As others have alluded in this thread, what Saban doesn’t say is often more important than what he does say.
I think young Mr. Hall is on his last chance. He was told in no uncertain terms in Saban’s rant at the coaches’ clinic. I have no doubt he was told before that in face-to-face meetings. The message was reinforced yesterday in that new names, including a true freshman, are mentioned with praise, but his is conspicuously absent….no mention whatsoever.
With the benefit of hindsight, it may turn out that last year’s A-Day performance was the worst thing that ever happened to him.
Saban has repeatedly said that the team as a whole has a good attitude, and is responding the right way to what everyone views as last year’s negativity and deficiencies in leadership. Sometimes, you have to be dope-slapped by life before such lessons sink in.
Hall will get with the program, or the program will move on without him. His choice. I sincerely hope he changes, because right this second, he’s taking up a scholarship, contributing almost nothing, and is perpetually in the dog house.
On another note, Saban’s comments on the OL struck me as telling, especially in comparison with the overall positivity of his review of the first scrimmage. We have a long way to go on the offensive front.
Also, it was great to see Sanders’ stats, especially given the damning faint praise of the OL.
From what I’ve been able to cobble together from various sources, his injury from the car wreck was similar to Tua’s. Assuming that’s an accurate assessment, I always expected a two-year recovery period, and was honestly surprised at his ability to contribute as much as he did in 2021. Sanders showed huge heart and mental toughness last year, though you could tell his body just wasn’t fully cooperating yet — significantly slower than pre-injury, and nowhere in the galaxy of his previous explosiveness.
With another two weeks of spring ball, a summer of rehab, and fall camp before the 2022 season, I’m hopeful he’ll be truly back — if anybody deserves a run of good luck, it’s Trey Sanders.