Alabama Football: Nick Saban talked new faces and a missing one

After the first spring practice for Alabama football, Nick Saban talked about all the new faces and the glaring absence of one much-needed player.

Alabama football fans have to wonder how badly will the 2019 Crimson Tide be snakebit again. Last season it was an abundance of injuries at outside linebacker. The 2019 season is exactly one spring practice session old and the Crimson Tide appears snakebit already.

Sophomore inside linebacker Ale Kaho was not present for the first of 15 spring practice sessions. Though his role was almost solely special teams last season, many believed Kaho would earn a starting inside linebacker role, next to Dylan Moses during either spring or fall camp. Now, Alabama football fans are unsure Kaho will even be on the team.

When asked about Kaho after practice, Nick Saban said,

"He’s got some issues that he’s dealing with. We’re trying to be supportive of him any way we can. I don’t know if there will be some point in time whether he’ll be ready to come back and play football or not."

If Kaho does not return, Alabama football will be left with five scholarship inside linebackers this spring. They are Dylan Moses, senior Josh McMillon, sophomores Jaylen Moody and Markail Benton and true freshman, Shane Lee.  A sixth, freshman Christian Harris will join the team in late May. Both Lee and Harris were highly touted, 2019 inside linebacker recruits but not as highly rated as was Kaho in the 2018 class.

If Kaho does not return, the Crimson Tide will have an experience issue at inside linebacker. Freshmen Lee and Harris might be the most talented options but that does not mean either one can fill a starting role next fall.

Alabama football fans also had a suspected, four-game suspension for tight end, Kedrick James confirmed by Saban. The Crimson Tide is very thin at the position and outside linebacker, Cameron Latu practiced at tight end on Friday. Nick Saban described the Latu position movement an experiment.

Saban said Shyheim Carter will be limited most of the spring from a sports hernia issue. Ben Davis will also miss most of the spring after recent surgeries for shin splints.

Nick Saban defined the number one goal for spring as,

"to re-establish the Alabama factor … requiring discipline, responsibility, being accountable, put the team first, have humility, pay attention to detail, stay focused on the process and not on individual or team outcomes."

Saban had strong praise for the new staff, particularly Steve Sarkisian and Charles Kelly. He also said his coaching role has not changed because the Tide now has designated assistants for the corners and the safeties. According to Nick, he is still the ‘gofor’ on the staff.

Because of Spring Break, Alabama football does not return to the practice field until Mar. 18. Tide fans will be hoping Ale Kaho will be back at work.