Tide hoping for big things from Barron

TUSCALOOSA — He might be playing center field, eager to pounce on a ball that floats over the middle.

He might be locked up man-to-man on a slot receiver, initiating contact on the line of scrimmage.

He might line up on the edge, ready to blitz, or bluff and able to retreat quickly and pick up the hot read.

In short, Mark Barron could be anywhere — and everywhere — in Alabama’s defensive scheme this fall.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound junior from Mobile led the SEC with seven interceptions last season at strong safety.

He is coach Nick Saban’s most versatile, most physical and most experienced member of the secondary, not to mention that young unit’s leader.

“He could play anywhere in the secondary,” Saban said. “He’s played Star, he’s played Money, he’s played both safeties. ... He’s the one guy that when we’ve tried to get the best guys on the field in the secondary, he can play multiple spots.

“He’s played a lot of different roles and he’s been here a long time. he has a great understanding of the concept.”

That is exactly what Saban envisioned Barron being in his freshman season. But the overload of learning those different positions actually hampered development, Saban admitted.

Last season, Barron started playing exclusively strong safety, then added responsibilities as he mastered that spot.

Defensive coordinator Kirby Smart said Barron is “almost like a changed man this year.”

“It’s funny because I can remember the first couple of times we were out there with Mark Barron as a freshman,” Smart said. “It was pretty obvious early on that he was going to be a talented player, but he did not understand the intricacies of the defense.

“He was learning and there were days out there that he was frustrated, and the older guys would get on him about getting into the playbook.

“Now, two years later, he’s that guy. He knows pretty much all the defense, and he’s coaching the other guys and it is fun to see him grow up and become the player that he is.

He is such a mature kid. He’s not a silly guy. He’s all about business, and he does a good job of leading the other guys. He makes me feel real comfortable about him being back there.”

Barron said he doesn’t think his role as a leader has been a big adjustment.

“Instead of just knowing the plays in my head I have to be vocal as well this year,” he said. “I am just trying to show them the way we do things and the way we practice. I try my bestto show them the tempo that we do things and the amount of work it takes to be successful.”

Barron was asked what is more difficult in camp, the daily grind of practice or learning the system. He didn’t need long to answer.

“I would say learning the system,” he said, likely thinking back to his freshman experience.

“The daily grind, it’s tough right now, too, but I think it’s more learning the system. Because they can get frustrated at times. They’ve got to be mentally strong and be able push through that frustration that they have. So I think it’s more mental.”

Safety Robert Lester, who came to Tuscaloosa with Barron but red-shirted his first season, said he’s learned a lot from Barron.

“Watching him play, I see the things he does and the calls he makes, and that¹s a teaching thing for me,” Lester said.

Barron is helping — and frustrating — the offense, too. Quarterback Greg McElroy talked about how disruptive Barron can be.

“I can think of a play yesterday where I threw the ball in good timing to (Darius) Hanks on an option route,” McElroy said. “Mark was not necessarily in the greatest position, but he made a great recovery and he picked the ball off.”

It was a play McElroy was still discussing with center William Vlachos at dinner after practice.

“We were talking about how good Mark really is,” the quarterback said. “I think a lot of people think of him as a playmaker, a guy that’s so great in coverage. But one thing he does is just reads eyes. He has such great instincts.”

McElroy said Barron’s experience lets him take advantage of his strengths.

“He can be disruptive on his blitzes because he has great timing and he has an understanding of the defenses,” the McElroy said. “And he understands the weaknesses of our offense in certain protections.

“He does a really good job for our defense. He’s definitely a leader out there. He leads by example. He does a good job making the correct calls and making plays when they’re there to be made.”