Alabama Football: Listening to Nick Saban scrimmage comments

FAYETTEVILLE, AR - OCTOBER 6: Head Coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide jogs off the field before a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Razorback Stadium on October 6, 2018 in Tuscaloosa, Alabamai. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, AR - OCTOBER 6: Head Coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide jogs off the field before a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Razorback Stadium on October 6, 2018 in Tuscaloosa, Alabamai. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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Alabama football coach Nick Saban had much to say after the second Crimson Tide scrimmage of the spring. Players and fans needed to pay attention.

There are many smart minds in college football. Alabama football coach is one of the smartest and his words sometimes speak volumes. No one better understands the evolving culture of football. No coach has more awareness of what players must do to be successful in life. So when Nick talks CFB culture and life lessons, close attention is warranted.

The setting for Nick’s words Saturday afternoon was the post-scrimmage media review. Fans and members of the media know coaches in these settings parse words very carefully. The expectations for repetitive coach-speak can sometimes cloud what is forthright information. When Nick Saban says, as he did today “we don’t have a depth chart,” eyes are rolled by media and fans.

However the players are charted by position, there is an understanding among the coaches of what players are on what units. When Jedrick Wills hurt his ankle during the scrimmage, an adjustment was made on the first unit offensive line. Matt Womack slid from right guard to right tackle and Deonte Brown (from the second unit) stepped in at right guard.

Working without some charted system would be foolishness. Nick Saban means something else when he states no depth chart. He means no starting position is guaranteed – not in spring, not in fall camp. Not even guaranteed during the regular season. Second and third unit guys are demanded to constantly push first unit guys.

Nick Saban’s problem this spring is not enough second and third unit guys are pushing the presumed starters. Some are, true freshman, D. J. Dale is one who has pushed himself into a possible first unit role at nose. The top four wide receivers are set, barring injury. If Sark is like recent offensive coordinators, up to six wide receivers will get playing time. Another freshman, John Metchie is pushing hard enough, he might reach a group of six.

Nick Saban is looking for another dozen or so ‘youngsters’ to step up and push into the two-deep or even a first unit slot. Saban was asked Saturday about the young running backs behind Najee Harris and Brian Robinson. He used the opportunity to make a bigger point.

"we’ve got nine players coming on defense and three more guys coming in on offense, and all of those guys are going to get every shot over the summer and fall camp to be able to compete with the guys that are here. So, nobody’s going to be entitled to anything when it comes to next fall."

No being “entitled” is an old Saban theme. He is using it with more urgency with the 2019 team. As he has said throughout the spring, the Alabama Crimson Tide does not have two winning units on both sides of the ball and on special teams.

Saban is not talking about lack of talent. Alabama football is loaded with talent. He praised the Tide’s seasoned players,

"the guys that have played around here and been good players know how to compete. They’ve been in big arenas before. They have mental toughness. They play with discipline. We have high exceptions for how those guys play, and those guys don’t disappoint us."

Nick Saban’s challenge with the young 2019 roster is having a solid two-deep that fit the description above. So far, he has not seen it in all the first units. Defensive line and inside linebacker are a work in progress. It appears Markail Benton got the first call next to Dylan Moses in the scrimmage. Freshman Shane Lee is rumored to have seen some time with the first group as well. Nick could not come up with much good to say about the young linebackers.

"I saw some guys flying around. I saw some guys miss some tackles. I didn’t feel like we tackled really well … the whole idea of playing defense is to tackle the guy with the ball. So you can do everything right, but if you don’t tackle the guy with the ball, that’s why you’re out there."

It is not likely any of the young Alabama football players will take a giant leap forward in three more spring sessions. Fall camp might be a bit different this year. Usually, after a couple of weeks, majority reps have to be pared down to the first and second units. That would mean 12 summer arriving guys have to make a move rapidly. Perhaps Saban will adjust this season. No slight is intended to Duke but this season’s opener and game two are not stiff challenges. Guys like Byron Young, Ishmael Sopsher, Jordan Battle, Demarcco Hellams, Christian Harris and of course, Trey Sanders may not have typically reduced reps a couple of weeks into fall camp.

There is, after all, nothing guaranteed. Nick Saban will not let anyone forget.

Appreciation to Charlie Potter of Bama Online for his transcription of Nick Saban’s comments.

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