Competition for key roles never ceases for Alabama Football. But if one day is more important than all the other days of work it is the second and last scrimmage of fall camp. After Saturday, most positions will have a clear first-unit, second-unit, and third-unit pecking order. And the opportunity to move from the third unit to the first unit will become strained due to a demarcation in practice reps.
The Alabama football work in progress has unanswered questions about several starting roles and depth at many positions.
The select guests on Saturday afternoon will seek strong clues to answers. Foremost on most minds will be the quarterback position. Will Jalen Milroe separate himself as QB1? Does the battle to earn the QB2 role include Ty Simpson, Tyler Buchner and Dylan Lonergan? No other position has stimulated so many presumptions by Alabama football fans.
Scrimmage Prediction: Fans will get clues but not answers
Four more key Alabama Football areas
- What about the left side of the offensive line?
Most attention has been given to the left tackle spot, but to an extent, the left guard starter role is also not a lock. At left tackle, the competition seems to be between redshirt freshman Elijah Pritchett and massive freshman, Kadyn Proctor.
If Pritchett gets the nod at left tackle, will Proctor battle Terrence Ferguson II for the starting role at left guard? What about Darrian Dalcourt? Does he have a role rather than backup to Seth McLaughlin at center?
Scrimmage Prediction: The left-side competition will not end, but scrimmage performance will have a large impact on who starts against MTSU.
- Jihadd Campbell or Trezmen Marshall or ? at Will linebacker?
Fall camp observations suggest Campbell is too good to keep off the field, but Marshall has more experience. What about Justin Jefferson and Shawn Murphy?
Scrimmage Prediction: No clear resolution for a position that will likely have situational rotation during the season.
- Which five defensive backs are in nickel, and at Money?
Alabama football has tremendous talent in the secondary. Kool-Aid, Malachi Moore and freshman Caleb Downs are considered locks to start. At least six more guys have chances to fill out the Tide’s dime defense. They are Terrion Arnold, transfer, Trey Amos, transfer Jalen Key, Earl Little Jr., Devonta Smith and Kristian Story.
Scrimmage Prediction: Arnold locks down one of the cornerback positions
- What about the rotation at wideout?
Alabama football rarely goes beyond six rotating wide receivers in meaningful game action. With the expected emergence of hybrid tight end, Amari Niblack and fall camp rave reviews for tight end, CJ Dippre, it could be five wideouts are as deep as the Tide will go. After Jermaine Burton, Ja’Corey Brooks, Isaiah Bond and Malik Benson, some in a deep wide receiver room will likely not get many snaps.
Scrimmage Prediction: To the extent there is an answer after the scrimmage, it will be driven by dropped passes versus sure hands.
There should be plenty of interesting scrimmage information to discuss Saturday night and Sunday.