Spring Practice Thread (Interviews, Press Conferences, Practice Reports)

[dWarriors88]

Adding to what I said last night about the offenses being different in 2015...

The numbers do speak for themselves. The 2011 defense averaged an interception a game while the 2015 defense averaged 1.3 interceptions a game. The 2011 defense recorded 2.3 sacks a game compared to the 3.5 per game recorded by the 2015 defense.

The 2011 defense gave up an average of 183.62 yards per game while the 2015 gave up 276.33. The difference? The 2015 defense's opponents averaged 66.01 yards more on the season. Each defense held its opponents to over 100 yards below their season average (162.46 in 2011 and 135.76 in 2015). The 2011 defense did much better by holding opponents to an average of 3.41 yards per play while the 2015 defense held opponents to 4.25 yards per play.

IOW, each defense was great. The 2015 defense got more sacks and interceptions while the 2011 defense wouldn't kept teams well below their averages.

We're all going to miss Coach Smart. That saban-smart tamdum took years before alabama to get going. We caught something special blossoming from years of sowing, and what a wonderful time. Can any of you reasonably expect much of a difference in the defensive success switching DCs?

 

[Alasippi]

We're all going to miss Coach Smart. That saban-smart tamdum took years before alabama to get going. We caught something special blossoming from years of sowing, and what a wonderful time. Can any of you reasonably expect much of a difference in the defensive success switching DCs?

Coach Saban will never be caught off guard. He understands his profession more than any coach in college football.
He had a plan for Kirby leaving long before Kirby left, at least that's my belief.
We'll be fine. If Coach Saban's trends continue, don't be surprised if we're actually better on defense.

 

[CrimsonForce]

Is the scrimmage today televised?

 

[JustNeedMe81]

Nope. We won't know full stats from the scrimmage. It's closed scrimmage.

 

[BamaMoon]

Don't know if some REC members will be there, but we typically "hear" more form some of those guys who "talk" (even thought they are not supposed to) than we learn from the partial stats they release.

But, I'm always waiting to hear the stats...especially on the qbs.

 

[Matt0424]

A few notes from a friend at the scrimmage.

"Bo Scar is legit. Prolly 10 carries 150 yards including 2 TDs. Had a 80 yard run where he broke away from the DBs.. looked alot like Henry"

"Cooper Bateman looked the best at QB. Barnett threw 2 pic 6's. Reuben Foster is the best LB to play since Rolo and ArDarius Stewart has gotten even better. Tim Williams will lead the country in sacks.. he actually sacked Hurts before a 3 step drop"


Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[CrimsonForce]

 

[TideMan09]

If you want to follow play by play of the scrimmage check out @capstonekid on Twitter. He did the same thing last year and it was accurate. A lot of very interesting tidbits in the play by play..

Yup..He's really good about given accurate info from the scrimmage..He said this is the fastest D in his 40 + yrs of watching Bama Football, that gives goose bumps of joy hearing tweets like that, he also thought Barnett's wind up when throwing the ball was slow & reminded him of Tebow's slow wind up..Maybe he'll improve & quicken his wind up when throwing the ball..

 

[ALA2262]

Alabama Coach Nick Saban discusses a first scrimmage that was as expected

"If we were where we needed to be we wouldn’t need to practice the rest of the spring or next fall camp, we’d just go play the first game. We’re definitely not ready to do that. But I was encouraged by some of the guys out there.”

As for individuals, Saban had praise for tailback Bo Scarbrough, wide receiver ArDarius Stewart, and said “some of the the young quarterbacks made some plays. David Cornwell threw the ball fairly well.”

In a release of limited experience from the closed scrimmage (closed to the public and media, but open to several thousand spectators, including former football players, Red Elephant Club boosters, and various sponsors) showed Scarbrough, the sophomore tailback many expect to replace Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry with 9 carries for 132 yards and 3 touchdowns. (One of his runs was a 96-yard touchdown gallop.)

Freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts had 10 carries for 57 yards and Damien Harris 12 rushes for 36 yards. Stewart had 7 catches for 100 yards and 2 TDs and Calvin Ridley 3 receptions for 50 yards.

As is frequently the case in spring scrimmages, quarrterback passing statistics were not released. Saban has previously pointed out that quarterback statistics in a spring scrimmage are skewed by the quarterbacks playing with different offenses and against different defenses.

Speaking of defense, Saban said, “{They] batted some balls down, got some turnovers, made some good plays.”

First Alabama Scrimmage Had Good And Bad

 

[TiderJack]

TIFWIW regarding the OL, a friend sent me some comments from someone at the scrimmage and Taylor has lost his job at RG as of now. Brandon Kennedy was the 1st team RG during most of the scrimmage. Lester Cotton was at left guard and will either start at LG or RT (he is one of our best 5). Kirven was starting RT. Jonah Williams was starting LT and staff loves him. Obviously Cam will start but Jonah will be a star. I think OL will be a strength this year.

 

[Tideflyer]

TIFWIW regarding the OL, a friend sent me some comments from someone at the scrimmage and Taylor has lost his job at RG as of now. Brandon Kennedy was the 1st team RG during most of the scrimmage. Lester Cotton was at left guard and will either start at LG or RT (he is one of our best 5). Kirven was starting RT. Jonah Williams was starting LT and staff loves him. Obviously Cam will start but Jonah will be a star. I think OL will be a strength this year.

That`s excellent news. It`s beginning to sound like ( these kinds of observations plus what Coach Saban`s been alluding to ) we have a number of guys that can play and potentially be very good. Good depth. Sounds like the " vibes " may be the best for the O line in a long time.

 

[TiderJack]

That`s excellent news. It`s beginning to sound like ( these kinds of observations plus what Coach Saban`s been alluding to ) we have a number of guys that can play and potentially be very good. Good depth. Sounds like the " vibes " may be the best for the O line in a long time.

I agree. Our overall depth at OL has never been better. Just saw this article on BOL.

http://alabama.247sports.com/Bolt/Saban-searches-for-five-best-O-linemen-this-spring-44630823

 

[gtgilbert]

TIFWIW regarding the OL, a friend sent me some comments from someone at the scrimmage and Taylor has lost his job at RG as of now. Brandon Kennedy was the 1st team RG during most of the scrimmage. Lester Cotton was at left guard and will either start at LG or RT (he is one of our best 5). Kirven was starting RT. Jonah Williams was starting LT and staff loves him. Obviously Cam will start but Jonah will be a star. I think OL will be a strength this year.

This makes me haz the happy.

I would love to see some combination of Cotton, Kennedy and Bozeman take over the two guard spots, assuming RP's move to center sticks as it appears to. If taylor can earn the spot back, that's fine, but I am super excited to hear he's getting pushed hard to improve or lose the spot.

It would be awesome if williams could work this year and learn behind Cam, get a little time when games are in hand and then be ready to take over next year (assuming Cam leaves for the NFL).

 

[BAMARICH]

TIFWIW regarding the OL, a friend sent me some comments from someone at the scrimmage and Taylor has lost his job at RG as of now. Brandon Kennedy was the 1st team RG during most of the scrimmage. Lester Cotton was at left guard and will either start at LG or RT (he is one of our best 5). Kirven was starting RT. Jonah Williams was starting LT and staff loves him. Obviously Cam will start but Jonah will be a star. I think OL will be a strength this year.

Observers who watched practices for the first bowl game made the observation that there would be "full out competition" this spring along the OL. The ability of these younger guys made some state, except for Robinson, that no OL position would be nailed down going into spring practices. Looks like that indeed is the case... as does the fact that we needed upgrading at these positions.

 

[92tide]

 

[bamablood6]

This makes me haz the happy.


I would love to see some combination of Cotton, Kennedy and Bozeman take over the two guard spots, assuming RP's move to center sticks as it appears to. If taylor can earn the spot back, that's fine, but I am super excited to hear he's getting pushed hard to improve or lose the spot.

It would be awesome if williams could work this year and learn behind Cam, get a little time when games are in hand and then be ready to take over next year (assuming Cam leaves for the NFL).

Bozeman has not even been mentioned. Cotton, Warmack, Kennedy have been discussed at G, with Taylor barely mentioned due to him not being with 1's.

A few other names not mentioned at all so far: Hassenauer, Casher, Owens, Petitbon (somewhere they said he might be banged up) and Womack.

That is 15 scholar shipped OL in spring ball and 2 more real big bodies arriving this summer. 17 going into fall. That's a lot of depth to choose your best 5 from.

 

[Tideflyer]

It sounds like the major "dilemma" for the O line is getting people placed and has nothing to do with talent and depth. If that`s so, that`s a wonderful problem to have IMHO.

 

[RTR91]

Observers who watched practices for the first bowl game made the observation that there would be "full out competition" this spring along the OL. The ability of these younger guys made some state, except for Robinson, that no OL position would be nailed down going into spring practices. Looks like that indeed is the case... as does the fact that we needed upgrading at these positions.

Can't be. Everyone told me during the season talent wasn't the problem... Mario was.

 

[TiderJack]

Bozeman has not even been mentioned. Cotton, Warmack, Kennedy have been discussed at G, with Taylor barely mentioned due to him not being with 1's.

A few other names not mentioned at all so far: Hassenauer, Casher, Owens, Petitbon (somewhere they said he might be banged up) and Womack.

That is 15 scholar shipped OL in spring ball and 2 more real big bodies arriving this summer. 17 going into fall. That's a lot of depth to choose your best 5 from.

Hassenauer has been mentioned as the 2nd team center. Heard Pettibon got hurt in the scrimmage. Nothing about Casher or Owens (w/ Owens being a 1st semester freshman I did not expect to hear much from him).

The message I received said Bozeman was working at 2nd team RG and RT, and we have 5 OT's that could start and one OT will start at guard. Imagine we now have 5 OT's that can start.

 

[gtgilbert]

Bozeman has not even been mentioned. Cotton, Warmack, Kennedy have been discussed at G, with Taylor barely mentioned due to him not being with 1's.

A few other names not mentioned at all so far: Hassenauer, Casher, Owens, Petitbon (somewhere they said he might be banged up) and Womack.

That is 15 scholar shipped OL in spring ball and 2 more real big bodies arriving this summer. 17 going into fall. That's a lot of depth to choose your best 5 from.

I could have sworn I saw an article where Bozeman was taking some reps with the first team line at some point - maybe not, and I'd still be good with that competition including Warmack also..