🏈 Alabama spring practice report: Tide dons full pads as an experiment appears to end

[BAMANEWSBOT]

• The "experiment" involving ArDarius Stewart at safety appears to have ended. Stewart, after two practices with the defense, was back with the wide receivers.
• There was no sign of DeAndrew White. He's recovering from some kind of surgery and has yet to practice. Safe to say at this point that his status for A-Day is in question.
• Saw Dillon Lee leading the outside linebackers through drills in one period and working with the inside linebackers in another. He's been groomed for versatility over the past couple of years.
• Watched Alabama go through its nickel defense for a little bit. Landon Collins and Nick Perry were working as the safeties, Jarrick Williams was at Star and a mix of Bradley Sylve, Cyrus Jones, Eddie Jackson and Tony Brown at the cornerback spots.
• Not much to report along the offensive line, where the three returning starters and Alphonse Taylor and Leon Brown appear to be the ones lining up first in drills. Grant Hill remains where he was last year, working behind Austin Shepherd at right tackle.
• Among today's faces in the crowd: AJ McCarron and Jeoffrey Pagan
• Through the first few practices, we've seen newly hired Aazaar Abdul-Rahim working with Lance Thompson and the outside linebackers. Abdul-Rahim, whose title has not been announced, came to Alabama from Washington D.C. high school powerhouse Friendship Collegiate Academy.
• Adam Griffith isn't alone like we thought he'd be. Walk-ons John Pizzitola (Birmingham) and Adrian Lamothe (Monterrey, Mexico) are keeping him company. We're going to go out on a limb and guess that Alabama has the only trio of specialists in the country who wear Nos. 97, 98 and 99.
• DEs Jonathan Allen and A'Shawn Robinson are both wearing thick braces on their arms. Allen's is on his elbow while Robinson's is on his forearm. They don't seem to be bothered one bit.
• There were a whole lot of other important folks watching practice today. Made for some crowded sidelines.

Read More Here...

 

[TerryP]

Notes from the Anniston Star:


--The ArDarius Stewart experiment at defensive back was short-lived. He was back with the wide receivers after spending the first two practices at safety. Stewart, who redshirted last season, will work in the slot. Tide coach Nick Saban said the move would be only “experimental.”

--Defensive lineman Darren Lake wasn’t seen at practice.

--Wide receiver DeAndrew White was not seen on the practice field. White is still recovering from surgery and has not practiced this spring.

--When Alabama worked its cornerbacks and safeties together, the first group on the left side featured cornerback Cyrus Jones and safety Nick Perry. On the right side, cornerback Eddie Jackson and safety Landon Collins led the way. Bradley Sylve worked on the left and freshman Tony Brown worked on the right.

--Alabama doesn’t have a ton of depth at SAM or JACK linebacker. Between the two positions, there are only seven players. At SAM, there’s Dillon Lee, Ryan Anderson and walk-on Josh Dickerson. At JACK, there’s Denzel Devall, Xzavier Dickson, Tim Williams and walk-on Bernel Jones. Reinforcements are on the way this summer.

--The first offensive line continues to be Leon Brown (left tackle), Arie Kouandjio (left guard), Ryan Kelly (center), Alphonse Taylor (right guard) and Austin Shepherd (right tackle).

--Alabama second offensive line group featured Brandon Greene at left tackle, Isaac Luatua at left guard, Paul Waldrop, Bradley Bozeman at right guard and Grant Hill at right tackle. The Tide doesn’t have a ton of linemen depth, but more bodies will be available in the fall.

--A’Shawn Robinson, Brandon Ivory and Jonathan Allen are leading the defensive line group.

--Defensive end Dalvin Tomlinson looks very explosive in drills coming off of season-ending knee surgery. Tomlinson could factor into the Tide’s rotation as a pass rusher.

--Among others, former Tide players AJ McCarron and Jeoffrey Pagan were in attendance.

Read more: Anniston Star - Tide practice report Stewart back at receiver
​

 

[TerryP]

-A’Shawn Robinson, Brandon Ivory and Jonathan Allen are leading the defensive line group.

Need one more end to step up with Pettway...I've thought he'd end up in the first rotation in drills.

 

[bama alum]

--The ArDarius Stewart experiment at defensive back was short-lived. He was back with the wide receivers after spending the first two practices at safety. Stewart, who redshirted last season, will work in the slot. Tide coach Nick Saban said the move would be only “experimental.”

Glad to see this. He's going to take a lot of people by surprise next season.