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The Tuscaloosa News
5 things Alabama football must take care of before A Day spring game
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- 5 things Alabama football must take care of before A Day spring game
Alabama football's A Day spring game is coming quickly.
After Tuesday, the Crimson Tide has seven spring practice sessions remaining before the program's annual A Day spring game at noon April 12 at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
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Where does Alabama stand? What questions does the Crimson Tide need to answer before taking the field in front of fans April 12?
Here are five things to watch in the final set of Alabama spring practices.
Protection plan for Alabama football offensive line
Sep 7, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide offensive lineman Tyler Booker (52), Alabama Crimson Tide offensive lineman Jaeden Roberts (77) and Alabama Crimson Tide offensive lineman Geno VanDeMark (56) open a hole for Alabama Crimson Tide running back Jam Miller (26) to run for a first down at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama defeated South Florida 42-16. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images
Geno VanDeMark made it clear Tuesday: Alabama has its fair share of young offensive linemen emerging like William Sanders and Mal Waldrep, adding to the list of players like Jackson Lloyd, Olaus Alinen and Michael Carroll that coaches and players have praised before.
But over the course of spring, Alabama has needed those young linemen to step up, with Kadyn Proctor out for the spring, leading to a rotation of seemingly placeholder options at an already depleted offensive tackle position, with players like Waldrep, who VanDeMark predicted a move inside, getting significant reps at left tackle along with Carroll, Casey Poe and Arkel Anugwom.
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The starters on the line seem generally set: Proctor at left tackle, either VanDeMark or Kam Dewberry at left guard, Parker Brailsford at center, Jaeden Roberts at right guard and Wilkin Formby at right tackle. The second-team? The depth behind the first unit? That is where the questions lie.
Order of Alabama football quarterbacks
The battle is ongoing. But as A Day approaches, there will likely be a first quarterback to take reps, no matter what the game itself looks like.
With just over two weeks before A Day, Ty Simpson seems like the leader of the room as the one with the most experience heading into 2025. And heading into a season that starts against a high-profile opponent in Florida State on the road, Alabama is continuously pushing a message that experience matters.
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Does that mean Simpson has locked up the starting job, and that Austin Mack and Keelon Russell's roles are defined? By no means. And no matter who takes first reps during A Day, it doesn't mean that the "battle" is complete by any sort of imagination.
Does Alabama need more depth on interior of defensive line?
Similar to the tackle predicament on the offensive line, Alabama is looking for depth pieces behind two seemingly established starters at the two interior defensive line spots.
But as spring continues, those answers are seemingly being answered. Jeremiah Beaman and Edric Hill have both garnered praise from players and coaches at a position without much experience outside of projected starters James Smith and Tim Keenan III. Kelby Collins , the Florida transfer, has also had interior reps.
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Along with players like Isaia Faga and Steve "Bolo" Mbomoua, and the incoming freshman London Simmons, Alabama could have a much fuller and deeper interior defensive line room than expected.
Starters on Alabama special teams units
Alabama's special teams kicking unit will look vastly different than it did a year ago.
Alabama will not have Graham Nicholson at kicker, nor James Burnip at punter. At kicker, Kalen DeBoer said he expects Conor Talty, who manned kickoffs a year ago, has stepped up in a big way, while the Crimson Tide doesn't have "a full group of punters" with freshman Alex Asparuhov out for spring.
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Alabama did add Colorado School of Mines punter Blake Doud and Cal long snapper David Bird this offseason. The spring game will show where Doud, Bird and Talty stand heading into the summer.
An Alabama A Day spring game format
DeBoer already said he expects A Day to look different come April 12, with the lack of offensive line and tight end depth leaving little wiggle room, he said in February.
What does that look like specifically? Alabama has not shared that information yet.
Instead of a traditional spring game, Auburn will host fans for a one-hour practice where score will not be kept, which will be paired with an alumni flag football game and an autograph session.
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Could Alabama's be similar? Stay tuned.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: What Alabama football must take care of before A Day spring game
