Alabama Football: What Nick Saban likes and doesn’t about his team

After Wednesday’s Alabama football practice, Nick Saban provided a media update. Despite repeat questions about Agiye Hall, Saban was patient and positive.

On Hall’s status, Saban said the sophomore wide receiver was suspended for a violation of team rules, adding “whether they are academic or whatever.” Asked if Hall able to return from the suspension, Saban said, he already had that opportunity once. The Crimson Tide head man pretty much slammed the door on that being available to Hall again, with a closing comment,

"I don’t know what his plans are for the future."

There are some probably accurate claims on Twitter that Hall is looking at USC, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida and LSU.

On the far more important subject of how the team is progressing, Nick Saban said,

"we continue to make pretty good progress as a team. I think we have a lot of guys that are working hard, a lot of guys that are competing, a lot of guys that are actually improving."

Alabama Football needs to develop consistency

Along with that positive assessment, Saban added he is still looking for consistency and more players to accept leadership roles.

Highlighting the need for more consistency, Saban mentioned the wide receivers and the defensive backs. Talking about the secondary, he said both cornerbacks, Kool-Aid McKinstry and Khyree Jackson are

"are making good plays and just need to do it more often. All corners get beat,  so (they need to be) able to settle down and focus on the next play."

On the wide receivers, and particularly the young ones, Saban’s summary was,

"We have enough guys with the skill level that we need to have. You have to do things a certain way when you play receiver. You can’t ad-lib because the quarterback has to make quick decisions and timing is involved."

Alabama fans would like to hear the offensive line is identifying at least one new starter at tackle. It appears that will take more time, as Saban said the guards and tackles are being switched around trying to find the best fits for the players.

Given the Alabama team has a long way to go, Saban’s positive comments on Wednesday and earlier indicate he likes the makeup of this team. Something he more than ‘likes’ is the full health return of Trey Sanders. Speaking of the effort required of Sanders to recover from the car crash, Saban said Trey has done a

"remarkable job because it was an uphill battle for him … I’ve never probably been more proud of a guy for the way he fought through all of that"

The full media session video is available below.

The next scrimmage for the Crimson Tide is Saturday as spring practice rapidly moves to completion with the A-Day game on Apr. 16.