Consequently, I'll post some observations here throughout the day for you all to check out. My predictions include we'll see more scoring in the first half than last year (zero points) and for the first time since 2011 T.J. Yeldon won't be named the game MVP. My guess is Derrick Henry.
Happy A-Day!
1) It's always interesting to see who the game captains for A-Day. So far the defense has been billed as linebacker Reggie Ragland's, and center Ryan Kelly on offense was pretty obvious as well. The third, though was running back Kenyan Drake, who is coming off last year's horrific leg fracture. Call him the inspirational leader of the team. Crimson captains: Ragland, Dalvin Tomlinson and Brandon Greene (wearing a new number, 58). White: Kelly, Drake, Henry and O.J. Howard.
2) Looks like attendance is going to be around 50,000. (Update: It was later announced at 65,000).
3) When Drake took the opening kickoff they should have just given him the touchdown. Instead, Adam Griffith opened the scoring with a 49-yard field goal. That works as well after his injury-plagued season last year.
4) Looked like cornerback Marlon Humphrey was ready to show he's ready for more and made the first big hit. Problem is he knocked DeSharrius Flowers out of the game and he's one of the few running backs Alabama had left after all the injuries/issues. You could feel the "Don't do that" yells all the way up in the press box.
5) When your second-team defensive line has De'Shawn Hand on it, and that doesn't factor in guys not playing, you've got a pretty good unit. Could be Alabama's strongest this season.
6) Boasts that Reuben Foster could be a different player have proven to be accurate. He looks more comfortable and understands the defense (and just as I typed that he appeared to make a mistake on the first touchdown pass), but most importantly made a big hit and then got up. The sky's the limit for the interior linebacker if he can keep from re-injuring himself on those bone-jarring tackles. Update: Foster had five tackles in the first quarter. No one else had more than two.
7) Guard Alphonse Taylor just limped off the field. A number of guys look different physically from the end of last season, but no one more than Taylor. I don't know how much weight he's lost, but it's a lot (which is saying a lot because he's still huge). They tested the stability of his knee and he's looking very somber on the sideline. Update: He aggravated a sprained knee and should be fine.
8) It's pretty obvious already that Alabama will attacking downfield more, and not just because of the 40-yard touchdown reception by ArDarius Stewart. The guess here is that we'll see more crossing routes. On the defensive side just as easy of a prediction is that the outside linebackers will be notching more sacks. Like a lot more.
9) Wide receiver Robert Foster is beginning to look worthy of the 5-star rating he had as a recruit. The next Amari Cooper? I wouldn't go that far, but he's poised for a big season. Update: He had 92 yards in the first half.
10) My favorite moment of the first half happened at the end, when Nick Saban was supposed to do his ESPN interview. He went across the field and grabbed Lane Kiffin first (I wouldn't call the discussion heated, but definitely not calm). The poor ESPN crew followed them both down to the 15-yard line before Saban finally broke it off and did the interview.
11) JK Scott is nothing short of ridiculous. When he doesn't get it all and still easily sends a 59-yard punt into the end zone ... I've never thought about a punter leaving school after three years to go into the NFL, but he could have done it after one.
12) Here's what Saban will say during his press conference: It was a good day and a pretty good spring. We did some things well, and some things not-so well. I like the makeup of his team, but we have a lot of things to improve on between now and the start of training camp. He'll also thank fans for their support.
POSTGAME
13) When coaches said this past week that they were looking for a quarterback to step up I took it as they were challenging Jacob Coker. He completed 14 of 28 passes for 183 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. He looked pretty good running the 2-minute offense and attacking downfield. He needs to work on his timing, efficiency and gain some more confidence running the offense, but there's no doubt he's the guy moving forward. The younger quarterbacks struggled, but that's what you expect them to do.
14) Saban on the quarterback play: "If I had to play on those two teams, I would’ve played better on the White Team. That’s me playing quarterback. I can still play quarterback. I can sling it a little bit. I can’t see very well, and I might not be able to avoid the rush like I used to. I’m just saying that they had a much better opportunity." The White offense only scored once.
15) Saban's other notable statement: "There can be no great conclusions from anything that we saw today." The first-team defense was essentially missing six players due to injuries.
16) Alabama's outside linebackers are going to cause some major matchup problems and the unit as a whole appears to be more aggressive under the direction of assistant coach Tosh Lupoi.
17) Although they didn't line up this way Saturday, Saban mentioned that Reuben Foster and Shaun Dion Hamilton have been splitting snaps at the same interior linebacker position sort of like Nico Johnson and C.J. Mosley did. Don't be surprised if Reggie Ragland is the only every-down linebacker this season.
18) Talent-wise the Crimson Tide has a lot of it, but with numerous players stepping into new roles and little depth at certain spots (running back, wide receiver and tight end, especially). Like usual the big question will be how well things come together during the summer and fall, but there's no reason to think that Alabama won't be one of the nation's best teams once again in 2015.
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