BAMA ON3 SHOW: Depth chart projections for Alabama's offense

The Bama On3 Show is back for Episode 122, 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:

• Offensive depth chart projections
• What does the carry distribution look like at RB?
• Why CJ Dippre was such an important addition
• How does the OL shake out?
• And more!

To keep track of the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal

Click here to join Alabama fans on the Talk of Champions message board

Links to Podcast

Apple Podcast: apple.co/3XouEVk

Spotify: spoti.fi/3QRjztj

Megaphone: https://bit.ly/3GPKLUV

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Depth Chart Projections – MLB

Starter	Deontae Lawson
Second Team	Shawn Murphy OR Kendrick Blackshire
Depth LB/ST	Qua Russaw

Our thoughts: Henry To’oTo’o and Jaylen Moody are both gone, which means Alabama will need to replace its two most experienced off-ball linebackers. As I’ve mentioned in previous articles, those losses are why it was so important for the Crimson Tide to get Lawson significant run down the stretch.

His 439 snaps and four starts aren’t world-changing, but the Mobile (Ala.) native also has two years of experience in the system. That’s going to make the transition a lot easier than it would’ve been with Moody continuing to play a lion’s share of the snaps. Over 70% of Lawson’s snaps came over the final six games, which was easily the heaviest part of the schedule.

At 6-foot-2, 225 pounds, no one’s going to confuse the former On3 five-star with Rolando McClain or Dont’a Hightower. He’s not that style of linebacker, but I do think he brings some similarities to two-time All-American C.J. Mosley.

Mosley was a run-and-hit linebacker who brought plus-coverage ability.

He was smart, instinctive and always found a way to get to the football. With only 6.5 career sacks in four seasons, Mosley wasn’t known for being a feared blitzer. That was OK though. The instincts, fluidity and toughness were always apparent. He also packed a punch for a linebacker with more of a narrow build.

All of those things can also be used to describe Lawson. Now, I don’t think he’s quite as instinctive as Mosley at this point in his career, but he made significant strides on that front over the course of this season. The only question I have is where does Lawson play?

With his experience, the assumption has to be that he’ll slide over to the Mike spot and take over relaying the defensive signals. At the same time, I really like Lawson as more of a backside, cleanup linebacker rather than having to play to strength. Mosley never moved off his Will spot back in the day, and neither did Christian Harris during his time at Alabama.

But if not Lawson, who?

All the other off-ball linebackers have a combined 45 career snaps between them on the Division I level. Murphy (16 career snaps) and Blackshire (17) are the two best equipped to man the Mike spot from a size and skillset perspective, but they’ll only be second and third-year players.

Maybe Lawson will be the Mike in title only. He can line up as the Will while also handling the play-calls. This could all depend on who starts next to him though.

For more depth chart projections for Alabama’s linebackers and defensive backs, click here.

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