re: *** Official FOOTBALL IS KINDA BACK Practice Thread ***

quote:

---

I talked with a guy from the UA athletic department who watched a little bit of the scrimmage and he said we have big concerns at QB. He said none of them looked good, TIFWIW

---

quote:

---

Ronnie Harrison seems to be impressing everybody.

---

quote:

---

* When it comes to personnel, the practice immediately following a scrimmage is usually telling. Using that logic, it was very interesting to see Eddie Jackson working with the safeties today.

While Alabama is obviously in the market for some help at the position, I didn't take it as a positive for Jackson that he was working at the position, especially since he was with a mix of 2s and 3s at the spot. This was also a day that saw Geno Smith return to the practice field, so Jackson's move wouldn't seem to be about numbers.

With Jackson at safety, Tony Brown stepped in at left corner with Bradley Sylve working on the other side. The assumption was that redshirt freshman Marlon Humphrey would be next up at corner, but Sylve, who played well down the stretch of the 2014 season, looked to be the guy on Monday.

As for Jackson, this may very well represent a crossroads moment in the rising junior's career. Not to be overly dramatic about the situation, but in watching him shadow Jabriel Washington at safety, it sure had that "now what?" feel to it.

* The thing that impresses me the most right now about true freshman Ronnie Harrison is his attention to detail in drill work. Technique work is usually when a new player in the secondary sticks out like a sore thumb. Not Harrison. He's technically sound, efficient in his movements and mentally focused. That speaks to the maturity needed to win a starting job at safety as a rookie.

* Shaun Hamilton was the man next to Reggie Ragland at inside linebacker over the first half of spring drills. Today, we saw Reuben Foster alongside Ragland during a nickel drill. Perhaps it's Foster's turn to show the staff what he can do for an extended stretch. If so, it's a similar approach to what we've seen at other competitions in the past.

* I'd say Maurice Smith is in good shape at the star position. In fact, it's the only position I'd designate him as playing. Can he play safety? Yes. But right now he looks to a be a nickel and dime specialist exclusively.

* Derrick Henry is listed at 242 pounds on the spring roster, which is what he was listed as weighing last fall. Still, looking at the guy in drills, he looks more along the lines of 220 or so. Hard to figure out where a guy who probably has a 32-inch waist carries that kind of weight.

TR

---

quote:

---

Is this real life? Is it possible to lose a starter at every practice?

---