Alabama Athletics
Seeing red: Alabama’s wide receivers the toughest matchup in college football
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — They call it red.
It’s the color that gets the most attention, the color of power. It’s also the most troublesome personnel group in college football this season, one that opponents will dread even more than seeing Alabama’s defensive linemen in the backfield lining up as fullbacks near the goal line.
Red means the four-wide receiver package of Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle. With quarterback Tua Tagovailoa throwing to them it could be called the make-them-bleed formation, or the red-death offense that specializes in quick kills.
Yeah, they’re that good.
“We just want to be a nightmare for whomever,” Ruggs said. “Just know that we’re going to come out and we’re going to play fast and we’re going to do what we have to do to make our plays with the ball in our hands.”
Jeudy won the Belitnikoff Award as the game’s best receiver last season.
Ruggs and Waddle are both on the short list for fastest player in the game, although there’s a lot more to their games.
Smith? He’s playing with a chip on his shoulder. While the others were all heavily mentioned for preseason awards, the junior was largely overlooked because most allowed for only three receivers and voters didn’t want to cast their ballots with yet another Crimson Tide player.
He also wants to be known for more than catching the overtime touchdown pass to win the national championship in 2017. Like the other three, Smith has the potential to be a first-round NFL draft selection.
Consequently, the four may not just be the best receiving group in college football, but the best position group, period.
“I’d be remiss to keep those four wide receivers not on the field when it presents itself to be an advantageous situation,” new offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian said. “Too many times, if they’re standing next to us on the sidelines, something’s wrong or we feel good about something else that’s happening.
“But they’re four very dynamic playmakers.”
It begins with Jeudy, who was the second Crimson Tide player to win the Belitnokoff in five years, joining Amari Cooper in 2014, plus was the latest piece of evidence that Alabama has become the top destination for elite wide receivers.
Yes, Alabama, which is known for its rugged, physical play, tenacious defense and powerful lines. The last two running backs to win the Heisman Trophy both played for the Crimson Tide, and Dick Butkus has made a lot of recent trips to Tuscaloosa with his linebacker-of-the-year award in tow.
The success among defensive backs also stands out, especially considering how many former players are currently playing in the National Football League. Alabama doesn’t get the credit it deserves for possible DBU bragging rights, and neither do the wide receivers.
Julio Jones, an All-Pro with the Atlanta Falcons, started the run that is showing no signs of slowing. He’s playing alongside Calvin Ridley, a first-round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft, with some calling them the league’s best tandem.
Actually, the run dates back to even earlier with Nick Saban. The only other Southeastern Conference player to win the Belitnikoff was LSU’s Josh Reed in 2001. He also coached Plaxico Burress at Michigan State, who over two seasons had 131 receptions, 2,155 yards and 20 touchdowns before being the eighth-overall selection in the 2000 draft.
Jeudy’s game begins with his route running, which is on par with some of those elite predecessors. Teammate Shyheim Carter, who often has to try and defend him in the slot during practices describes it as “ten out of ten.”
“His releases, if you press him, if you’re off the stem, the stemming of the route, in and out of breaks, the separation, all of it,” he said.
A wide receiver hasn’t been selected No. 1 in an NFL draft since Keyshawn Johnson in 1996, but Jeudy is getting that kind of preseason love and attention from draft experts. It probably won’t happen, especially considering the quarterbacks who are expected to be available, yet he’s the complete package at the position.
Jeudy can run every route effectively, has elite ball skills and this season wants to play at an even faster speed.
How fast?
“Fast enough, that’s all I’d say,” he said. “Fast enough that I won’t get caught on the field. It doesn’t matter. I can run a 4.3, 4.4 40.
“All that really matters on the field is I don’t get caught.”
Ruggs can run even faster, even with his equipment on, and after posting a 4.25 time in the 40-yard dash this spring he said, "I feel like I can do better.” Like Waddle, he can turn anything into a touchdown, but is also a lot more powerful than most fans realize.
Former offensive coordinator Mike Locksley, now the head coach at Maryland, called Waddle “lightning in a bottle” as a true freshman. He’s now a lot more comfortable in the offense and with Tagovailoa, which means Alabama will likely move him around more to take advantage of matchups.
Meanwhile, Smith is pegged as the all-around guy of the four. He can do everything well, plus go up and get a ball in a clutch situation.
Alabama’s never had this kind of collection before. They have talent, speed and an unselfish attitude on the field, which is a polite way of saying they have no problem throwing blocks downfield, especially for each other.
They also have a lot of on-field help in terms of powerful running backs and a massive offensive line, plus good reserves.
Teammates call redshirt freshman Slade Bolden “Julian Edelman” because he has the same style of play as the New England Patriots’ standout receiver. All he does is make plays.
True freshman John Metchie had a good spring as an early enrollee. At 6-foot-6, redshirt freshman Tyrell Shavers is a big target and redshirt freshman Xavier Williams will also get regular playing time.
Last season, one could tell by the way the Crimson Tide lined up who wasn’t getting the ball. That won’t be the case this fall. Alabama will be looking to exploit weaknesses.
“These guys aren’t going to play man they are going to play zone,” Tagovailoa said about how he expects opponents to try and limit the receivers. “If they play man against these guys, we gotta go out and torch the defense and I mean if they are going to play zone, it opens up a lot of the run game. Then, when they end up stepping into the box, then that’s time for RPO’s, play actions. It just opens up everything.”
One always hears that defenses game plan to try and take something away from the offense, the biggest strength. With this group, though, they can’t afford to double-team Jeudy because it’ll leave someone else open, Smith is go-to option who has to be accounted for as well and few teams can even think about trying to keep up with Ruggs or Waddle.
If you’re a defensive coordinator, who do you risk putting your fourth best defender on in coverage?
Let’s just say there will be a lot of red faces on opposing sidelines this season.
“Those guys make me look good,” said Tagovailoa, the 2018 Heisman Trophy runner-up.
