| FTBL šŸˆšŸ’Ŗ ~ Alabama Football Spring Camp~ Video and interviews from Thursday's final practice before A-Day

Jalen Hale:

Alabama football wide receiver Jalen Hale suffered a knee injury in practice and will be unavailable to play for the remainder of spring practice, new coach Kalen DeBoer said Thursday. Whether or not he could return at some point for the 2024 Crimson Tide season, however, remains to be seen.
"He had a significant knee injury. He'll be down for the spring. There's still some evaluation that needs to take place as far as a timeline for the rest of the year," DeBoer said
 
Kalen DeBoer recaps lessons learned from 1st Alabama football scrimmage - AL.com




Alabama football was back in Bryant-Denny Stadium. But for the first time in 17 years, Nick Saban was not with the team. Instead, Kalen DeBoer and his new coaching staff led UA for its opening spring 2024 scrimmage.

It was the first time Jalen Milroe receives snaps from his new center, whoever takes that spot, in UAā€™s home stadium ā€” a heavily scaled-down preview of the Aug. 31 opener against Western Kentucky. The defense, which replaces at least half its starters, were aligned under new coordinator Kane Wommackā€™s ā€˜SWARMā€™ scheme. Earlier this week, Tide assistants told players the word of the week was ā€˜competitionā€™ in Tuscaloosa.

Alabama holds its second scrimmage on Saturday, April 6. The annual spring game, A-Day, is set for April 13 at 3 p.m. (ESPN). It will be open to the media and the public. DeBoer has yet to confirm the annual Team White and Team Crimson structure.

Reporters were not permitted to view Thursdayā€™s scrimmage and did not receive stats. Like his predecessor and many other coaches, DeBoer held a news conference afterward to provide updates and answer questions.

Here are the highlights:

--This was the second of Alabamaā€™s practices this week and eighth overall. DeBoer said the guys were ā€œexcited to get outā€ onto the BDS field.

ā€œFrom my standpoint, as a head coach, you want that give and take and we definitely had that today.ā€

--DeBoer said the team could have had better communication and maximized more opportunities.

--DeBoer said it was ā€œas good a first scrimmageā€ as he couldā€™ve hoped for. The team ran 85-90 plays.

--Alabama wide receiver Jalen Hale suffered a ā€œsignificantā€ knee injury and will be out for the remainder of the spring.

--DeBoer said Jalen Milroe took the majority of first-team snaps but in order for others to get an opportunity, the quarterbacks were rotated through the offense. DeBoer said none of the quarterbacks had a turnover in scrimmage.

--DeBoer likes the diversity of his backfield between Jam Miller, Justice Haynes, Richard Young and Daniel Hill.

ā€œFor these guys, there is a downhill physicality that I think they really have but they have the ability to also make the jumpcut, get to the outside, turn on the speed. In the backfield, come out and we just find a way to get them touches and thatā€™s what our offense really does is find ways to get the ball to its best players in space.ā€

--ā€To me, the passing game, when itā€™s done right, has some intricacies and some nuances. ... Weā€™re not there yet, but Iā€™m pleased with the process.ā€

--DeBoer said Alabamaā€™s pass rush generated pressure on the quarterbacks. He didnā€™t go as far as to say the Tideā€™s offensive line is a concern, but itā€™s something they need to work on.

--DeBoer said Alabama had too many penalties on both sides of the ball.

ā€œTo me the first scrimmage with a new offense, new defense, I think itā€™s all relative. Have I had better first scrimmages? Yeah. But I think areas where we can improve probably both sides, a couple penalties that are going to be great lessons for us to learn. Not things that were out of control, just mentally we got a gain, we donā€™t need a hold downfield, just things like that.ā€
 
What Kalen DeBoer said about Alabama football QB Jalen Milroe after first spring scrimmage - Tuscaloosa Magazine


Jalen Milroe is getting more comfortable with Alabama football's new offense, and from the sound of it, new Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer is becoming comfortable himself with the fourth-year junior's ability to run the ball.

Alabama held its first spring scrimmage, which was closed to media, on Thursday, and Milroe handled most of the first-team reps. Afterward, DeBoer made note of his returning starter's ability to make plays with his feet.

"He's got that dual skill set, being able to run and throw. And now that we have enough things (installed) where he can utilize all that, you can see even the play calling working around what he brings to the table," DeBoer said. "He's tough to handle. He's just so extremely fast. You think you have him bottled up and he just runs right around you. He's done a really good job. He gets more comfortable with the offense every day, especially when it comes to the pass game."

DeBoer and co-offensive coordinators Nick Sheridan and JaMarcus Shephard are installing an offense that is significantly different from the one the Crimson Tide's returning starters are accustomed to. That makes 15 spring practices, eight of which are now complete, all the more important. Milroe, perhaps the most dynamic athlete on UA's spring roster, threw for 2,834 yards and 23 touchdowns last season, his first as a starter, on the way to an SEC championship. He also rushed for 531 yards despite being sacked a whopping 44 times.

"There are things where he has options to make a play with his feet, and he's done that I think at the right time, being more and more comfortable just playing the game," DeBoer added. "Finding ways to move the chains, converting when he needs to convert, and taking shots when he needs to take a shot. So I'm really proud of the way he's come along."

Milroe has worked with the first team this spring. Also returning are 2023 Alabama backups Ty Simpson and Dylan Lonergan, as well as redshirt freshman Austin Mack, who practiced in DeBoer's system at Washington last season before transferring to play for the Crimson Tide.

"The quarterbacks in general did a really good job making some throws, staying with the plays, checking protections, just feeling really comfortable back there and not trying to do too much. They never turned the ball over once today, which I think says a lot," DeBoer added.

Alabama will hold its second spring scrimmage on Saturday April 6. The annual A-Day game will kick off at 3 p.m., Saturday April 13, at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
 
@Justneedme81

Brailsford: I'm not ignoring the speculation he's thinking, or going to, transfer. It's disappointing because the unit could use depth. It's important to note that's what he was/is; depth. Over the off-season we, as fans, have something we hoped with get with Tommy: James Brockermeyer has bulked up.

Tyler - James - Jaeden: it looks like the interior is about locked up. With Proctor's return they're looking for a starting right tackle. It's been between McVay and Formsby up until this point.

FWIW, James took almost all of the snaps with the one's during the first scrimmage.

I'm not sure what kind of availability we'll see from the next practice. IF we get reports Brailsford didn't practice? If that's the case he's likely skipping the remaining half of spring camp and entering the portal on the 15th.
 
@Justneedme81

Brailsford: I'm not ignoring the speculation he's thinking, or going to, transfer. It's disappointing because the unit could use depth. It's important to note that's what he was/is; depth. Over the off-season we, as fans, have something we hoped with get with Tommy: James Brockermeyer has bulked up.

Tyler - James - Jaeden: it looks like the interior is about locked up. With Proctor's return they're looking for a starting right tackle. It's been between McVay and Formsby up until this point.

FWIW, James took almost all of the snaps with the one's during the first scrimmage.

I'm not sure what kind of availability we'll see from the next practice. IF we get reports Brailsford didn't practice? If that's the case he's likely skipping the remaining half of spring camp and entering the portal on the 15th.
Wow, I feel like we, as fans, penciled in Parker as our starting center.
 
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