re: Spring Football News & Info

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Time in the playbook and time to take it from the book to knowing it on the field.

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Mac threw a bunch of interceptions

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- After Alabama’s first spring scrimmage a week ago, Nick Saban said “we have a lot of work to do” regarding the inside linebackers and their mental errors on the field.

Outside of rising junior Dylan Moses, the position group needed some work. So, along with the Crimson Tide’s defensive line, Saban and company moved some players around this week resulting in more consistency in the practices following Scrimmage 1, the head coach believed.

With the focus on the inside linebackers the last week -- and really throughout spring practice -- Saban was asked what he saw from the younger defenders during Saturday’s second scrimmage.

“I saw some guys flying around,” Saban said. “I saw some guys miss some tackles. I didn’t feel like we tackled really well, especially the second team. First team did a pretty good job. But people weren’t running their feet on contact, trying to cut tackle, trying to butt people to the ground. And I think they’re finding out that if they don’t tackle them correctly they’re not going to get them on the ground, not when you play against good players.

“So, I think there was improvement there, but certainly the whole idea of playing defense is to tackle the guy with the ball. So, you can do everything right, but if you don’t tackle the guy with the ball, that’s why you’re out there.”

Moses has stepped into the Mike linebacker role this offseason after serving as the Will a year ago alongside departing junior Mack Wilson. Barring injury, Moses will start and quarterback the defense in 2019, but his running mate for the upcoming season is still an unanswered question.

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QBS HAVE SLOPPY SCRIMMAGE

Saban officially named Tua Tagovailoa the Tide’s starting quarterback after scrimmage No. 1, to no one’s surprise. The junior signal caller is coming off a record-breaking sophomore season and will once again lead an offense that returns plenty of weapons to its high-powered arsenal.

Much like the inside linebacker position, though, quarterback has an intriguing and important battle brewing behind its clear-cut starter. With Jalen Hurts at Oklahoma, Alabama is tasked with finding a new backup quarterback this offseason, and players like Mac Jones, Taulia Tagovailoa and Paul Tyson are the primary candidates competing for the No. 2 spot during the spring.

Jones has received most of the reps with the second-team offense in scrimmages while Taulia has seen some, as well. But the former threw multiple interceptions in Saturday’s scrimmage, per sources, in what was a turnover-heavy afternoon inside of Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Following the second scrimmage, Saban assessed the quarterbacks’ performances.

“I think the quarterbacks played OK,” Saban said. “We turned the ball over a lot more today. But I think we had some, what I call, ‘bad interceptions’ off of people’s hands, tipped balls, things like that that certainly they count as interceptions but sometimes they’re not all the quarterback’s fault.

“We had a couple other not as good as decisions as we’d like. But they made explosive plays on offense. I thought the first group on both sides of the ball played fairly well. But after that, we got a lot of work to do with the depth that we have on our team.”

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Big crowd expected for UA spring football A-Day game Nick Saban will coach in his 13th spring football game Saturday at the University of Alabama.

Alabama leads the nation in spring game attendance during Saban’s tenure, with a total of 958,802 fans for an average of 79,900 fans per game. The largest A-Day crowd in school history came in 2011 (92,310). In Saban’s first year in 2007, the stadium was at full capacity before Bryant-Denny’s expansion (92,138).

The game serves as the 15th and final practice for the spring.

Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Bryant-Denny Stadium, with television coverage on ESPN2. Admission is free and gates will open at 10 a.m. The clear bag policy and the use of metal detectors will be in effect.

A-Day posters featuring the 2019 schedule will be given away at the gates to the first 10,000 fans. A-Day programs will also be available for $5.

Public parking is free and first-come, first-served with Crimson Ride shuttles beginning their game-day routes at 7 a.m. Tuscaloosa Transit will begin running from the downtown Intermodal Facility three and a half hours before kickoff and will conclude one hour after the end of the game. For more information, go to www.UAGameday.com.

The Mercedes-Benz Fan Fest and the Coca-Cola Kick Off Zone, which feature giveaways, live radio remotes, vehicle displays and other activities, will open at 9 a.m. outside the stadium. Food vendors will be available beginning at 9 a.m. on the Walk of Champions plaza.
A-Day Game
When: 1 p.m. Saturday; gates open at 10 a.m.
Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium
Admission: Free
TV: ESPN2

Fans can have their photo taken with the 2018 Orange Bowl trophy at the Fan Fest and the Kickoff Zone will feature former UA players giving autographs.

The alumni flag football game will begin at 10:30 a.m. inside the stadium, featuring former Alabama standouts. The game is slated for two 20-minute halves and should wrap up around 11:15 a.m.

The Walk of Fame ceremony is set for 11:15 a.m. at Denny Chimes. The 2018 team captains — Damien Harris, Hale Hentges, Christian Miller and Ross Pierschbacher — leave prints of their hands and cleats in the concrete for permanent display along with previous UA team captains. The players and Saban will speak during the ceremony.

The 2019 team will arrive at 11:50 a.m. for the Walk of Champions, where fans can gather and cheer as the players enter the stadium.

At the conclusion of the game, Saban will present the spring awards to the team at midfield. Once the team has cleared the field, all fans will have postgame field access. Fans can enter through any of the four corner gates.

In addition to A-Day, the UA softball team will host Georgia at 11 a.m. at Rhoads Stadium. Tickets are available at www.rolltide.com.

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