Alabama Football Daily Insider Report: Daboll Offense Clicking Early

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: April 11

Alabama football returned to the practice field on Monday. Trevon Diggs remained at cornerback, after numerous reports he looked strong at CB during Saturday’s scrimmage. Multiple sources reported redshirt freshman Chris Owens was practicing at right guard with the first-team offensive line.

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In the post-scrimmage press conference on Saturday, Saban stated the offensive line needed to play more physical and get more push. Based upon those comments and the not surprising opportunity given Chris Owens, we conclude the offensive line remains unsettled. Perhaps very unsettled – as in Bozeman and Williams are the only locks to start.

After reading and listening to numerous reports from scrimmage observers who are experienced football minds, we reach conclusions that are reassuring, surprising and a tad troublesome.

Reassuring

Tua, Mac Jones, Najee and Brian Robinson either live up to or exceed their hype. Four very talented players who can star at the Capstone.
Tua and Najee have a chance to become special Alabama football players – very special.
As a true freshman, Tua already excels at throwing guys open.
Jalen Hurts is an improved passer. On Saturday Jalen threw for four touchdowns and two of his best thrown balls were dropped.
The defense is solid and the secondary with Diggs at CB and Minkah at safety can be exceptional.
Payne, Hand and Buggs can be better than any defensive line trio in the SEC.

Surprising

In spring practices, particularly in early scrimmages, defense is always ahead of the offense. Not this spring.
After only a few weeks, the evolving Brain Daboll offense is ahead of the defense.
The multiple Daboll sets and packages will be a major challenge for opponent’s game preparation. For example, play-action is back and will be used from an under-center RPO set.
Trevon Diggs has CB swagger and can become an impact player in the secondary.

Troublesome

The offensive line is a work in progress. Alabama football has a deep roster of NFL-massive lineman. Beyond Bozeman and Williams, three to five players must step up and prove themselves. We think this competition will continue well into fall camp.
Depth in the secondary is a problem. Alabama football will be vulnerable to injury at this position.
Joseph Bulovas will be needed to solidify field-goal kicking. Otherwise, this important component will be a weakness in 2017.

Watching the 2017 Alabama football team evolve is going to be interesting. Watching opponents attempt to counter the evolving 2017 team will be more interesting.

Next: Updated Depth Chart

Alabama football returns to the practice field on Wednesday, April 12. The second scrimmage of the spring season is Friday, April 14.

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