Alabama Crimson Tide

Each week at TideNation we will speak with a writer who covers one of Alabama's 2012 opponents. Today we spoke with Joel Erickson, who covers Auburn for the Columbus (Ga.) Ledger-Enquirer.

Scarborough: A new offensive coordinator, new defensive coordinator, new starting running back and a quarterback competition. The offseason at Auburn has been more tumultuous than usual this year. How has all the turnover affected the program and what kind of changes can we expect under both coordinators?
Erickson: Auburn has had a quarterback battle every year that Gene Chizik has been the head coach, and the return of Onterio McCalebb means that the Tigers have some continuity at the running back position, if not a clear No. 1 option in the absence of Mike Dyer. What really could affect the program is the change in coordinators. Expect Brian VanGorder’s defense to attack more, especially on the defensive line. VanGorder asks his defensive linemen to focus on penetration, rather than reading and reacting like they did under Ted Roof. On the offensive side, the days of Auburn running the hurry-up, no-huddle offense are over. New coordinator Scot Loeffler has kept his cards close to the vest, but Loeffler will likely run some pro-style, some shotgun and some pistol, with an offense tailored to his playmaker’s strengths.

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The rundown
2011 overall record: 8-5
2011 conference record: 4-4
Record against Alabama: 34-41-1

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ESPN Insider John Gasoway writes: Analyzing college hoops' most productive recruiters compared to their peers. Where does Alabama's staff rank? For a team that hasn't won an NCAA tournament game in the past five years, the Crimson Tide sure do recruit well. (Insider)

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K.C. Joyner writes: Behind Curtis McNeal, USC (quietly) has college football's top ground attack. The University of Alabama and Eddie Lacy are not far behind, though. Joyner points out that the ability to break tackles is part of why Lacy racked up a 10.4-yard total on plays with good blocking (a metric known as GBYPA).

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HOOVER, Ala. -- Not many people knew Deon Johnson's name when he committed to the University of Alabama in mid-April. The slim wide receiver from Spanish Fort High School just outside of Mobile, Ala., didn't come with the acclaim of a Robert Foster, the No. 2 ranked wideout in the ESPN 150 who played on fields opposite Johnson last week at the National Select 7-on-7 Championships here in Hoover. The hoard of media around Johnson was nearly half of what the standout from Pennsylvania experienced.

Ask Johnson's coach, Mark Freeman, and it's understandable why the country may not know Deon Johnson's name yet. Or know that he likes to go by D.J., not Deon. For three years, D.J. was kept under wraps.

"He had to sit out the year before because he moved, his sophomore year," Freeman explained. "That year he didn't play. I'm not sure what he did in Mobile as a ninth grader, he didn't play much then. So he almost missed three years of football."

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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Defensive back Quin Blanding (Virginia Beach, Va./Bayside) was one of only two 2014 prospects to compete at the Champion Gridiron Kings this weekend at Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports, but the talented safety more than held his own.

The 6-foot-2, 196-pound athlete said he just wanted to prove he belonged at such a prestigous event.

"I feel like I did great," Blanding said. "I'm just having fun and just contributing with my team and just helping them out. Being a big safety and an underclassman, I just want to show that I can play with them too."

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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Cornerback prospect Tony Brown (Beaumont, Texas/Ozen) is one of two 2014 prospects competing at the Champions Gridiron Kings this weekend.

The 6-foot-0, 179-pound athlete said he was honored to be invited to the event.

"It's great," Brown said. "I'm trying to take it as humbly as I can. I'm loving it that they regard me as highly as they do. I'm trying to take advantage of the situation and try to prove them right."

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HOOVER, Ala. -- Early on, Auburn and Clemson stand out for 2014 linebacker Shaun Hamilton, but an offer from Alabama would put the Crimson Tide in the same company for the Montgomery, Ala., native. He thinks it might be coming soon.

“I went to there camp, and Coach [Kirby] Smart told me they would probably offer me by the end of the summer or after the season,” Hamilton said.

“Alabama is a great school. They have a great coaching staff. Coach Smart, he’s a football guru, and I really could see myself playing for him. Coach [Nick] Saban has a great defense, and they put players in the league.”

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HOOVER, Ala. -- Over the weekend, rising junior cornerback Marlon Humphrey is trying to lock down his side of the field for Hoover High School at the National Select 7-on-7 tournament. He’s facing some of the top wide receivers nationally in the process.

“It’s a little bit better than what we’ve been going up against, but we’re playing up to the competition pretty well,” Humphrey said. “I feel like we should definitely be up there. We’re hosting, so we know these fields better than anybody else, so I feel like we should do well.”

It helps that Humphrey was recently in Tuscaloosa for the University of Alabama’s second prospect camp of the summer where he learned from one of the premier defensive back coaches in the nation, Nick Saban.

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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Recently, ESPN 150 running back Alvin Kamara (Norcross, Ga./Norcross) named a top five of Alabama, Georgia, FSU, Oklahoma State and Tennessee. As he prepared to try and help his Southeast team make a run at the Champion Gridiron Kings at Walt Disney World. Kamara discussed his timeline when he would decide on a college.

“I want to make sure I visit all of the schools in my top five before I make my decision, and I want to see how the season goes with those five teams as well,” Kamara said. “If everything goes the way I plan I will commit in mid-September. I do not really have a leader, but I should be ready to make a choice after I take these visits.”

The No. 52 prospect had good things to say about each of the programs still under consideration.

“I did not expect a lot when I visited FSU, but I really like the family vibe that the coaching staff and atmosphere provide,” Kamara said. “All of my boys have committed to UGA. Coach (Mark) Richt and Coach (Bryan) McClendon, I pretty much love the entire coaching staff. Alabama … the name speaks for itself. There is an opportunity for playing time at Oklahoma State and I think their offense really fits my style of play. Two of my teammates are at Tennessee in Ben Bradley and Jason Croom. They are recruiting me really hard and I got a chance to sit down with Coach [Derek] Dooley and his staff and I enjoyed it.

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