For Eryk Anders, it’s all about timing

TUSCALOOSA | It was two weeks before 2005 fall camp and the University of Alabama had a last-minute opening with its incoming true freshmen, a class highlighted by players like running backs Jimmy Johns, Glen Coffee and Roy Upchurch; offensive lineman Michael Johnson; defensive back Chris Keys; and defensive linemen Lorenzo Washington and Brandon Fanney.

The late scratch due to academics (Mike Ford, Antonio Forbes, Michael Ricks?) left the Crimson Tide suddenly looking for the best athlete available regardless of the position. He turned out to be a little-known prospect from San Antonio whose high school coach at Smithson Valley was friends with former Crimson Tide offensive line coach Bob Connelly, resulting in his video tape landing in Mike Shula’s hands at the right time.

Otherwise, junior linebacker Eryk Anders probably would have ended up at Ole Miss, which will visit Bryant-Denny Stadium a week from Saturday.

“There were some times that I would talk to my family about transferring or something,” said Anders, who saw

limited playing time the past two seasons and was otherwise best known as being the cousin of former Kansas City Chiefs fullback Kimble Anders.

Instead, like a number of players on this year’s No. 2 team, Anders found his niche – the  position Coach Nick Saban called “rabbit rusher.”

Specially, he’s a 6-foot-2, 227-pound linebacker who frequently lines up at defensive end and acts as an outside pass rusher in obvious passing situations despite taking on linemen twice his size.

“I guess I’m a little bit smaller for the jet position,” said Anders, later adding, “I don’t really consider myself as specialist. That’s just my role on the team and I try and do it to the best of my ability.”

Actually, he’s nearly been in the backfield as much as any other defender this season, with a team-leading four quarterback hurries and, combined with special-team statistics, has 14 tackles – more than any lineman not named Terrence Cody.

“He’s really come a long way,” said junior linebacker Cory Reamer, who like Anders used specials teams as a stepping stone to more playing time. “He’s developed a lot as a pass-rusher, been able to get a lot of pressure on the quarterback.”

For the base defense, Anders is a backup at outside linebacker, even though Saban prefers to have more size. For example, at “Jack,” the hybrid defensive end/linebacker spot, Fanney is listed as 6-foot-4, 257 pounds, and has 24 tackles, including 4½ for a loss.

However, when it’s pretty clear the opponent is going to the air, the Tide has regularly gone with speed over size, removing the nose guard (and with Cody it’s a 120-pound difference) and sliding the end, or both ends, inside.

“They’re not the pass-rush guys,” Saban said of Cody and backup Josh Chapman. “Both guys can push the pocket and are power rushers. The more athleticism and the more speed you put on the field, the better chance you have to finish in loose-play situations, whether it’s screens, sacking the quarterback, affecting a scrambling quarterback, turning and breaking on the ball on short throws, whatever it is.”

That’s what has set Anders apart, his quickness. He’s been giving 300-pound offensive tackles problems since spring practice, when he recorded two sacks for the White Team during A-Day.

“I felt played pretty good,” he said. “I knew if I kept that up through summer and fall camp that I would get some playing time.”

Having a better grasp of the defense has been an important part too, but Anders isn’t ready to pat himself on the back too much. He was credited with a half-sack along with Fanney midway through the fourth quarter at Georgia, but knows the season is only half over, if that, and there’s really no reason to celebrate yet.

“Maybe when I get my first sack,” Anders said.

Tide-spots

Like Wednesday, junior left tackle Andre Smith wore black during practice and didn’t go through individual drills during the brief time period reporters were allowed to observe. Saban said he thought Smith had strep throat, and that his sprained elbow is fine. “His whole thing was about being sick,” Saban said.

Saban said he was pleased with the three days of practice this week: “Good week. Players worked hard.” Although some got looks in different areas, the coach stated that there were no significant changes, and most of the practices were spent working on fundamentals. Players will work in the weight room this morning and do some conditioning before getting the weekend off. Most of the coaching staff will recruit.

Unless something extreme occurs, any true freshman who has not played yet will almost certainly redshirt. Only 10 members of the last recruiting class don’t have game experience: Michael Williams, Star Jackson, Brad Smelley, Undra Billingsley, Ivan Matchett, Wesley Neighbors, Alonzo Lawrence, Glenn Harbin, Damion Square and Robert Lester.

Reach Christopher Walsh at christopher.walsh@tuscaloosanews.com