🏈 A post A-day thought about the reps players are getting in the spring ...

[TerryP]

Out running around with a friend of mine, fellow alum, and he makes a comment I hadn't considered yet. I knew this, but I've never actually put it in words or heard the observation.

He's a big numbers guy and a surfer (in both senses of the word) so put that mentality in the back of your mind as you think about his observation.

We've talked about the competition level at UA right now. It's arguable its at an all high but it's comparable to 2010.

When it comes to playing time, and getting reps in live action, how many of the backups did you see when you were watching the A-day game? You saw the 3's, a little of the 4's, and it pretty much stops right there.

Who aren't you seeing? Walk-ons? They're not on the field. Your early enrollees? Unless they are of the caliber of Williams, hardly a bit.

It's reached a point with the roster there are kids in competition to get significant reps on A-day.

Earlier I mentioned he was a surfer. There's a thread running over on the 247 site where a few of their members are discussing the same thing.

His comment made a lot of sense to me especially considering I'd been running through position groups in my head and thinking about who will 'shirt this season. It's feasible we'll see guys 'shirting that played last year.

 

[OldPlayer]

It's tough to evaluate the 3s, 4s and maybe 5s (if there is one) because we don't know their names. Many of the lower strings were in punt and kickoff roles. Spring practice is the time to evaluate players. During the season, practice intensity ratchets up and the down to keep legs fresh. Not so much during Spring since they get days off during the week. Therefore players get the reps to evaluate.

 

[TerryP]

I do believe you are missing the point @OldPlayer

I won't speak for @TerryP

 

[Tidestalker]

I do believe you are missing the point @OldPlayer

I won't speak for @TerryP

Don't mind him...

To reference your point - Both Hurts and Foristall are EE's and played a ton. Jennings is hurt, which just leaves Owens and Simmons. Not sure if either played

I can't ever remember Saban Red Shirting a guy after he's played a freshman season (without injury). Who could you foresee that with? My general observation is that when Saban gets the clock ticking on a guy that he doesn't see being a big part of the future, he tries to get them out quicker (speaking of eligibility and/or transfer).

And more importantly, what good would it do to RS a guy who's already avoided a redshirt? I'm taking into considering that the talent will not dip in recruiting as long as Saban is here. It's not like there is an opening down the road either...

Only exception I would think is for the JUCO kid Baldwin, but he hasn't played at Bama yet. Otherwise I just can't see it.

In general, there's no question the talent on hand is ridiculous. I look at that OLB position and can't believe what they've been able to do the last year +. Obviously the D Line last year was the same. O Line has tremendous competition and it's starting to stack up at ILB as well. The secondary is chalk full of play makers, and receivers too. Am I missing anything?? Besides Bateman, some nice prospects at QB!! (joking....kinda)

RTR

 

[TerryP]

The first guy that came to mind when he mentioned guys not getting reps in the A-day game was Mehki Brown. He was one of the guys I looked for during the scrimmage. Very little, if any, playing time. My friend mentioned Adonis Thompson. I don't recall seeing him either. Josh McMillon is another.

If you look at the interior of the offensive line, 1's and 2's were getting the reps. Linebackers followed the same pattern as did the reserves in the secondary.

We didn't see that with the interior on the defensive line: depth issue there already.

His point, and it's a valid one, is reps aren't easy to come by even in fan exhibition outings like A-day. The tone of the practice, as well as those who get to participate, has changed over the last five or six years. It's been suggested here that the spring isn't used for game planning. Yet, Saban has said the opposite this spring. It's been suggested it's used primarily to develop and evaluate the young guys. Yet, by the reps we're seeing it isn't the case—the guys who will see the majority of the action in the fall are seeing the majority of the action in the spring.

@Tidestalker With the depth on the inside of the line today, look at a guy like Warmack. He didn't shirt last year, and I can see it being feasible for him to 'shirt this season—barring injuries. I've seen the same suggested with Hass. I believe it's feasible. I did not say it was likely or expected. It's worth watching.

 

[footballer]

Terryp, I have been thinking about your post about what players are getting reps in the spring. Could it be that when spring practice begins all players go through reps and may be by their first scrimmage or after, the coaching staff have formed a pretty clear idea or opinion who their best maybe 50 to 65 players are and they begin to get the most teaching, coaching and reps in scrimmages ?

 

[alagator]

@footballer FYI, if you use the @ that'll show up in his notifications. He said in a PM yesterday he was going to be into the baseball/softball forums today and their new look.

@TerryP You still around this morning?

 

[TerryP]

Terryp, I have been thinking about your post about what players are getting reps in the spring. Could it be that when spring practice begins all players go through reps and may be by their first scrimmage or after, the coaching staff have formed a pretty clear idea or opinion who their best maybe 50 to 65 players are and they begin to get the most teaching, coaching and reps in scrimmages ?

I truly believe the way spring camp is being held today is different than it was at the mid-point of Saban's tenure in Tuscaloosa. It's my belief you're spot on with your idea here. The only thing I would add is this "whittling down" process starts in bowl prep and then is refined more in the first few days of spring ball.

We've known that Saban uses those first few weeks of bowl prep just like it's spring camp, or the beginning of fall camp—fundamentals are stressed as well as individual responsibilities within their scheme. If he's said that once, he's said it more than a dozen times over his years at Bama.

Just as a comparison, there's a thread here about how Tee Martin has seen what Tim Williams brings to the table and they're preparing for Bama this spring as well. That's not all about a team being focused on a single game. In fact, I'd dare say it's more the norm than it is an outlier in today's game. Saban has already said that this spring they were working on teams Bama will face in the fall. To me, that's not about developing your 4's, etc. That's game prep. It's certainly different than what was going on in Tuscaloosa under past coaching staff's.

 

[footballer]

Right on Terry, I agree. Time marches on. The game changes, strategies and the way things have been done before have to evolve. Coach Saban is not old but he is no spring chicken either. The older you get the wiser you get. Older dogs have to learn new tricks or go lay on the porch and watch the ducks.

 

[Tidestalker]

The first guy that came to mind when he mentioned guys not getting reps in the A-day game was Mehki Brown. He was one of the guys I looked for during the scrimmage. Very little, if any, playing time. My friend mentioned Adonis Thompson. I don't recall seeing him either. Josh McMillon is another.

If you look at the interior of the offensive line, 1's and 2's were getting the reps. Linebackers followed the same pattern as did the reserves in the secondary.

We didn't see that with the interior on the defensive line: depth issue there already.

His point, and it's a valid one, is reps aren't easy to come by even in fan exhibition outings like A-day. The tone of the practice, as well as those who get to participate, has changed over the last five or six years. It's been suggested here that the spring isn't used for game planning. Yet, Saban has said the opposite this spring. It's been suggested it's used primarily to develop and evaluate the young guys. Yet, by the reps we're seeing it isn't the case—the guys who will see the majority of the action in the fall are seeing the majority of the action in the spring.

@Tidestalker With the depth on the inside of the line today, look at a guy like Warmack. He didn't shirt last year, and I can see it being feasible for him to 'shirt this season—barring injuries. I've seen the same suggested with Hass. I believe it's feasible. I did not say it was likely or expected. It's worth watching.

I did not even realize that Warmack didn't red shirt... That's kind of shocking. He sure didn't play much.

I'm all for RS'ing Hassenhauer since he's likely not going to play at OC, but I'd be shocked if Saban pulls that string. I believe Saban sees Haas and Casher as too small for the SEC... So not sure he's going to be the next center either.