For Alabama football and Kalen DeBoer, there have been fifteen spring football practices. The squad concluded the spring program with the yearly scrimmage known as A-Day, which took place more than a month after the club began official practices under the new era.
Bryant-Denny Stadium’s lower bowl was almost filled as spectators poured in to witness the offense defeat the defense 34-28. According to DeBoer, the schemes have been implemented this spring, and players’ confidence in their ability to use the new system has grown. That was proven on Saturday in front of more than 70,000 spectators during the workout.
After the game, DeBoer answered the following questions for reporters:
“Shoot, it would have been a tale of two halves if it had been a half.” That is why we continue to play. There are a lot of things we can learn from this scrimmage, depending on whose side of the ball you are on.
–According to DeBoer, the team committed six penalties in total over about 85 plays. That was the lowest total among UA’s three scrimmages, according to DeBoer.
— Running backs were attacking the lanes Alabama’s offensive line had opened up early and finding their holes.
“They’re growing more accustomed to the plan because they’re not dancing.”
— “He performs admirably back there,” DeBoer remarked of potential backup quarterback Ty Simpson. DeBoer praised Simpson’s steadiness this spring and labeled him accurate. QBs for the Tide were urged, according to DeBoer, to push up in the pocket in order to elude the rush.
–Jehiem Oatis and Jihaad Campbell, two defensive starters who were expected to start, warmed up but did not play a snap during the game. DeBoer talked about their situation:
I simply want to use caution and avoid pushing it. We do not wish to hinder them. They are exactly where we expected them to be, given their distinctly different injury types, and they are moving at the appropriate speed.
–“I think he had a great day,” said Germie Bernard, who caught three passes for 122 yards, the team’s highest total. You immediately noticed it.
He acts in that manner. He is a manly man. He owns the ball now that it’s in the air. That’s the way he thinks. I believe that the guys, especially the quarterbacks, have a lot of faith in him. He leads because it comes naturally to him.
–DeBoer laughed when asked to compare the variations in spring games between Tuscaloosa and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he played and coached following his time in college.
“There are numerous distinctions. It was 72,000, or little less than that. Football is football, and that’s cool. What you observe is that guys who are in love go out there in every location you visit. Their chance to go out and create plays excites them. It was a memorable day. It was a noteworthy day.
–The scrimmage started off with Alabama having, according to DeBoer, its finest pass protection of the spring, resulting in four straight touchdowns. DeBoer acknowledged that this might be the outcome of the defense being “a little vanilla.”
Today seemed to be the day when witnessing the guys walk the Walk of Champions truly hit home. Observing it and experiencing the enthusiasm and fervor of what it would be like on a Saturday. The exhilaration of being in the locker room added to the enjoyment of that.
–DeBoer reported that throughout UA’s three scrimmages, no quarterback had thrown an interception.