re: Stats from 2nd scrimmage today.....

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Hope everyone had a great weekend. Had a good time over the weekend being back in Tuscaloosa for the coaching clinic and watching Bama on the field for a couple of days.

Coach Saban and the program puts on just a top-shelf clinic. From the speakers, to the facility, the food (5,000 pounds of crawfish for 1,200 coaches ... lol goodness), to the access to the staff - just a tremendous experience. In one weekend, I got Spurrier, Bill Polian, Dungy, Saban, various members of the staff including Cochran and Pruitt, plus some great HS coaches ... really good stuff.

As for the scrimmage, I'm not sure I have much to add that hasn't already been covered. But here's a few thoughts ...

RB
Just totally fired up about Scarborough. I mean it's hard to imagine duplicating a 2,000 yard Heisman season like what we saw last year but, from a talent standpoint, Scarborough is right there with Henry. Physical, maybe even a better burst vertically when he puts his foot in the ground and every bit as fast. Can't tell yet if he's going to be equally effective in protection, so we'll see. Damien Harris looks fine. He's a good back, definitely the #2. A little more of a scat-type back, but he'll lower his pads and stick up in there.

OL
I just don't know when we've ever been this deep. We look really good here. Jonah looks solid, as does Kirven. Actually, Kirven is one of the better looking lineman we have. Cotton's pretty nasty, and Pierschbacher is going to be an All-American one day. Plenty of depth here with Bozeman, Shank, Hass, etc. We look good here.

WR
Can't stop raving about where this unit is. Just ridiculously talented. There are two for-certain NFL players in the rotation in Robert Foster and Calvin Ridley, and I'm sure Ar'Darius Stewart will get an opportunity. Throwing in OJ Howard, with Scarborough in the backfield ... y'all ... matchup nightmares. I mean Lord God. Gonna be fun to watch.

Foster made great plays over the top of Minkah and Hump on deep balls. He looks ready to be the man.

QB
I thought Bateman played pretty well for the most part. Can extend plays, arm strength is good enough. I'd say he's going to end up winning the job and unless he just melts down, he'll be our guy. I'm good with it.

Cornwell was fine. Nothing flashy or spectacular.

Hurts stole the show Saturday. Really played the best of the four. He's very, very, Blake Sims-ish. The play calling is different when he's in there (boots, short stuff), but he also stood in there and made some throws. Also has big-time wheels. Took off on a 60-yard scramble for a TD off a boot (although it was against the 3s), and ran away from everyone.

***But I'm telling you right now - don't sleep on this kid pushing for the backup role by the fall. I know it was only one scrimmage, but he's really good. Will be really interesting to see him and Barnett battle down the road.

As for Barnett, he just isn't ready. The pick 6 - which was not reported in the official stat release - was his, and it was bad (to Minkah). I mean bad. The game is still happening really fast for him. I maintain ... for now ... that eventually it will happen for him. I like him a ton. Just looks the part more than any of the others.

The defense ...

You can't talk about our defense without starting with our secondary, which is as deep as I've seen us in awhile. Minkah and Hump are big-time, and both gave up plays *and* made plays. Gonna happen as much man as we play, but we have two legit All-SEC caliber corners. When Minkah moves inside to Star, Anthony Averett looks really good at corner too. Really good. With Eddie Jack and Ronnie Harrison running around back there at safeties ... goodness. Harrison is ready to thump people. Saw him in the box several times too. Closest thing we've had to Barron since he left. Maurice Smith also looks great. I mean just athletes and playmakers everywhere. Kendell Sheffield can play. Didn't see a lot of Tony Brown, and I know he has some issues to work though.

DL - looks great, didn't give up much push to a great OL, regardless of what the RB stats say. Most of Scarborough's yards came on an outside that was blocked great for about 40 - 50 yard gain. Tim Williams looks like a freak. Payne is an animal, very tough to block without help. Ryan Anderson is super physical and the most underrated player up front if you ask me. He looks very Upshaw-ish. Christian Miller had a good day, including a strip-sack. Would be nice if he could get in the mix. All this with no JAllen or DaShawn Hand.

ILB - already said it, we're fine whomever starts. But depth is an issue here, and I hope we stay healthy. Reuben is going to be the player we always thought he could/would be. Rashaan Evans looks like a CJ Moseley clone. Can do so many things with him. I'm not wild about Shaun Hamilton, but the staff loves him and, for now, he's what we've got there. He's bigger in person than I thought though.

The kicking game
The most disappointing part of the day, primarily bc of Adam Griffith. He started the day drilling two 35 yard FGs, then missed 4 straight between 30 - 44 yards. It's not like he missed four beyond 50. One was from 30. I mean I don't get it. Just really don't. Had hoped he'd turned the corner ... maybe it was just a bad day. Hope so.

JK Scott was awesome. He had a hell of day. Just booming long, high punts. Hopefully we'll keep him all four years.

Kick/punt returns weren't live, but it looks like Ridley is the guy returning punts. They didn't really work KOR, so I'm not sure there.

In all, Saturday was just a drop-dead gorgeous day in Titleloosa and it was great weekend. If you can get out there for A-Day, do it. Gonna be a fun team to watch.

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