Bama Practice Observations

I have a business associate who does advertising with Crimson Tide Sports Network. As part of this commitment, his business if given 4 practice passes so he and three others can attend one fall practice each year. This is truly behind the scenes after the media is gone stuff. Observations from Friday:

* QBs go to the furthest side of the field away from media access point. The media hears a unique horn signifying that they are allowed to come out and they (literally) run through the designated doors b/c their allowed time begins the second the horn sounds.

* they're allowed only to a certain point on the field and when the horn sounds again signifying their time is up all managers drop what they are doing and literally start shielding practice and guiding media off the field. There is no "let be get this last picture" going on. The horn sounds, you leave.

* Blake Sims surprised. Apparently, none of the coaches expected him to do what he's done in fall camp. The team loves him, he's performing well, he's committed. Based on Friday, I think he starts and gets the majority of the snaps on Saturday, and likely for at least the two weeks after that.

* Coker is an enormous talent, but it doesn't seem that he's put it "all together" yet. Sims had clear control of huddle and offense. Coker is way more talented (strongest arm since Brodie, and maybe even stronger than that..also, he has the frame to hold up if he ultimately starts), but Sims is ahead on the intangibles.

* All the RBs are quick. Stunningly quick. The size of Henry will take you by surprise. He looks like an LB or DE playing RB. Massive. Goes without saying, but this is a great strength for the team. Any of the three would start at 90% of D1 schools. Drake is incredibly quick.

* The D looks big, fast, mean, and mad. The entire hour and a half someone - Saban or Smart usually - was yelling at them. Not "come on you can do better" type yelling. I mean "what the **** are you doing?! get there! faster, ******. you've got to go faster". And they responded.

* Not sure what happened with Tony Brown, but Saban got in his face and said "why the **** are you fighting with the people trying to help you? just do your job". He had gotten beat on a play, but it seemed more than that one play was bothering Saban. That said, he's going to start at some point this year. His talent is obvious.

* Best part, IMO - there are two scout team offenses. as soon as one scout team O finishes a play, the other scout team is at the line of scrimmage ready to snap the ball. The D doesn't substitute. They just have to line it up in a hurry (more yelling of "encouragement" is done in between snaps..."hurry...let's go...move your ......line it up"). This process was so tight and smooth. It was impressive how they are coaching around the hurry up.

* The team size and speed is probably the best we've ever had. I know people keep trying to say this will be a "down" year at Bama. I don't buy it. If we get slightly above average QB play - and it is consistent - then this team SHOULD be in the playoff.

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