Tony's takes: Breaking down what Nick Saban said following Alabama's first spring scrimmage
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama held its first scrimmage of 2023 as the team worked out for approximately two hours inside Bryant-Denny Stadium on Friday. The scrimmage marks the eighth of 15 total spring practices culminating with the A-Day game on April 22.
Following Friday’s workout, Nick Saban spoke with local reporters. Here’s a transcript of what he said as well as my take on what it means.
Opening statement
“I guess everything should start with the holiday and wish everybody a very good holiday weekend. We practiced today on Friday so players would have an opportunity to be with their family over the holiday if they choose to do that.
“But from a scrimmage standpoint today, I thought there was a lot of good things out there. I thought the intensity was good. There was a lot of good hitting. Tried to play more physical on the line of scrimmage. Offensively, I thought we were pretty consistent in terms of what we did. We moved the ball effectively and with balance, run and pass. Both quarterbacks played equally well. Both of them got opportunities, and both of them, I thought, did a nice job out there managing the game.
“Defensively, we gave up probably too many explosive plays, need to improve on tackling. We didn’t really do a very good job of getting turnovers, which has been a big emphasis for us this year. We’ve got a lot of veteran players on defense who aren’t playing. Justin (Eboigbe) just played on third down. Dallas (Turner) is out, (Chris) Braswell is out. Kool-Aid (McKinstry) wasn’t here today because of family circumstances. But it’s an opportunity for a lot of young players to get a lot of reps, a lot of opportunities for us to evaluate those guys’ progress.
Tony’s take: Let’s get started with the biggest news of the day — both Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson played really well. Alabama didn’t provide stats, but the two contenders for the starting quarterback role both threw multiple touchdowns without an interception, according to sources. There are always two sides of the sword when it comes to scrimmages, but Saban would likely rather his quarterbacks get off to a good start than have his defense pick them apart at this point in the spring.
Alabama’s defense was also nowhere near full strength. The Crimson Tide was without its top two pass rushers in Braswell and Turner as well as two more projected starters in Lawson and McKinstry. It would have almost certainly been a better day for the defense if that bunch had been available.
On young players stepping up
“I think the big thing is, especially for young players, is to stay focused on what they need to do to continue to develop. Don’t get frustrated about the success you’re having. Don’t get frustrated about where you are on the depth chart – because we really don’t even have a depth chart. But when you get an opportunity, go in there and take advantage of it so that every time we see you play, we say, ‘Wow, that guy’s doing a really good job,’ or ‘That guy’s not doing what he’s supposed to do.’
“Today, we really wanted to evaluate how guys competed, what their effort was, what kind of mental and physical toughness did they play with, how accountable could they be to go out there and do their job. And I think first scrimmage, that’s something we really wanted to see. I like the progress the team is making. We’re not satisfied with where we are, but we’re not displeased with the progress that we’re making. I think the key is to look at this film and everybody learn and grow from the experience and improve so we do things a little more consistently in the next scrimmage.”
Tony’s take: Alabama has a really young roster at the moment, especially with several of its stars sidelined. One of the biggest things Saban looks for in early scrimmages is how young players perform without the safety net of coaches telling them what to do. Friday served as a valuable debut under the spotlight for many new faces.
On the safeties
“We played Malachi [Moore] at safety today. We’ve been playing some days at Star, some days at safety. Caleb Downs is doing well for a young guy, getting a lot of reps. We played Earl [Little] at STAR, played several guys at corner since Kool-Aid wasn’t here. Terrion Arnold’s been doing a pretty good job, having a good spring. We played him at STAR some, too. So a lot of guys getting a lot of reps, but that’s an area of our team we definitely need to develop some depth and get these guys experience so they’re more confident in terms of how they go out there and play and execute what we need them to do.”
Tony’s take: The strength of Alabama’s secondary comes in its versatility. Arnold and Moore are capable of playing practically every position in the secondary. Meanwhile, Little can line up either on the perimeter or in the slot. Downs is also someone who could play at both STAR as well as in a deep safety role. That flexibility will allow Alabama to experiment while getting several players important reps.
It’s interesting Alabama played Little at STAR with McKinstry unavailable. If the plan is to play Little in the slot, it would likely mean McKinstry and Arnold would man the two outside cornerback positions while Moore drops back to safety. That leaves just one opening at the other safety position with Downs, Kristian Story, Jake Pope and DeVonta Smith as the biggest contenders for the role.
On the depth at running back
“It’s been great. All guys have done well. All four guys have had really, really good springs. They’re all very productive players. All those guys can contribute to the team in some ways. They’re doing really, really well. As long as we can stay healthy at that position, I don’t think that’s an issue on our team.”
Tony’s take: According to sources, Alabama’s running backs had a good day. True freshman Justice Haynes ripped off a 35-yard run against the first-team defense on his first carry, while Roydell Williams and Jam Miller ran really hard in short-yardage situations. One source noted that Jase McClellan took on a lesser role but was not wearing a black jersey and did not appear to be limited by injuries. Alabama’s backfield should be one of its strengths next season and should make it easier to break in a new starter behind center.
On the outside linebacker position with Braswell and Turner out
“They’re getting all the reps. I think they’re learning. I think they’re more confident. Whether it’s (Jeremiah Alexander), Keanu (Koht), Q (Quandarrius Robinson), they’re all getting lots of reps and doing a good job, a couple freshmen. Those guys are good players. They’re leaders on the team. We certainly miss their presence out there. I think that’s one of the biggest things right now is the guys that would be some of the best leaders are not guys that are being able to participate. But the good news is the other guys that play with them and behind them are getting a world of experience, which is gonna be very beneficial to them in their development.”
Tony’s take: Alabama was without four of the five five-star edge rushers on its roster as Braswell and Turner were sidelined while true freshmen Keon Keeley and Yhonzae Pierre aren’t set to join the team until the summer. That said, the Tide still had plenty of firepower with five-star redshirt freshman Jeremiah Alexander as well as two other former Rivals100 members in Keanu Koht and Quandarrius Robinson. Alabama knows what it has in Braswell and Turner, so it’s a good thing the less experienced players on the roster are getting more reps.
On possible scrimmages against in-state schools proposed by Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze
"Um, I didn’t know anything about that. We’re always interested in helping people any way that we can. If that’s the purpose of what they’re doing, that’s certainly a good thing and we try to do a lot of things to create opportunities for people in our foundation and will continue to do that. If there’s something along those lines in the spring game that would be helpful to somebody, I think it’s a great idea."
Tony’s take: The idea of playing a smaller school for the spring game isn’t new. It has been kicked around numerous times in the past and could ultimately come to fruition if it gains enough support from the right entities. It’s telling that Saban didn’t totally squash the notion Friday. Having the proceeds of such a matchup go to charity is an intriguing possibility. However, ultimately it will come down to money. If ESPN thinks a scrimmage against another team would draw more viewers, it might happen down the road.
On the competition at inside linebacker
"It’s great. Trez Marshall is doing a really good job. He adds some maturity there. The other guys are coming along. They’re all getting better. They’re competing well. We’re moving them around. Shawn Murphy has done a pretty good job. Jihaad Campbell has done a pretty good job, and those guys are kind of rotating in and out of there. Lawson is out for the spring. He’s the one guy that has experience that would be a good player that would add leadership to that position. This is a good thing that those guys are getting all those reps, too."
Tony’s take: Lawson’s absence this spring should create plenty of opportunities for the other inside linebackers contending for a starting spot. It isn’t a surprise to see Marshall mentioned by Saban. The Georgia transfer has received praise this offseason and is thought of as a potential breakout candidate if he can stay healthy.
On how Malik Benson helps with explosive plays
"I think (Jermaine) Burton made some big plays today. Ja’Corey Brooks made some big plays today. Benson’s had a really, really good spring and is capable of stretching the field and making big plays. Good all-around player. He certainly is going to help us. Isaiah Bond has had a really good spring and has done a really good job. So receiver corps has developed really nicely. Consistency in performance is what we need to continue to work on."
Tony’s take: According to sources, Benson made the play of the day, reeling in a one-handed catch from Simpson that went for roughly 40 yards. However, as Saban pointed out, the speedy junior college transfer isn’t the only one capable of providing explosive plays in the receiving corps. According to sources, Jermaine Burton got on the end of a 40-yard touchdown pass from Simpson, while Brooks caught a 20-yard touchdown from the redshirt freshman. Alabama should have plenty of targets for either quarterback to aim this fall.
On what scrimmages show from a player evaluation standpoint
"I think the big thing is, I’m always on the coaches to let the players play. I think there’s a time in practice even that you need to let them make the calls, let them do the things they need to do, because you can’t do it for them in the game. The next step of that is the coaches are off the field, there’s nobody standing behind them making the calls for them. Nobody telling them what to do. I think that’s sort of the next step in the progression of being able to play winning football is being able to go out there and have enough confidence in yourself and understand the system well enough that you can go apply it to whatever multiple sort of shows up.
"I think competing in the scrimmage is an opportunity for guys to say, ‘Hey, I can be accountable to do my job, I know what I’m supposed to do, when I’m supposed to slant and get a gap, I know what I’m supposed to do when it’s a certain protection as an offensive lineman or running back. But I got to figure it out. I got to understand the concepts and be able to go execute it, recognize what’s happening, have the right eye control and have the discipline to execute it on a consistent basis.’ Sometimes in practice when coaches are helping guys, trying to help them do the right things, they can actually depend on somebody telling them what to do. We’d like for them to know what to do, because sometimes you can’t always communicate that, even if it’s another player trying to help a player. I think those kinds of things in scrimmages are really beneficial to young guys that are developing."
Tony’s take: As I stated before, Saban likes to see what his young players will do on their own during scrimmages. Coaches want their players to succeed, but as Saban points out, sometimes it's better to let them be accountable and learn from their mistakes.
On Tommy Rees’ first scrimmage as the offensive coordinator
"Offense was great today. Tommy does a great job with the players. Players like him. He’s taken our system and pretty much used our system that we use, added some things to it. I think the offensive line has done a good job. We’ve got a few more multiples in terms of how we can run the ball. Does a really good job with formations and how to use formations to create advantages for us on offense. I’m really pleased with what we’ve been able to do on that side of the ball and how we’ve developed."
Tony’s take: According to multiple accounts, the offense won the day in the first scrimmage. While Rees isn’t going to totally change Alabama’s attack, he should balance out the offense by reestablishing the running game. By the sound of it, he was able to accomplish that during Friday’s scrimmage.
Following Friday’s workout, Nick Saban spoke with local reporters. Here’s a transcript of what he said as well as my take on what it means.
Opening statement
“I guess everything should start with the holiday and wish everybody a very good holiday weekend. We practiced today on Friday so players would have an opportunity to be with their family over the holiday if they choose to do that.
“But from a scrimmage standpoint today, I thought there was a lot of good things out there. I thought the intensity was good. There was a lot of good hitting. Tried to play more physical on the line of scrimmage. Offensively, I thought we were pretty consistent in terms of what we did. We moved the ball effectively and with balance, run and pass. Both quarterbacks played equally well. Both of them got opportunities, and both of them, I thought, did a nice job out there managing the game.
“Defensively, we gave up probably too many explosive plays, need to improve on tackling. We didn’t really do a very good job of getting turnovers, which has been a big emphasis for us this year. We’ve got a lot of veteran players on defense who aren’t playing. Justin (Eboigbe) just played on third down. Dallas (Turner) is out, (Chris) Braswell is out. Kool-Aid (McKinstry) wasn’t here today because of family circumstances. But it’s an opportunity for a lot of young players to get a lot of reps, a lot of opportunities for us to evaluate those guys’ progress.
Tony’s take: Let’s get started with the biggest news of the day — both Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson played really well. Alabama didn’t provide stats, but the two contenders for the starting quarterback role both threw multiple touchdowns without an interception, according to sources. There are always two sides of the sword when it comes to scrimmages, but Saban would likely rather his quarterbacks get off to a good start than have his defense pick them apart at this point in the spring.
Alabama’s defense was also nowhere near full strength. The Crimson Tide was without its top two pass rushers in Braswell and Turner as well as two more projected starters in Lawson and McKinstry. It would have almost certainly been a better day for the defense if that bunch had been available.
On young players stepping up
“I think the big thing is, especially for young players, is to stay focused on what they need to do to continue to develop. Don’t get frustrated about the success you’re having. Don’t get frustrated about where you are on the depth chart – because we really don’t even have a depth chart. But when you get an opportunity, go in there and take advantage of it so that every time we see you play, we say, ‘Wow, that guy’s doing a really good job,’ or ‘That guy’s not doing what he’s supposed to do.’
“Today, we really wanted to evaluate how guys competed, what their effort was, what kind of mental and physical toughness did they play with, how accountable could they be to go out there and do their job. And I think first scrimmage, that’s something we really wanted to see. I like the progress the team is making. We’re not satisfied with where we are, but we’re not displeased with the progress that we’re making. I think the key is to look at this film and everybody learn and grow from the experience and improve so we do things a little more consistently in the next scrimmage.”
Tony’s take: Alabama has a really young roster at the moment, especially with several of its stars sidelined. One of the biggest things Saban looks for in early scrimmages is how young players perform without the safety net of coaches telling them what to do. Friday served as a valuable debut under the spotlight for many new faces.
On the safeties
“We played Malachi [Moore] at safety today. We’ve been playing some days at Star, some days at safety. Caleb Downs is doing well for a young guy, getting a lot of reps. We played Earl [Little] at STAR, played several guys at corner since Kool-Aid wasn’t here. Terrion Arnold’s been doing a pretty good job, having a good spring. We played him at STAR some, too. So a lot of guys getting a lot of reps, but that’s an area of our team we definitely need to develop some depth and get these guys experience so they’re more confident in terms of how they go out there and play and execute what we need them to do.”
Tony’s take: The strength of Alabama’s secondary comes in its versatility. Arnold and Moore are capable of playing practically every position in the secondary. Meanwhile, Little can line up either on the perimeter or in the slot. Downs is also someone who could play at both STAR as well as in a deep safety role. That flexibility will allow Alabama to experiment while getting several players important reps.
It’s interesting Alabama played Little at STAR with McKinstry unavailable. If the plan is to play Little in the slot, it would likely mean McKinstry and Arnold would man the two outside cornerback positions while Moore drops back to safety. That leaves just one opening at the other safety position with Downs, Kristian Story, Jake Pope and DeVonta Smith as the biggest contenders for the role.
On the depth at running back
“It’s been great. All guys have done well. All four guys have had really, really good springs. They’re all very productive players. All those guys can contribute to the team in some ways. They’re doing really, really well. As long as we can stay healthy at that position, I don’t think that’s an issue on our team.”
Tony’s take: According to sources, Alabama’s running backs had a good day. True freshman Justice Haynes ripped off a 35-yard run against the first-team defense on his first carry, while Roydell Williams and Jam Miller ran really hard in short-yardage situations. One source noted that Jase McClellan took on a lesser role but was not wearing a black jersey and did not appear to be limited by injuries. Alabama’s backfield should be one of its strengths next season and should make it easier to break in a new starter behind center.
On the outside linebacker position with Braswell and Turner out
“They’re getting all the reps. I think they’re learning. I think they’re more confident. Whether it’s (Jeremiah Alexander), Keanu (Koht), Q (Quandarrius Robinson), they’re all getting lots of reps and doing a good job, a couple freshmen. Those guys are good players. They’re leaders on the team. We certainly miss their presence out there. I think that’s one of the biggest things right now is the guys that would be some of the best leaders are not guys that are being able to participate. But the good news is the other guys that play with them and behind them are getting a world of experience, which is gonna be very beneficial to them in their development.”
Tony’s take: Alabama was without four of the five five-star edge rushers on its roster as Braswell and Turner were sidelined while true freshmen Keon Keeley and Yhonzae Pierre aren’t set to join the team until the summer. That said, the Tide still had plenty of firepower with five-star redshirt freshman Jeremiah Alexander as well as two other former Rivals100 members in Keanu Koht and Quandarrius Robinson. Alabama knows what it has in Braswell and Turner, so it’s a good thing the less experienced players on the roster are getting more reps.
On possible scrimmages against in-state schools proposed by Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze
"Um, I didn’t know anything about that. We’re always interested in helping people any way that we can. If that’s the purpose of what they’re doing, that’s certainly a good thing and we try to do a lot of things to create opportunities for people in our foundation and will continue to do that. If there’s something along those lines in the spring game that would be helpful to somebody, I think it’s a great idea."
Tony’s take: The idea of playing a smaller school for the spring game isn’t new. It has been kicked around numerous times in the past and could ultimately come to fruition if it gains enough support from the right entities. It’s telling that Saban didn’t totally squash the notion Friday. Having the proceeds of such a matchup go to charity is an intriguing possibility. However, ultimately it will come down to money. If ESPN thinks a scrimmage against another team would draw more viewers, it might happen down the road.
On the competition at inside linebacker
"It’s great. Trez Marshall is doing a really good job. He adds some maturity there. The other guys are coming along. They’re all getting better. They’re competing well. We’re moving them around. Shawn Murphy has done a pretty good job. Jihaad Campbell has done a pretty good job, and those guys are kind of rotating in and out of there. Lawson is out for the spring. He’s the one guy that has experience that would be a good player that would add leadership to that position. This is a good thing that those guys are getting all those reps, too."
Tony’s take: Lawson’s absence this spring should create plenty of opportunities for the other inside linebackers contending for a starting spot. It isn’t a surprise to see Marshall mentioned by Saban. The Georgia transfer has received praise this offseason and is thought of as a potential breakout candidate if he can stay healthy.
On how Malik Benson helps with explosive plays
"I think (Jermaine) Burton made some big plays today. Ja’Corey Brooks made some big plays today. Benson’s had a really, really good spring and is capable of stretching the field and making big plays. Good all-around player. He certainly is going to help us. Isaiah Bond has had a really good spring and has done a really good job. So receiver corps has developed really nicely. Consistency in performance is what we need to continue to work on."
Tony’s take: According to sources, Benson made the play of the day, reeling in a one-handed catch from Simpson that went for roughly 40 yards. However, as Saban pointed out, the speedy junior college transfer isn’t the only one capable of providing explosive plays in the receiving corps. According to sources, Jermaine Burton got on the end of a 40-yard touchdown pass from Simpson, while Brooks caught a 20-yard touchdown from the redshirt freshman. Alabama should have plenty of targets for either quarterback to aim this fall.
On what scrimmages show from a player evaluation standpoint
"I think the big thing is, I’m always on the coaches to let the players play. I think there’s a time in practice even that you need to let them make the calls, let them do the things they need to do, because you can’t do it for them in the game. The next step of that is the coaches are off the field, there’s nobody standing behind them making the calls for them. Nobody telling them what to do. I think that’s sort of the next step in the progression of being able to play winning football is being able to go out there and have enough confidence in yourself and understand the system well enough that you can go apply it to whatever multiple sort of shows up.
"I think competing in the scrimmage is an opportunity for guys to say, ‘Hey, I can be accountable to do my job, I know what I’m supposed to do, when I’m supposed to slant and get a gap, I know what I’m supposed to do when it’s a certain protection as an offensive lineman or running back. But I got to figure it out. I got to understand the concepts and be able to go execute it, recognize what’s happening, have the right eye control and have the discipline to execute it on a consistent basis.’ Sometimes in practice when coaches are helping guys, trying to help them do the right things, they can actually depend on somebody telling them what to do. We’d like for them to know what to do, because sometimes you can’t always communicate that, even if it’s another player trying to help a player. I think those kinds of things in scrimmages are really beneficial to young guys that are developing."
Tony’s take: As I stated before, Saban likes to see what his young players will do on their own during scrimmages. Coaches want their players to succeed, but as Saban points out, sometimes it's better to let them be accountable and learn from their mistakes.
On Tommy Rees’ first scrimmage as the offensive coordinator
"Offense was great today. Tommy does a great job with the players. Players like him. He’s taken our system and pretty much used our system that we use, added some things to it. I think the offensive line has done a good job. We’ve got a few more multiples in terms of how we can run the ball. Does a really good job with formations and how to use formations to create advantages for us on offense. I’m really pleased with what we’ve been able to do on that side of the ball and how we’ve developed."
Tony’s take: According to multiple accounts, the offense won the day in the first scrimmage. While Rees isn’t going to totally change Alabama’s attack, he should balance out the offense by reestablishing the running game. By the sound of it, he was able to accomplish that during Friday’s scrimmage.
