.4% of Alabama’s defensive snaps. In fact, Young’s workload saw a significant uptick once Eboigbe went down, and that’s a major reason why Young was flirting with that 60% snap share.

Now, we do need to bring up the possibility of Eboigbe finding himself on a pitch count. If he’s truly “100% healed and cleared” in April like his recent tweet suggests, I assume there won’t be any limitations on his workload. Just keep in mind that’s far from a guarantee right now. A lot could depend on what the staff thinks about the development of Jah-Marien Latham.

Either way, I expect Oatis and Eboigbe to be Alabama’s two most heavily utilized players along its defensive line. That could change if someone such as Tim Smith starts to show more three-down ability going into Year 4. But I’m going to need to see it before making such an assumption.

For more on Alabama’s defensive line projections, click here.

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