Alabama Football: The Daily Insider – March 24
By Ronald Evans
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 (and I am old enough to remember) 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. Back then – ‘The University’ – meant the University of Alabama, other state colleges only having peripheral status.
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.
Alabama football fans, check in with us here each morning and send us your comments and questions through Facebook or Twitter. We would love to hear from you.
The Daily Insider: March 24
The biggest news of Practice No. 2 was Minkah Fitzpatrick’s preference to stay at cornerback this season. Minkah played star as a freshman and last season he had to move to safety after Eddie Jackson’s injury.
Bama Magazine’s Kurt McNair got some good comments from Minkah BAMA Magazine
"“That’s what I came here to play, cornerback …Now this year I’m back where I feel most comfortable, really. Coach trusts me to be out there and if I’m doing a good job out there I’ll stay there. At corner it’s more like being on your own you don’t have to worry about anybody else, you don’t have to make any calls”"
Having Fitzpatrick and Averett at the starting corners gives Alabama football athleticism and experience at a key position. It does beg the question which safety will call the coverages for the 2017 Tide secondary.
Trevon Diggs worked out with the secondary again on Thursday. One knowledgeable practice observer shared our concern yesterday that Diggs has tremendous potential best served by a permanent designation to either the offense or the defense.
Alabama certainly has the luxury of experimenting with Diggs and other players. The Tide can start three 4.4 guys at receiver with Ridley (4:43), Robert Foster (4.47) and Jerry Jeudy (4.47) In-depth with Jerry Jeudy. No secondary in the nation has the speed to chase down that trio of receivers.
Tyrell Shavers, the tall and thin early enrollee freshman impressed observers again on Thursday. Shavers is another player with a huge upside. For the full story on Tyrell Shavers’ size and speed don’t miss our Bama Hammer profile.
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While we are addressing speed, keep an eye on early enrollee running back Brian Robinson. Robinson was overshadowed in the recruiting process because of all the hoopla around Najee Harris. Also, after growing up in Tuscaloosa, there was little suspense over his college choice.
Robinson was recently timed at 4:41 in the 40 – that is sprinter speed from a power back. Can Robinson break through the Alabama football running back logjam as a freshman? Check out the full story on Brian here: In-depth with Brian Robinson.
Dylan Moses who worked with the outside linebackers on Tuesday was with the inside linebackers on Thursday. Observers noted Jeremy Pruitt was often heard correcting Moses during drills. All those stars previously attached to Moses and his young teammates mean nothing on the Tide practice field.
Since today’s report has speed as a theme, we should remind that at 235 lbs, Moses has been timed at 4:46 in the 40. That is blazing speed for a linebacker. Check out his profile here: In-depth with Dylan Moses.
We’ll close out today’s report with a video on the defensive line drills. Isaiah Buggs is No. 49; Jamar King is No. 90; O.J. Smith is No. 91; Josh Frazier is No. 69; Quinnen Williams is No. 92; Kwon Davis is No. 99 and Johnny Dwight is No. 95 – this video is compliments of al.com
Next: 2017 Linebackers - Best Group Ever?
Check back with us again tomorrow when we’ll offer more food for thought. Tweet us your comments or check in with us on Facebook. We would like to hear your thoughts on Alabama football.