Alabama Football Daily Insider: Biggest Roster Questions

Alabama football fans have a big appetite for information and we’ll be serving up healthy portions of hot food for thought with a side of seasonal inside information every morning this Spring.

There was a time when getting to the Waysider early on a weekday morning was the best way to learn what was really going on with Alabama football.

In the compact dining area, all you had to do was listen. Most conversations included tidbits of information about the University and the football program.

These days there is more to be gleaned by surveying the digital landscape of multitudinous sources. The problem with this wondrous abundance of information is in separating the sense from the nonsense.

That’s where we come in. This column will endeavor to guide that process of discernment.

We’ll peruse message boards, podcasts, tweets, talk radio and numerous digital communication platforms. We’ll ferret out the most worthwhile information and offer our take on what it means.

The Daily Insider: March 31

Before we go too far into today’s update, make a note for the April 1 version of the Daily Insider. There will be NO attempt at humor, farce, exaggerated irony or any other foolishness on April Fools Day. We’ll leave that to those who write about programs not perennially in the hunt for national championships.

Alabama Crimson Tide Football

Back to business. The Thursday practice was No. 5 of 15, and that includes the upcoming scrimmages and A-Day. There will be three practice sessions next week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, followed by a scrimmage on Saturday, April 8.

We’re thinking that position experiments will mostly come to an end before the practice on Monday, April 10. At that point, we should know if Trevon Diggs will primarily play in the secondary; if Ben Davis is an outside linebacker; and if Chadarius Townsend has slot receiver as his primary position.

Filling in new names as starters will take much longer. That could be MUCH longer, as in well into August.  If Nick Saban will let a QB competition go beyond an opening game, as he did last season, we can assume players could be battling to win starting positions until late September. Let’s review the positions that are in the most doubt as to 2017 starters.

• Right Guard and Right Tackle – Cotton and Womack appear to lead as of now
• Wide-outs, not named Ridley – Foster may lead here, but lots of competition
• Money or 6th Defensive Back – Appears wide open
• Jack Linebacker – Christian Miller may lead
• Sam Linebacker – Appears wide open
• Tight End – Miller Forristall and Hale Hentges should be the main guys
• Defensive Line – Payne and Hand are locks – Buggs leads as the other DE

Beyond all the to-be-determined slots above there will considerable competition as to playing rotation and key backups. We expect these player turf wars will continue until late August.

Here’s a little pump you up – compliments of the Alabama Football Team.

For those who will feel short-changed without some new inside information – Tua is reported to be throwing well and so far, living up to his preseason hype. And for anyone stunned by a rumor he is transferring – don’t be. His brother is transferring to an Alabama high school. No surprise, Tua’s younger brother moving to Alabama.

Next: Crimson Tide All-Time Best QB's

Have you ever thought of turning your passion for Alabama sports into writing? We are looking for an additional contributor to help with the site. Reach out to us on Facebook or Twitter if you are interested. RTR