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Alabama Football: Ten Questions for Spring Practice

By Ronald Evans

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: Najee Harris #22 of the Alabama Crimson Tide runs the ball against Roquan Smith #3 of the Georgia Bulldogs during the second half in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: Najee Harris #22 of the Alabama Crimson Tide runs the ball against Roquan Smith #3 of the Georgia Bulldogs during the second half in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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Alabama football spring practice is set to re-begin Monday afternoon. The Bama Hammer staff compiled 10 questions we hope to learn answers to by the end of spring.

Alabama football must deal with a higher than normal level of unknowns this spring. Those unknowns are a byproduct of returning only 13 starters and transitioning to seven new assistant coaches.

Whether Alabama football fans are comfortable with it or not, change is the theme for the 2019 Alabama Crimson Tide. Amidst all the change are constants that serve as anchors in the program. One of those constants is the best head coach in college football. As always with Nick Saban and with Alabama football expectations will be another constant. Players will be challenged every day, every session, every rep to do the work necessary to reach their potential.

Alabama football fans are anxious to see this team evolve. And we are specifically interested to learn more about certain players and roster situations. The Bama Hammer staff put together a list of ten questions, for which we hope spring practice will provide some answers.

We realize some questions will remain unanswered until fall camp or even the September games. For example, what will Steve Sarkisian’s new offense incorporate in terms of formations and plays? There will be clues this spring from the closed scrimmages. But the new offense will stay mostly under-wraps during the A-Day game.

What we hope to learn this spring

Offense Questions

  1. Will Mac Jones step up to be if needed, a game-winning No. 2 behind Tua? Or will one of the younger QBs standout enough in the spring the backup QB competition continues into the fall?
  2. Does Najee Harris get the majority of snaps or will it be a committee rushing attack?
  3. Who steps up to replace Irv Smith as a tight end playmaker? And, will the Cameron Latu tight end experiment become a permanent fixture for 2019?
  4. Which offensive linemen look to be solid additions to the seasoned pair of Jedrick Wills and Alex Leatherwood?

Defense Questions

  1. How well will Josh McMillon and Ale Kaho perform paired up with Dylan Moses?
  2. Will Raekwon Davis return to sophomore form?
  3. Does the trio of early enroll, true freshmen, defensive linemen push Christian Barmore, Stephon Wynn and Tevita Musika to make the next step forward?
  4. What two defensive backs work their way into the Dime, along with Xavier McKinney, Shyheim Carter, Trevon Diggs and Patrick Surtain?

Special Teams Questions

  1. Can Will Reichard consistently make field goals between 40 and 50 yards?
  2. Will Alabama football have a punter capable of solid 40-yard punts? Might that punter also be Reichard?

Our fellow Alabama football fans may notice a certain placekicking question was not asked. The football kicking gods are so fickle, some things are best left unsaid. Surely last season was a fluke.

dark. Next. Path to CFB Playoff has little margin due to '19 schedule

Throughout the spring, the Bama Hammer staff will chase the answers to these ten questions and more. We will share everything we uncover.

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