Getting Ready for Spring Battles!

[BamaInBham]

Say what you want about talent/upside but what people aren't addressing is who can read the field better.
You can have all the talent in the world and if you don't know where you should throw the ball to it does no good.
For the record I'm not speaking of either of our QBs. Just a general opinion/observation....
Whichever QB wins the QB battle I hope is able to read coverages and RPOs and such.
Both QBs can run (KR is probably the better pure runner) and both throw the ball well.

That’s one of Russell’s greatest strengths according to Grubb. He said last year that Russell just had an uncanny ability to know where to go with the ball, whether to run or pass, he just always seemed to do the right thing.

He made 2 of the best throws I’ve vs ULM. He was surrounded by rushers and stood in the pocket and delivered 2 strikes 20 or 30 yds downfield for TDs. The one to his right was an incredible pass that was thrown
into about a 2 foot window to a covered receiver. It was possibly the most impressive pass i’ve ever seen an Alabama QB make in 68 years of watching Alabama football.

His HS tape was spectacular. He just has full control. In the one interview I saw at Alabama he was a cool as a 6th year Sr. He is an incredibly impressive person and QB. It’s like he knows but somehow has enough sense not to be full of himself.

 

[BamaMoon]

That’s one of Russell’s greatest strengths according to Grubb. He said last year that Russell just had an uncanny ability to know where to go with the ball, whether to run or pass, he just always seemed to do the right thing.

He made 2 of the best throws I’ve vs ULM. He was surrounded by rushers and stood in the pocket and delivered 2 strikes 20 or 30 yds downfield for TDs. The one to his right was an incredible pass that was thrown
into about a 2 foot window to a covered receiver. It was possibly the most impressive pass i’ve ever seen an Alabama QB make in 68 years of watching Alabama football.

His HS tape was spectacular. He just has full control. In the one interview I saw at Alabama he was a cool as a 6th year Sr. He is an incredibly impressive person and QB. It’s like he knows but somehow has enough sense not to be full of himself.

That is exciting stuff.

I know it means nothing until it translate on the field, but Kellon Russell is the HIGHEST rated QB we've ever signed!!!

Higher than Bryce, Tua, Mac, AJM, Brodie...etc...The kid is loaded with talent!!! He's often compared to Jayden Daniels.

It's a good problem we have that Mack is pushing KR and vice versa. I think we could win with either of them!

But, from an optics viewpoint, and one that will impact recruiting and fan excitement...I really hope KR wins the job.

We don't need him to be Superman his first year, but if he can win the job and the other parts around him gel, we are looking at a 3 year run under him that will yield some incredible results IMO!

 

[TiderJack]

It may be a play for getting the five most athletic guys on the field, and having him at guard is better than have the next best guard instead

Agreed on five best or athletic but just putting on pads in Spring practice. Long way to go until first game. Coaches are trying to create as much competition as possible and there will be many moving parts since we brought in six OL from portal before it is set in stone IMO.

 

[gtgilbert]

Jackson Lloyd was named as Left Tackle.

SIAP: Sounds like they are trying Mike Carroll at RG and Jayvin James at RT

I though Carroll was announced at LT?

well, I for one hope that no-one is really being named/announced yet. I'd rather them keep competing all the way through spring.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I'm not buying the "Mack is only the #1 starter because he's been in the system longer" nonsense. And many here are looking at last year's performances. I thought both did pretty good last year in what little time we saw them. And Coach DeBoer has said both are lightyears ahead of where they were last year. They evaluate the players based on their performance in practice. Now, maybe Mack's performance is better than Russell's because he's been in system longer. But I doubt that has much to do with it. But the coaches are not going to start Mack, if Russell is clearly the better quarterback, simply because he's been in the system longer. They're going to start the QB who they believe will be most consistent winning games. And that comes from practice performances, and later game performance. It's not going to have anything at all to do with who's been in the system longest. That's nothing but bunk.

The quarterback who can run the offense better will be the one who starts. That doesn't mean the most talented QB or the best passer will start. QB A can be more talented at throwing the ball than QB B but if QB A struggles with getting the offense to the line, in the right play and snapped before the play clock expires, QB B will be the starter if he can do it better.

Common sense would tell you that if there's any advantage to be had, Austin Mack should have an advantage of knowing the system longer than Russell. Being in a system one to two years longer than another player SHOULD be an advantage. If not, then I question the player's mental capacity whose been in it that long. That isn't a guarantee Mack starts, but it definitely should give him an edge in one area of the competition.

 

[Bama Lee]

That’s one of Russell’s greatest strengths according to Grubb. He said last year that Russell just had an uncanny ability to know where to go with the ball, whether to run or pass, he just always seemed to do the right thing.

He made 2 of the best throws I’ve vs ULM. He was surrounded by rushers and stood in the pocket and delivered 2 strikes 20 or 30 yds downfield for TDs. The one to his right was an incredible pass that was thrown
into about a 2 foot window to a covered receiver. It was possibly the most impressive pass i’ve ever seen an Alabama QB make in 68 years of watching Alabama football.

His HS tape was spectacular. He just has full control. In the one interview I saw at Alabama he was a cool as a 6th year Sr. He is an incredibly impressive person and QB. It’s like he knows but somehow has enough sense not to be full of himself.

I live south of Dallas, TX, and got to watch Duncanville in several games. I have been drooling over Russell playing at Bama ever since. The young man is a phenomenal athlete and has a keen eye for the best possible play each and every time he is on the field

 

[RollTide_HTTR]

Wasn't there a scrimmage today? Wonder if any info at all will leak

 

[BamaHoopsBoi]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2037589003336126630

https://twitter.com/x/status/2037583231965397332

Well, that is unfortunate.

 

[PA Tide Fan]

Wasn't there a scrimmage today? Wonder if any info at all will leak

Everything Kalen DeBoer Said After Alabama's First Spring Scrimmage

The Crimson Tide head coach spent time with the media after Alabama's first scrimmage of the spring.

www.si.com

 

[PA Tide Fan]

A pretty good day for Ryan Coleman-Williams

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[BamaMoon]

X, formerly Twitter, was abuzz last night about RCW making plays yesterday. 3 tds and one of them is just a nasty, contested catch in the corner of the EZ.

That means the QBs make some plays, and CKD affirmed such.

Also reading the DL is looking very good!

Also, the OL played well early in the scrimmage, but the DL shone late. At least some "good" on the OL!

Didn't hear much about the other WRs. Was hoping to hear about Cedarian and new NCS transfer, Noah.

Freshman RB, E. Crowell, is limited with a "soft tissue" injury that CKD says is more "week to week." May not see much of him at A-day, which will be disappointing! But Deer was reported to have a good scrimmage.

 

[arthurdawg]

X, formerly Twitter, was abuzz last night about RCW making plays yesterday. 3 tds and one of them is just a nasty, contested catch in the corner of the EZ.

That means the QBs make some plays, and CKD affirmed such.

Also reading the DL is looking very good!

Also, the OL played well early in the scrimmage, but the DL shone late. At least some "good" on the OL!

Didn't hear much about the other WRs. Was hoping to hear about Cedarian and new NCS transfer, Noah.

Freshman RB, E. Crowell, is limited with a "soft tissue" injury that CKD says is more "week to week." May not see much of him at A-day, which will be disappointing! But Deer was reported to have a good scrimmage.

Heard the big JUCO guy is making some moves. He's a big one, and could bring some serious gut to the line.

We need Deer and Crowell to be ready... We just need better talent at RB.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

There's a long way to go. Lots of questions, but lots of talent. We'll definitely need some young and/or inexperienced players to step up. Right now, I'm neither an Eeyore nor a sunshine pumper.

It's spring, and our schedule sets up nicely for a young inexperienced team. We don't get to the meat until October 10 in Athens. On the morning of October 11, we'll have some answers, -- whether positive or negative -- to the currently open questions.

I'm cautiously optimistic regarding OL improvement. Part of that is wondering how much worse that group can get.

My way-too-early predictions are:
1. The OL will be better than last year's abomination. That doesn't necessarily mean it'll be good. Given the bar set in 2025, just being average would represent a major step forward.

2. QB will round into form by October 10 in Athens. I expect production somewhere between the early season healthy and uninjured Ty vs. the late-season sick and injured Ty.

3. The major question I have is the DL. It was OK, not great, last year. Whether the current crew can hold ground in the SEC in November, I'm not sure. Roach has a reputation as a good to excellent recruiter, but only a mediocre position coach. Hope the OU guy can fill the coaching gap.

4. The biggest step forward needs to take place in overall mental and physical toughness. We haven't had a healthy dose of either since 2020. So it's not only a DeBoer problem. Saban's teams were fading on this aspect the last three years of his tenure, masked largely by a Heisman-winning QB.

Mental and physical toughness is built in the spring and fall camps, the S&C program, and in drills that OSHA wouldn't allow.

Come September, everybody says they have it.

Talk to me when you're down 4 against LSU in The Swamp, 3rd and 2 on the LSU 40, 2 minutes to go, the D is salivating, and the crowd is nasty.

After a long period of disappointment, I'm in the mode of "I want to believe. But given multiple years of shortcoming, I will when you show me you've earned it on the field against a worthy opponent."

 

[gtgilbert]

There's a long way to go. Lots of questions, but lots of talent. We'll definitely need some young and/or inexperienced players to step up. Right now, I'm neither optimistic nor pessimistic.

It's spring, and our schedule sets up nicely for a young inexperienced team. We don't get to the meat until October 10 in Athens. On the morning of October 11, we'll have some answers, -- whether positive or negative -- to the currently open questions.

I'm cautiously optimistic, especially as to OL improvement. Part of that is wondering how much worse that group can get.

My way-too-early predictions are:
1. The OL will be better. That doesn't necessarily mean it'll be good. Merely average would represent a major step forward.

2. QB will round into form by October 10 in Athens. I expect production somewhere between the early season healthy and uninjured Ty vs. the late-season sick and injured Ty.

3. The major question I have is the DL. It was OK, not great, last year. Whether the current crew can hold ground in the SEC in November, I'm not sure. Roach has a reputation as a good to excellent recruiter, but only a mediocre position coach. Hope the OU guy can fill the coaching gap.

4. The biggest step forward needs to take place in overall mental and physical toughness. We haven't had a healthy dose of either since 2020. So it's not only a DeBoer problem. Saban's teams were fading on this aspect the last three years of his tenure, masked largely by a Heisman-winning QB.

Mental and physical toughness is built in the spring and fall camps, in drills that OSHA wouldn't allow.

Come September, everybody says they have it.

Talk to me when you're down 4 against LSU in The Swamp, 3rd and 2 on the LSU 40, 2 minutes to go, the D is salivating, and the crowd is nasty.

After several years of disappointment, I'm in the mode of "I want to believe. But after multiple years of shortcoming, I will believe when you show me you've earned the trust."

well said and agree totally. I want to optimistic, but am at the point where until I see with my own eyes what we do when we are against guys wearing other helmets, I have a hard time taking what I hear from coaches and players as anything more than just hype.

 

[BamaMoon]

well said and agree totally. I want to optimistic, but am at the point where until I see with my own eyes what we do when we are against guys wearing other helmets, I have a hard time taking what I hear from coaches and players as anything more than just hype.

I get that. But the hype has been accurate in the sense we've got the coaches, players and scheme to win and win big.

I think the biggest concern is correcting the low ebbs we had the last two years.

But, think about this. Since he arrived, CKD has been correcting the sore spots since he's been here. Year one it was penalties. Year two it was OL/RB positions and having low ebbs against FSU, Georgia and Indiana. We've seen him "tackle" the OL issue and I think that'll largely cure the running back issues (especially if EZ develops along with the other ones).

But as you say, we've got to wait and see.

 

[Con]

I get that. But the hype has been accurate in the sense we've got the coaches, players and scheme to win and win big.

I think the biggest concern is correcting the low ebbs we had the last two years.

But, think about this. Since he arrived, CKD has been correcting the sore spots since he's been here. Year one it was penalties. Year two it was OL/RB positions and having low ebbs against FSU, Georgia and Indiana. We've seen him "tackle" the OL issue and I think that'll largely cure the running back issues (especially if EZ develops along with the other ones).

But as you say, we've got to wait and see.

I love the fact that he is working on fixing the needs/problems that we are having. If he flames out it won’t be because of not trying.

 

[BamaMoon]

I love the fact that he is working on fixing the needs/problems that we are having. If he flames out it won’t be because of not trying.

I dare to say that some of the problems he's been working to fix date back to the GOAT's last couple of teams. The OL became an issue as far back as BY's last year and then to bring up the poor QB play we witnessed his last year and CKD' first with "you know who." And, you take him out the run game in 2024 and we practically didn't rush the ball that year very well either.

It's for this reason I think CKD needed a little more grace because he didn't exactly inherit a full cupherb that was exceptionally stocked the way some who weren't watching as closely thought.