JessN: A-Day wrap-up: Next-gen Bama has the talent, but will need polish

[JessN]

A-Day wrap-up: Next-gen Bama has the talent, but will need polish

With some two dozen players held out or limited, the picture that A-Day painted will likely be more of an artist’s rendering rather than an exact representation of what the 2021 season will h…

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[Saban4Ever]

Thanks, Jess. I hope Reichard is perfect or almost perfect next season like last season. Having a new snapper and holder takes time to get used to I guess. I watched the game but can't recall if Ty Perine punted? We need to get much better with punting. Field position could be an issue in some games. I really wanted to watch Milroe play, but I guess he was one of the players held out due to covid/contact tracing. I sure hope Bryce stays healthy. I also hope he gains another 5 -10 pounds of muscle by September RTR

 

[B1GTide]

The only position group that worries me is punter because Alabama is going to need to play the field position game a few times early in the season until the offense finds its legs. That is a pretty good place to be this early in the 2021 campaign.

 

[JessN]

Thanks, Jess. I hope Reichard is perfect or almost perfect next season like last season. Having a new snapper and holder takes time to get used to I guess. I watched the game but can't recall if Ty Perine punted? We need to get much better with punting. Field position could be an issue in some games. I really wanted to watch Milroe play, but I guess he was one of the players held out due to covid/contact tracing. I sure hope Bryce stays healthy. I also hope he gains another 5 -10 pounds of muscle by September RTR

Perine did not punt. Sam Johnson punted for the Crimson team. Couldn't tell if one of them was a designed short punt but if it was, he didn't execute it well. It didn't get to the 20. He had at least one other that didn't go very far, either.

Snapper/holder could have been as issue for Reichard, but they didn't rush FG attempts, so even if one of the two was bad, there was time enough to get it right without pressure.

 

[STONECOLDSABAN]

Perine did not punt. Sam Johnson punted for the Crimson team. Couldn't tell if one of them was a designed short punt but if it was, he didn't execute it well. It didn't get to the 20. He had at least one other that didn't go very far, either.

Snapper/holder could have been as issue for Reichard, but they didn't rush FG attempts, so even if one of the two was bad, there was time enough to get it right without pressure.

That’s just bizarre. How do you go from 19/19 in the 2020 season/2021 spring combined to 2/5 if it’s not a holder issue??? We need 2020 reichard for Jordan hare and college station. (Sorry, that was my pre will reichard kicking ptsd coming out Jess.)

 

[CrimsonTheory]

The only position group that worries me is punter because Alabama is going to need to play the field position game a few times early in the season until the offense finds its legs. That is a pretty good place to be this early in the 2021 campaign.

I agree but I am also concerned about the backup QB. If Bryce is going to play like the modern QB plays, he might be taking some extra hits. The backup QB needs to be ready to play. Not sure if Bama will have a QB ready to play if something happens to Bryce.

 

[B1GTide]

I agree but I am also concerned about the backup QB. If Bryce is going to play like the modern QB plays, he might be taking some extra hits. The backup QB needs to be ready to play. Not sure if Bama will have a QB ready to play if something happens to Bryce.

I agree unless Milroe is ready.

 

[78Alum]

Thanks, Jess! Great job as always. I have been missing your analyses, now a long wait to the fall...

 

[Cruloc]

You were supposed to slant!!

 

[Ole Man Dan]

I agree but I am also concerned about the backup QB. If Bryce is going to play like the modern QB plays, he might be taking some extra hits. The backup QB needs to be ready to play. Not sure if Bama will have a QB ready to play if something happens to Bryce.

IMO: our #2 QB better be pretty good, and pretty mobile.
Teams always like to come after the #2 guy.
I think I am probably up for criticism, but P.T. maneuvered himself from
#2 to #3. P.T. did not play well under pressure.
I hope Milroe can play better under pressure than P.T. did. Time will tell.

The play we saw Saturday will not resemble the play we should see this fall. With a full complement of receivers and a expanded play book we should see more production by our passing game. A strong passing game will make it easier on our running backs.

Now about our OFFENSIVE LINE. The were pretty Offensive.
It's gonna take some work if they are gonna keep guys off of B.Y.

 

[Tideflyer]

In no way trying to be a Debbie Downer, but the O line REALLY needs to gel early IMO. Bryce looks absolutely slight , and unless he can put on some good weight........

 

[JessN]

In no way trying to be a Debbie Downer, but the O line REALLY needs to gel early IMO. Bryce looks absolutely slight , and unless he can put on some good weight........

OL is going to look like this in the fall, I think:

LT: Neal
LG: Dalcourt/Ekiyor (from RG)/T.Brown
C: Owens
RG: Ekiyor (unless moved to LG)/Dalcourt/T.Brown/Cohen
RT: Uh-oh.

That last one is where this has got to come together fast. Randolph was the best RT on the field Saturday, but he has not looked good there in prior game action. He's been more effective inside. Also, if he's your RT, there is no more flexing him to TE and pounding the ball in the running game, so it puts extra pressure on Latu and Ouzts especially to hold down the Y spot.

You have J.C. Latham, Damion George, maybe Cohen again at tackle. Brockemeyer needs weight, he's not not ready yet. You *might* get away with Tommy Brown going out there, but if you do that, then Bowles and Quick have to be ready at guard and Dalcourt has to stay healthy. I don't worry about the starting guard spots; I think those will jell quickly. But right tackle is going to worry me until I see 3-4 games of it.

And the pull-the-fire-alarm fix is to move Owens out from center, with Dalcourt taking over there ahead of McLaughlin.

 

[BamaFlum]

We had numerous guys out for various reasons, especially on the OL. PT may not have looked good due to poor OL play.

 

[STONECOLDSABAN]

IMO: our #2 QB better be pretty good, and pretty mobile.
Teams always like to come after the #2 guy.
I think I am probably up for criticism, but P.T. maneuvered himself from
#2 to #3. P.T. did not play well under pressure.
I hope Milroe can play better under pressure than P.T. did. Time will tell.

The play we saw Saturday will not resemble the play we should see this fall. With a full complement of receivers and a expanded play book we should see more production by our passing game. A strong passing game will make it easier on our running backs.

Now about our OFFENSIVE LINE. The were pretty Offensive.
It's gonna take some work if they are gonna keep guys off of B.Y.

Two offensive line starters were not playing in the spring game. 20 players total for didn’t play in the spring game and 12 of those were two deep.

 

[JayBama_in_PCOLA]

Thank you Jess. I hope the fix is already there and just all the hold out (and there were a lot) was the problem. I still believe we will win it all again next season.

 

[atlbama]

Keep in mind the early enrollees will now have a full summer with our elite sports science team and they now know what to expect after going through spring. I expect of few of these young men to make some fairly significant jumps in body type and skill set. I am excited to see some of the progress these guys make since this is the first full summer David Ballou and Dr. Matt Rhea have had to work with the players "hands on".

 

[TideEngineer08]

I'm not ready to give up on PT as the #2 QB, not after playing behind a scattershot OL against a very good DL. He was doomed to a mediocre day. However, I hate it that Milroe did not get to play.

I'm excited about the defense continuing to regain its usual CNS form. Bryce looked like the next great Alabama QB. For all the hiccups during the game, it is only Spring, and a lot is going to happen over the Summer workouts and Fall camp that will round this team into form.

 

[Padreruf]

I just rewatched the game...if he had been cut loose Bryce Young could easily have put 4-5 TD's on the board. I also agree that Paul Tyson did not play that bad...he was just running for his life. He does have a strong arm and good head...We will have a good OL when all is said and done...it may not be as strong as last year, but whose is?

Defense is deep and strong...for instance #33 of the White team, Jackson Bratton, made a number of plays at LB in the flats, plays that we were beaten on for the last 2 years. I've not heard his name at all -- and he was playing on the 2nd team. As long as we stay hungry and play both smart and hard we should be fine...

 

[russtang]

I just rewatched the game...if he had been cut loose Bryce Young could easily have put 4-5 TD's on the board. I also agree that Paul Tyson did not play that bad...he was just running for his life. He does have a strong arm and good head...We will have a good OL when all is said and done...it may not be as strong as last year, but whose is?

Defense is deep and strong...for instance #33 of the White team, Jackson Bratton, made a number of plays at LB in the flats, plays that we were beaten on for the last 2 years. I've not heard his name at all -- and he was playing on the 2nd team. As long as we stay hungry and play both smart and hard we should be fine...

I rewatched some too. I was a little harsh on PT originally. The Oline definitely made his play seem worse than it was. He made some good throw aways instead of forcing bad throws which show he is thinking on the run.
The best thing for PT is getting reps IMO.
Fall scrimmages should really help him.

 

[RiverTide]

Not only is the depth of our backfield impressive, but I believe the explosiveness of this group as a whole will be among the best we have seen in a while. Really hope Trey can make a full recovery and contribute this year. I know some backs have trouble physically and/or mentally readjusting after a leg injuries, but I bet he will be ready to make a statement and play with confidence when the time comes.