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Reuben Foster and Rashaan Evans have so much in common.
They’re linebackers for Alabama who both starred at Auburn High. They are also studs on special teams. And most importantly, they both have a chance to make a big impact for the Crimson Tide this season, and not just when they are laying out opposing return men.
However, in order to make that impact in 2015, both have been forced to address flaws in their respective games so that they can see more time on the field.
Foster’s potential downfall has been his hard-hitting and at times reckless style of tackling — which in some cases has its benefits, such as when the junior smashed LSU’s Leonard Fournette on a kickoff return at the end of regulation in Alabama’s eventual 20-13 win over the Tigers last season.
Meanwhile, according to Nick Saban, Evans needs to be more effective in pass coverage, something that the head coach and Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kirby Smart are trying to work on with the 6-foot-3, 220-pounder.
What Evans doesn’t need work on is his special teams play. As a freshman last season, he led Alabama with 12 special teams tackles in 13 games. But his numbers on defense were pedestrian: three tackles — including two for a loss — and a sack. Nevertheless, Saban recently revealed that Evans is improving to the point where his play at linebacker might catch up to his special-teams skills.
“Rashaan Evans is gaining knowledge and experience that’s helping him play with more confidence and consistency,” Saban recently told the Montgomery Advertiser. “I think he’s going to be a contributor for us situationally this year.”
What that means is Evans could very well be the Tide’s pass-rushing specialist on third down. He has the speed and instincts to bring down mobile quarterbacks, and his propensity for making big hits will force opponents to game plan away from wherever he happens to be on the field.
The 6-foot-1, 240-pound Foster, on the other hand, has been trying to improve upon his hitting while keeping his helmet up, a technique that’s important when you consider how easily football players can end their careers and cause permanent damage with these types of tackles.
Saban, for one, admits that he has seen improvement in Foster’s tackling approach.
“He’s a lot better in blow delivery and body position in blow delivery,” the coach recently told AL.com, “which certainly should affect his ability to play with a little more safety in the future for himself and we’re hopeful.”
Alabama has definite reasons to be hopeful this season, particularly about its linebacking corps. Foster is competing for a starting spot at middle linebacker next to Reggie Ragland while Evans, as an outside linebacker, is developing into an edge rusher. Smart is hoping — and expecting — his dynamic duo to improve upon its 2014 numbers, when Foster finished with 22 tackles (two for a loss) and a sack and Evans contributed his total of 15 stops, including two for a loss, and a sack as well.
It’s not too far of a stretch to suggest that Foster may one day join the ranks of Landon Collins, who began his Alabama career as a special teams star before eventually becoming a starter and an all-SEC defender. Foster is well on his way to becoming Alabama’s next outstanding weakside linebacker, but he has to stay healthy to earn and keep that spot. Plus, he will be able to contribute even more to the Tide if he learns how to play under control without sacrificing his power.
Foster and Evans are doing as much as they can to wipe out their weaknesses. But if both players make the adjustments they need in order for them to succeed, Alabama’s already-regarded front seven will be even better. This will also potentially extend the tradition of great Crimson Tide linebackers such as Derrick Thomas, Cornelius Bennett and C.J. Mosley.
Stan Chrapowicki is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football, Alabama and Auburn.
