Alabama Football: What we know as Fall Camp winds down

The new norm for following Alabama Football is knowing less, at least in the preseason. Whether it is COVID concerns or a need to guard information, media viewing sessions at Crimson Tide practices have been limited. The date for the next public view of the team is not known.

There will be a second scrimmage on Saturday. It will determine what players get the most reps going forward. Technically, Fall Camp ended on Tuesday. That is because classes started on Wednesday. More practically, Fall Camp will end with Saturday’s scrimmage.

What will be left after the scrimmage are six more preseason practices and then game week for the Miami Hurricanes. More so than a normal season, the 2021 Alabama Crimson Tide will need time to develop. Thanks to Nick Saban, Alabama Football adjusts well to changes, but so many new starters on offense, a new Offensive Coordinator, along with new offensive line, running back and tight end coaches, is a lot of change.

Alabama Football fans might need to exercise some patience as the 2021 team develops. That will not be easy for Tide fans but patience does not have to mean lowered expectations. The 2021 Alabama Crimson Tide will be a National Championship contender from game one. It just may take a few games for it to become a polished one.

Following Wednesday’s practice, Saban provided a media session. There is always value in listening to college football’s greatest ever coach. Still, Saban is always cautious talking about his team. He gives good answers to media questions, but the number of questions allowed for each media session is limited.

A result of all of the above is Alabama football fans won’t learn much about the team until games are played. Without many facts, fans are left to conjecture. A look at fan message boards shows conjecture can lead to very different conclusions.

The following is offered in two parts; snippets of what is known and conjecture on what is believed.

Alabama Football Knowns

• A young Alabama Football team is loaded with talent
• A quarterback with considerable potential has a college career of 22 pass attempts
• The Tide’s offensive line will need time to come together. That process will take longer than another fall scrimmage. How long it will take is not known.
• Defensively, the Tide will be better in 2021 and it should happen sooner than later, based on both talent and experience.
• Will Anderson Jr. is as good as any linebacker in college football and what Tide linebackers lacked last season is provided by Henry To’o To’o.
• Other than punting being an unknown, the kicking and return games will be superb.
• No team in college football has the combined running back talent of the Crimson Tide.

Alabama Football Suppositions

• The new offense, with a new OC, and a front-loaded schedule with Miami and Florida in the first three games – will not be as explosive as last season. It will steadily improve throughout the season.
• By mid-season, the secondary, with whatever six guys Saban chooses, will be better than last season.
• Alabama Football will be considerably better than No. 77 in the FBS on third-down- conversion percentage from last season.
• Once the offensive line and Bryce Young gain traction, the wide receiver group will be outstanding.

Alabama Football Biggest Concerns

• Injuries to key players: Bryce Young; Evan Neal; Will Anderson Jr.; Emil Ekiyor Jr.
• One game, that for fluky reasons and self-inflicted mistakes, makes the Tide vulnerable against a lesser team.

Check out the video below for what Nick Saban said on Wednesday.

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