Alabama Football: A key week ahead for ten Tide players

Just like Saturday is moving day for professional golfers, the coming week is moving week for at least ten Alabama football players.

Golf tournaments are not won on Saturdays, but often a Saturday round determines who can and cannot win on Sunday. The week between the two Alabama football scrimmages is very similar. On Sunday, Aug. 21, Nick Saban will not release a depth chart, but those players contending for starting roles will start getting the most practice opportunities as fall camp winds down. Performance in the second fall camp scrimmage is extremely important.

After Saturday’s scrimmage Nick Saban said he was not disappointed, but also that much improvement was needed to play winning football.

Below is a list of 10 players in four position groups who need a good week and a very good scrimmage to gain first unit status.

Moving Week for 10 Alabama Football Players

• Jaylen Moody – On Saturday, Saban said the redshirt senior has had a good fall camp. He also said the younger players vying to start alongside Henry To’o To’o need much improvement. Moody can lock down the starting role this week and in the scrimmage.
• So far, the only sure starter at wide receiver is Jermaine Burton. Saban complimented Kobe Prentice’s scrimmage performance. Four Tide receivers, Traeshon Holden, Ja’Corey Brooks, Christian Leary and Tyler Harrell need a good week and scrimmage or the freshman could leapfrog some of them into a starting role. Harrell has missed some practice work with a nagging physical problem. The Tide needs his speed on the field. Leary is the logical replacement for Jojo Earle in the slot. Based on experience, Holden and Brooks have an advantage. None of these guys can be dropping passes in the next scrimmage, as Saban pointed out some players were on Saturday.
• Now at cornerback, Terrion Arnold has drawn Nick Saban’s fall camp praise. Another strong week by Arnold and he could unseat either Khyree Jackson or Eli Ricks. Jackson missed the scrimmage with a minor groin injury. It is believed Ricks may need more time to learn the complicated Alabama football defense.
• At center and left guard, Darrian Dalcourt and Javion Cohen will need continued solid performances to hold off Seth McLaughlin and Kendall Randolph. The four players rotated with the first unit offensive line on Saturday.

Another dozen or so players could be highlighted as also facing a pivotal week. Most of them are competing for key slots in specialty packages and special teams roles.

Alabama football fans will anticipate the depth chart Nick Saban will release on Monday, Aug. 29. What happens in the coming week will determine several depth chart decisions.