Alabama Football: Spring grades for Tide position groups

A First Take on Grading Alabama Football

For Alabama Football spring grades are not even equal to mid-terms in academics. They are a barometer of a work in progress, much as is the process of spring practice. Alabama Crimson Tide fans want to measure each spring’s progress in relation to where the team stands to Championship caliber. Spring grades are only clues to what Alabama Football will become.

There is no debate Alabama Football has a championship quality roster. That is a norm for the Nick Saban era. Rosters, though are just a list of resources. What matters is production by position groups and individual players.

With no official stats from the first two Alabama Football spring scrimmages, fans are left to mostly analyze A-Day production. The glorified scrimmage is far from a real game environment. Conclusions can be drawn but they come from the brief look that is little more than snippets of video highlights.

The position group grades below are conclusions from not just the A-Day game, but also insider observations and published reports throughout spring practice.

Alabama Football Spring Grades

Quarterback – B

Unfortunately, Jalen Milroe was unavailable for the spring game but the freshman got good reviews all spring. Twice in media sessions, Nick Saban mentioned how well he was doing. Even with the good news on Milroe, the depth behind Bryce Young is shaky. Young has done well enough to give the position group a good grade, but even he must improve his accuracy. What happens, if a Bryce injury requires a new starter, is troubling.

Running Back – B+

If this was grade on potential, it would be an ‘A’ but until the rebuilt offensive line comes together, this position group will not play to its potential. So far, the spring performances of Brian Robinson Jr., Jase McClellan, Keilan Robinson and Roydell Williams suggest running back by committee will make up for no Najee Harris.