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Alabama Football Spring Practice Preview: 3 Storylines To Watch
Alabama Crimson Tide spring practice preview for 2017. Here are three storylines to watch when the Crimson Tide hit the field on March 21.
March 10, 2017
Alabama Crimson Tide spring practice preview for 2017. Here are three storylines to watch when the Crimson Tide hit the field on March 21.
One second is all that stood between Alabama and back-to-back national championships. Now, Nick Saban’s team must regroup after losing a lot of talent and suffering major turnover on the coaching staff.
This is the Crimson Tide, though, and if anyone can handle all of that, it is them. Quarterback Jalen Hurts will return after a stellar freshman season, talent at the running back position is deeper than ever, and Rashaan Evans might be the best returning linebacker in the country.
The question marks do not lie in how talented this team is, but how the players and new coaches gel together, and if the next five-star recruit is ready to take the place of one that just departed for NFL riches.
Here are three storylines to watch for as Alabama begins spring practice on March 21 and concludes with A-Day on April 22.
Alabama Crimson Tide Spring Storylines
1. New Offensive Sheriff in Town
Lane Kiffin left for the FAU head coaching position, and Steve Sarkisian departed for the Atlanta Falcons, leaving Saban to find a new offensive coordinator. In comes Brian Daboll, who has worked the past three seasons as the tight ends coach for the New England Patriots under Bill Belichick.
It wasn’t exactly a home run hire by any means, but Daboll will have some strict marching orders and it is this: get back to a more pro-style offense. For all of the good Kiffin did with the Alabama offense, the one thing that irked Saban the most was when he refused to keep running the ball, especially when backs such as Bo Scarbrough and Derrick Henry were on a roll.
The spread will still be in play, but how much Daboll changes, and how quickly Hurts and company can learn a new scheme, will play a big role in how effective, and dangerous, this offense can be.
2. Answers On Defense
The defensive side of the ball took some major hits with departures, as Jonathan Allen, Dalvin Tomlinson, Tim Williams, Ryan Anderson, and Reuben Foster are all gone. As stated before, Evans is expected to take up for the lack of Foster, while up front, Da’Shawn Hand, Raekwon Davis, and returning starter Da’Ron Payne are ready to take their games to the next level.
The development of Payne from good player to superstar will be something to watch, along with how well Hand comes along. Isaiah Buggs, a JUCO transfer, should be battling for a starting position as well.
3. Who’s Going To Catch The Ball?
After Calvin Ridley, there’s no wide receiver that has much experience, as both Ar’Darius Stewart and Gehrig Dieter are now gone.
A couple of players that could come up big and make the passing game dangerous are Jerry Jeudy, a true freshman that has great hands, and Trevon Diggs, who as a freshman 11 passes for 88 yards and a touchdown.
Then there is Robert Foster, a senior that hasn’t lived up to his ability yet. Could this be the season that he breaks out?
