Alabama Football: Three Saturdays will define much about Crimson Tide

Halfway into Alabama football’s spring practice schedule, Crimson Tide fans are anxious to learn more about the 2022 team. The next three Saturdays will at least provide clues. It is possible some performances will stand out enough to be definitive.

The problem for fans is gaining access to information, other than the A-Day game on Apr. 16. As always, A-Day will be a vanilla version of Crimson Tide offensive and defensive schemes. Still, the pecking order in position groups will be obvious. The early-enrolling freshmen will be seen in college-level action for the first time.

Surprise players will stand out in the A-Day game. That can often be misleading. Last spring, Agiye Hall looked like a world-beater. What followed was a disappointing, three-game, four-receptions, season for him.

Crimson Tide fans are anxious to see the new, first-unit offensive line. So far, it appears to be, from left to right, Kendall Randolph, Javion Cohen, Seth McLaughlin, Damieon George Jr. and JC Latham. One in that group will be displaced by a healthy Emil Ekiyor.

Will it be Jaylen Moody or Deontae Lawson, running next to Henry To’oto’o at inside linebacker? What about the dime secondary? Can Malachi Moore return to form? Who will be the top three cornerbacks? What about the wideouts; can three or four guys separate themselves from the rest of the pack? Can Jahmyr Gibbs live up to the considerable buzz about his expected Crimson Tide greatness? How deep will an effective defensive line rotation be, and what players will get the game action?

Lots of Alabama Football Questions

That’s a lot of questions. It’s not surprising, with just over half of Alabama football’s 2021 starters returning, there is plenty of unknown. Last season the Crimson Tide had to rebuild and it has to do so again for 2022.

The A-Day game may not answer any of the questions. The two closed, Saturday scrimmages on Apr. 2 and Apr. 9 will be more illuminating. For other than Red Elephant Club members, information from the closed scrimmages will be hard to come by.

To the disdain of Nick Saban, some information will seep out from the closed scrimmages. Bama Hammer will share all we learn and offer our interpretations of what it means for next fall’s Crimson Tide.