TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The season opener is drawing nearer, and the workouts are becoming a bit more intense. Alabama held its second preseason scrimmage inside Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday. First-year head coach Kalen DeBoer described the 94-play session as “the most physical scrimmage we’ve had since we’ve been here.”
While Saturday’s scrimmage was closed to the public, Tide Illustrated was able to gather some nuggets from the select few in attendance.
Here’s a look at what we uncovered.
Another freshman WR emerges
For a second straight weekend, Ryan Williams started the scrimmage by hauling in a long reception. However, the five-star talent wasn’t the top freshman in Alabama’s receiving corps on Saturday. That honor went to Rico Scott, who tallied a handful of catches, including touchdown grabs from Jalen Milroe and Dylan Lonergan.
Scott joined Alabama over the summer and has been working behind Washington transfer Germie Bernard and Emmanuel Henderson during drills in viewing periods earlier this month. Alabama heavily rotated its receivers Saturday, which allowed Scott to take some reps against the first-team defense.
Henderson also made a nice catch, diving to reel in a pass from Ty Simpson. It was a quiet day for Bernard, while Kendrick Law spent a lot of time working with the second unit.
Benard and Law are both favorites to land starting roles along with Williams and Kobe Prentice. However, don’t count out role players such as Scott and Henderson from providing an impact on offense.
Defense answers Wommack’s call
Heading into this week’s scrimmage defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said he’d like to see his unit’s tackling improve from the first scrimmage. Alabama’s defenders took note, providing some bone-crunching blows on the day.
The biggest hit came from safety Malachi Moore, who leveled Cole Adams on a play over the middle. Adams held onto the ball but wasn’t too happy about the hit. The redshirt freshman receiver immediately threw off his helmet and jogged to the medical tent. Adams was fine, but he’ll probably be feeling that one in the morning.
While Moore’s hit was impressive, it was flagged for targeting which would have seen him ejected in an actual game. The senior will have to show a bit more discipline moving forward.
Scott was also on the receiving end of a couple of punishing hits. One was courtesy of defensive back DeVonta Smith and the other was by Jihaad Campbell. One source identified Campbell and fellow inside linebacker Justin Jefferson as two defenders who really stood out on the day.
“They were laying the lumber out there,” one source at the scrimmage said of the defense. “I don’t know how some of these receivers are even walking now.”
An injury up front
Alabama’s offensive line was dealt a minor setback as starting right guard Jaeden Roberts suffered an upper-body injury early in the scrimmage. The junior left for the locker room and returned with his left arm in a sling.
DeBoer did not elaborate on Roberts’ injury following the scrimmage but said the lineman would be ready to go for Alabama’s season opener against Western Kentucky in two weeks. Roberts was replaced by Michigan State transfer Geno VanDeMark during the scrimmage.
According to a source, Alabama’s line struggled when Roberts left the field. That fits in line with what DeBoer said about the defense doing a good job of stopping the run following the scrimmage.
It’s worth noting that Alabama wasn’t at full strength in the backfield as Jam Miller was held out of the scrimmage. DeBoer described Miller as “dinged up” but said the junior could have played if he was needed. Richard Young, who missed the first scrimmage due to injury, was back Saturday. The redshirt freshman was Alabama’s most impressive back on the afternoon, putting together some tough runs while scoring a touchdown.
Formby pulling away at RT
Following Saturday’s scrimmage DeBoer said the battle for the starting right tackle role still needs to be ironed out. However, according to those behind the scenes on Saturday, redshrit freshman Wilkin Formby appears to be setting himself apart from redshirt sophomore Elijah Pritchett in the race.
Formby spent the majority of the scrimmage as the first-team right tackle while Pritchett only received a few reps with the ones. Pritchett grew frustrated throughout the scrimmage and eventually started a fight with defensive lineman Edric Hill.
“Both guys have their strengths and things they do really well,” DeBoer said when asked about the right tackle battle Saturday. “Those come out. Now I don't feel like either of them are a liability. I think it's just a matter of figuring out which one is going to be our guys. They both have done a lot to earn a lot of reps. Maybe we'll take that back a week from now if something else continues to evolve or if one guy steps up, but that seems to be the direction we're headed right now.”
Battles in the secondary seem closer
If Alabama’s coverage is as tight as its cornerback battle, the Tide should be in good shape this fall. Wake Forest transfer DaShawn Jones and true freshman Zabien Brown continue to duke it out for the starting spot across from Southern California transfer Domani Jackson.
Jones spent the majority of last week’s scrimmage with the ones, but it was Brown who started across from Jackson on Saturday. Freshman Jaylen Mbakwe is also one to watch, as one source brought up his play several times following the scrimmage.
“I thought they were really on top of receivers all day long,” DeBoer said of his cornerbacks. “They understand the responsibilities to be in the right position. I'm sure there are a couple clips we can find. That's always going to be the case where they could have been better. But really nothing as far as busted assignments. I think they continue to get better each and every day. They're practicing out there. They really want to do it. There's a high level of want to.
“They know a lot of eyes are on them. I'm really proud of the way they continue to bring it each and every day. Some physicality out there. I thought they had times they had a tackle to make and got guys to the ground. Layed some hits on some guys running routes, both receivers, tight ends. A lot of good things from that group. They continue to grow. They continue to improve each and every day and each and every week.”
DeVonta Smith continued to take first-team reps at the Husky position, but King Mack is also someone to keep an eye out for in that role. The Penn State transfer picked off a pass from Lonergan and would have returned it for a touchdown had coaches not whistled the play dead.
A little trickeration
Alabama will look to utilize Milroe’s running ability in different ways this fall. Saturday, that involved a little deception, as the offense drew up a trick play to its dual-threat quarterback.
The play started with a direct snap to running back Justice Haynes, who pitched the ball to Milroe. From there, the quarterback used his elite speed to race past defenders into the end zone for a roughly 20-yard score.
Tide bits
— Alabama’s starting defensive front featured Texas A&M transfer LT Overton at Bandit with Jehiem Oatis and Tim Keenan as the defensive tackles and Que Robinson as the Wolf role. That being said, the front was rotated heavily throughout the afternoon.
— Redshirt junior Keanu Koht and true freshman Noah Carter both took snaps with the second unit at the Wolf position.
— One source mentioned redshirt freshman Keon Keeley as someone who stood out with the reserve units. Keeley is a former five-star recruit, who transitioned from the outside linebacker position to the Bandit role this offseason.
— There were a lot of short and intermediate passes throughout the scrimmage as Alabama’s offense didn’t take a lot of shots deep.
— Following the scrimmage, DeBoer listed Bernard as an option for return duties. He also mentioned Mbakwe as one of the younger players who could serve in the role.
— Alabama’s first two kick returners on Saturday were Mbakwe and Adams. They were followed by Williams and Henderson.
— Mbakwe, Adams, Williams and Law all worked on punt-return duties.
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