Alabama Football: What to expect from first spring scrimmage

The Alabama Football will have its first of three spring scrimmages Friday afternoon in Bryant-Denny. The format is similar to a game situation with no coaches on the field during plays. Rather than structured like an actual game, it will primarily be situational work planned in advance by the coaches. The Crimson Tide worked in shells Thursday preparing for the scrimmage.

After a few days in pads, the Crimson Tide players get an opportunity to not only hit but showcase their ability to perform positional tasks. A starting role for next fall is not won in a single spring scrimmage. But as the eighth of 15 practice sessions, the scrimmage will begin to identify the players with two-deep potential.

Check out projected Alabama Football (pre-spring) depth charts.

Earlier in the week, Nick Saban discussed what he will be looking for.

"we’ve been able to work a lot on fundamentals, which I think has come along very nicely. I’m not satisfied with the progress … but I think what will really be interesting in the first scrimmage is … to see how they (the new and young players) do in the scrimmage when there’s no coach standing on the field, telling them what to do."

Saban will be evaluating execution and discipline in the younger players.

"Some guys get anxious and they get frustrated easily and it affects their performance and other guys, they welcome the challenge and they’re not bothered by good, bad and indifferent and they just keep playing the next play"

Alabama football fans are hoping for good performances in the position groups needing new starters. In most Tuscaloosa springs, there is some degree of quarterback controversy. There is not one this spring but there is competition requiring Bryce Young and Paul Tyson to show they can handle the QB1 and QB2 roles. Early spring reports are the pair have done very well.

At wide receiver, offensive line and cornerback there is considerable competition. With big shoes to fill on the offensive line and wide receiver, plus John Metchie and Emil Ekiyor missing spring, less experienced players must take advantage of the added opportunity. There are half a dozen guys competing for what will become two starting spots on the offensive line. An even larger number of wideouts are battling for a couple of starting roles in the Tide’s four-receiver set.

Nick Saban has clearly stated the offense needs speed at wideout. There is no shortage of new and less experienced wideouts to provide speed, but they will also have to show consistency in catching the ball and Saban’s always must; blocking.

Josh Jobe has one starting cornerback position locked down. The battle to earn a starting role opposite Jobe is being led by redshirt junior, Jalyn Armour-Davis, followed by Marcus Banks. Adding Ronald Williams and later enrolling JUCO, Khyree Jackson to the mix likely provides the group from which a new starter will emerge. Redshirt sophomore Brandon Turnage and freshman, Ga’Quincy McKinstry will attempt to break into the two-deep.

Alabama football fans will also be anxious for reports for how the inside linebacker tandem of Christian Harris and Jaylen Moody do on Friday.

The Crimson Tide will also scrimmage on Apr. 10, in a more game-like structure. The third spring scrimmage is the A-Day game on Apr. 17.