Alabama Crimson Tide Opens Spring Practice
Jan 2, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban yells in the second half against the Oklahoma Sooners at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Oklahoma defeated Alabama 45-31. Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports
Spring practices are officially underway as Alabama hit the practice field for the first time since early January, and the first time without AJ McCarron on that field since 2008. New offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin also took the practice field at Alabama for the first time this afternoon.
One thing we always look at the spring is Nick Saban’s annual position experiments. Last year Cyrus Jones and Dee Hart moved to defensive back in the spring. The move stuck with Jones while Hart moved back to tailback in the fall.
One position change was redshirt ArDarius Stewart, who spent last year as a wide receiver. He came to Alabama as an “athlete” and was moved to safety, a depleted position, today. Starters HaHa Clinton-Dix and Vinnie Sunseri are now headed to the NFL while backup Jai Miller has decided to focus on his academics and leave the football team so this move is likely one of need.
Brandon Greene moved to tight end last year and spent the majority of the season there, but at practice today he had moved back with the offensive line where he started his Alabama career.
Receiver DeAndrew White was the only player spotted in a black, non-contact jersey as he underwent a minor unspecified surgery in late January.
Reuben Foster was working beside Trey DePriest as the first inside linebackers in position drills so Foster will be a player to watch as practices continue and Nick Saban attempts to replace CJ Mosley in the lineup.
Though incoming JUCO transfer DJ Pettway is listed as a linebacker on Alabama’s roster, he was working with the defensive line today which could signify a hybrid role for the junior.
Former Alabama defensive end Jeoffrey Pagan was watching practice alongside athletic director Bill Battle. Pagan will likely be drafted in the NFL Draft in April.
When Nick Saban spoke to the media this afternoon he praised the work the players have put in during off season workouts.
Saban confirmed that senior center Chad Lindsay and tight end Harrison Jones, brother of former All American Barrett Jones, have decided not to return to the team for their final year of eligibility after graduating from school last year. Lindsay is expected to transfer to another school for a chance at starting his senior season.
Saban called senior Blake Sims still a “work in progress” in terms of getting down the pro style offense, but also praised his progress last season. Saban said that he and Kiffin are looking for consistency in whoever the new QB will be and this competition will take patience.
“When we have scrimmages maybe some of the guys that we have practice well will struggle a little more,” Saban said. “Maybe the other guys will play a little better in the scrimmage. So it’s going to be a long time in us developing those players, not being so quick to criticize or quick to try to make a judgement or a decision on any one particular player but to continue to try to have the patience to develop those guys into the kind of guys that can play winning football for us.”
There have been a handful of roster and number changes as Alabama released the official spring roster. Harrison Jones, Jai Miller, and Chad Lindsay are not listed on the roster as already mentioned, but there have been several number changes among the roster as well as the numbers for incoming freshmen and JUCO transfers. Those number changes are below.
– #2 Tony Brown – CB
– #3 Bradley Sylve – CB
– #6 Hootie Jones – S
– #7 Cameraon Sims – WR
– #10 Reuben Foster – LB
– #11 Shaun Dion Hamilton – LB
– #12 David Cornwell – QB
– #19 Reggie Ragland – LB
– #57 DJ Pettway – LB/DL
– #58 Brandon Greene – OL
– #75 Cam Robinson – OL
– #90 Jarran Reed – DL