Alabama Football: The two big questions for A-Day are …

Alabama football fans have two big questions it is hoped will be answered during the A-Day intrasquad game. They have to do with quarterbacking and kicking.

At multiple times during spring practice, Alabama football coach, Nick Saban has talked about rebuilding. With such a young roster, rebuilding can be an applicable term. Saban uses the word to describe what has to be accomplished with certain position groups. Most of those position groups are on defense.

Last season’s record-setting Crimson Tide offense must be replenished and tweaked. In no way does Nick Saban intend to rebuild it. The defense is different for two reasons. One is, it too must be replenished, and because of more attrition than the offense. The second reason is last season’s defense was not near Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide standard.

Then there is the kicking game. Despite good performance in punt and kick returns and kick coverage last season, the kicking part was poor. Field goal kicking was not consistent and punting was either poor or just adequate. Extra-points were abysmal.

Splitting kicking into punting and place-kicking, and Saturday’s two big questions, technically become three big questions.

There are other questions of concern from Alabama football fans but they don’t equal the big three.

Question No. 1 – If Tua is injured, does the Tide have a backup QB who can win a big game?

The stage is set for Mac Jones to shine. He played well in last season’s spring game. Mac has had good reviews this spring, until the second scrimmage, when he purportedly threw four interceptions. No Alabama football QB will ever be allowed to be a turnover machine. Mac may come out of spring as the solid No. 2 but it could be by default.

Expecting too much too soon from the young quarterbacks can be a mistake. Even if Taulia and/or Tyson look good Saturday it will not mean they can adequately fill in for Tua as true freshmen.

Saturday’s best case scenario is for all three to do well and for Mac to move the offense without any turnovers. Tyson is on the Crimson (first unit offense) roster. It will be interesting to see if Saban switches Mac and Tyson in the second half. Mac against the first unit defense would give him a good test.

Questions No. 2 and 3 – Does the Tide have a dependable kicker and punter?

Based on comments by Nick Saban, Joseph Bulovas and Will Reichard will kick field goals. It is possible, Skyler DeLong, Reichard and Mike Bernier will all get at least one punt.

It is hard to decide what is more fearful. Tua lost to injury for a key game or kicking being no better than last year, for another full season?

These are questions Crimson Tide fans want answered. Maybe they will be partially answered by performances in the A-Day game.

Remember last season when the Crimson Tide added a graduate transfer kicker? He had been amazingly, consistently good at his previous school. His proficiency plummeted as a Crimson Tider. We refuse to use the words h_x and j__x when talking Alabama football.