re: Bama Football Tidings

Posted on 8/1/19 at 4:16 pm to TidalSurge1

Posted by RollTide66

Atlanta

Member since Nov 2015

3005 posts

Posted on 8/1/19 at 4:16 pm to TidalSurge1

What you need to know before Alabama opens football practice

quote:
The longest offeseason in years is drawing down in Tuscaloosa this week.

Award watch lists are have dried up and it’s time to put on some pads. Practice begins Friday at Alabama with a public preview set for Saturday afternoon at the annual fan day. Considering how last season ended, this day couldn’t come fast enough inside the Crimson Tide locker room and for a healthy radius in every direction.

It’s been a few months since A-Day when outside eyes last caught a glimpse at the 2019 Alabama football team.

We’re here for a refresher course as the summer slow season slingshots past the dark side of the college football moon directed straight to the Aug. 31 opener. A few things to keep in mind before turning the attention to Duke in Atlanta:

The fresh faces

A healthy check of the 2019 signing class was in town in time for spring practice. A few of the bigger names, however, were summer enrollees and it will be interesting to see where they will figure into the plan.

Chief among the recent arrivals is running back Trey Sanders. The top-ranked player at his position was the No. 6 overall recruit in the nation, according to 247Sports. After losing the top two threats in the backfield from 2018 in Josh Jacobs and Damien Harris, there is room for competition. True freshman have contributed at running back previously in the Nick Saban era including Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson and T.J. Yeldon.

Defensive lineman Ishmael Sopsher is another top recruit who’ll experience his first Alabama practice Friday. Saban a few times in the spring said summer arrivals might be counted upon to contribute on the defensive line. Defensive end Braylen Ingraham, a defensive end, and tackle Byron Young also arrived in May.

The transfer wire

A few potential contributors entered the transfer portal while the Tide picked up a graduate transfer from Florida State. Offensive lineman Landon Dickerson will be a redshirt junior when he gets to town after completing his degree in Tallahassee. Starting spots at the two tackle spots seem pretty secure with Jedrick Wills on the right side and Alex Leatherwood on the left side. Matt Womack and Emil Ekiyor Jr. were the starting guards in the spring with Chris Owens at center.

A few recent departures will have an impact on the mythical depth chart. Tight end Kedrick James, who faces a four-game NCAA suspension, left for SMU after competing for time in the spring. Then last week, former five-star linebacker Eyabi Anoma entered the transfer portal for the second time since January.

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Michael Casagrande is an Alabama beat writer for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.

This post was edited on 8/1/19 at 4:40 pm

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Posted by RollTide66

Atlanta

Member since Nov 2015

3005 posts

Posted on 8/1/19 at 4:16 pm to RollTide66

What you need to know before Alabama opens football practice

quote:
Continued from above...
The positions to watch

There are a few to keep an eye on this August.

Tight end was a particular strength with veterans Irv Smith Jr., and Hale Hentges providing the two major roles used by the position in Alabama’s offense. Miller Forristall figures to move into the H-back position Hentges played recently with the focus on blocking. Replacing the polished receiving threat Smith became will be more of a challenge. Cameron Latu moved over from his linebacker spot to fill in during the spring and made a few nice catches on A-Day. It will be more of a challenge equaling that production from 2018.

It will also be interesting to see how the running back rotation appears in Atlanta with less-heralded junior Brian Robinson getting some offseason buzz. With a pair of No. 1 backs in their respective recruiting classes -- Najee Harris and Sanders -- there’s plenty of talent still in that room.

Along the offensive line, there’s potential for competition with Deionte Brown out for the first four games on suspension. He was probably Alabama’s most effective run blocker when healthy late last season so he could make a push in late September. Evan Neal, a five star who stands 6-6, 360 pounds, also impressed in the spring with physical

It’s your moment

A few players have either waited their turn or had injuries that derailed their career to this point. This is the time for them to bloom or face the prospect of losing their moment.

Running back Najee Harris tops this list. The former No. 1 recruit has been the third option for two years and now there’s a clear hole for the Californian. Mastering the ancillary skills like pass blocking has been a big part of the offseason checklist since Jacobs and Damien Harris had quietly filled those roles previously.

Defensive linemen Raekwon Davis and LaBryan Ray also fit this mold. Davis has been a started but was overshadowed by first-round picks like Quinnen Williams and Daron Payne. Ray has been a rotation player but not a starter at end and he’s flashed that five-star potential.

Should Anoma be out of the plans this fall, the return of Terrell Lewis would be even more crucial at outside linebacker. Uber-talented but often injured Washington D.C. product missed all of last season with an ACL tear. Limited still in spring, Lewis will be one to watch closely this August.

At middle linebacker, Dylan Moses gets the keys to the playcalling role that’s produced a handful of NFL stars in Saban’s tenure. With little depth returning or arriving, he could be among the most important two or three players on this roster.

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Michael Casagrande is an Alabama beat writer for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.