Crimson Red Sports

It started out as a bright sunny hot day and finished with a 45 minute delay for a thunderstorm. I think the players were ready for the rain though due to the heat but they came back after the lightning and rain and had a pretty good finish working on the two minute and red zone drills.

The scrimmage started with a very salty defense pretty much controlling the offense whether it was passing or running the ball. Hurts led the first offense in the beginning and there wasn't much there for them as the defense stuffed the runs and the defensive backs had some pretty good coverage on the receivers. Tua then got his turn and had a little more success than Hurts but still the defense stopped pretty much everything. Later on though, the offense was able to get going and make some positive plays and took it to the defense on a couple of good pass receptions with good runs to the end zone. It took a while but the running backs finally got their game going and and made it tough on the defense. Bo Scarbrough and Josh Jacobs both missed the practice with Scarbrough being ill in bed and Jacobs with the hamstring problem. CNS stated that Scarbrough has been very ill and Jacobs return is on a day to day basis. Damien Harris and Brian Robertson looked the most impressive of the running backs. I really like Brian Robertson, he runs like he enjoys what he's doing and I'm not taking anything from Harris, he's Mr. Steady.

The kicking game showed some improvement and CNS stated that J K Scott will handle all of the kicking duties. He elaborated on the new kicker, Joseph Bulovas, and said he just isn't ready to handle the job just yet. I will say though that Bulovas made two good kicks from about 40 yards out in the driving rain so I think he might work his way into the lineup down the road. Scott was a beast out there today, his punts must have had 6 seconds hang time with and average length of better than 50 yards. He also made a field goal of 50-55 yards with room to spare. His one bad kick was a block, it was a long attempt and he kicked it a little low trying to get the distance. The one thing that worries me about Scott handling the kicking duties is him doing the kickoffs. Scott has long legs and I know the opposing teams know that too, they are easy targets.

 The quarterbacks. Jalen Hurts led the team off and I think he looked very so-so. I stated the defense was pretty salty in the beginning and I know they had a lot to do with how he looked and I'm referring to his passing game. He had two receivers open on long routes and threw short on both with one being intercepted. He just didn't seem sharp to me but I'm looking through a different pair of glasses than CNS is. Later on in the practice he did do better and had a few passes dropped and they were for big gains too. I thought Tua had a better start than Hurts and I'm still impressed with his field savy. He seems to see more of the field than Hurts but again CNS is wearing a different set of glasses than I am. I do like these two as a combo and I think the team is in a much better shape at quarterback than they were at this time last year. Jones had his reps and had some good effort but I think he is a little behind Hurts and Tua but CNS is giving him plenty of reps to improve his game.

I think the offensive line has a ways to go or we have a bad nasty defensive line. I would like to think it was a bad nasty defensive line that was causing all their blocking problems but I'm not so sure of that. CNS did mention the OL has a ways to go yet

I don't know how good this team will be this year as they have lots of talent but I don't see the leadership this team has had the past two years. We all know what good leadership means to a Bama team, if it's not there the team usually struggles. CNS was asked about who the alphas were on the team this year and he didn't jump out with player names like he has in the past. CNS pointed out that Florida State has their whole defense returning from last year and this would really challenge the Bama offense so I guess Bama will find out real quick where they stand. They have the talent but I'm not so sure where they are mentally, all of those big ole mean leaders they had last year are gone. Maybe I'm being a bit too skeptical but just who are the Alphas on this team?

Thanks J for this good but sobering report.  To me, it has seemed like something is missing in fall camp.  No buzz about anything.  A few nagging injuries that are limiting practice time for some key guys.  Don't get the feeling that this team will be ready for FSU.

I continue to have doubts about Jalen and nothing you said makes me feel any better.

Thanks for the report, J. I also heard that the weather wreaked a little havoc on the scrimmage. Hopefully, everybody will be ready for FSU. I'm not worried yet.

You are the man, Jamos.   :worship: :worship: :worship:

Good summary of where this writer (Suttles) thinks the team is after the two scrimmages.  I know I sound like a broken record, but IMHO Jalen is not there yet.


https://www.tidesports.com/inside-crimson-tide-weve-learned-two-scrimmages/

We go through this every year. Everything is not perfect in fall camp and we all freak out. The team will be fine. They have elite talent and the best coaching staff in the country. The defense will dominate, and the offense will look better when they're not competing against the best defense, by far, in the nation.

Relax, and enjoy another championship season.

Thanks for the optimism.  You are right too that we (fans) usually get very anxious this time every year and are calmed by our team once the season gets started. I have faith that that will be the case again this year.  IMO, the toughest two games we have are FSU and Auburn.  Also, IMO, the games between those two are going to be pretty much easy wins...

Have an ecred...  :clap:

FSU will be the first real team we have opened with in these big neutral site games.  It could be our toughest game until the post season.  It will be a fun game to watch.

:popcorn2:

I agree this one will likely be tough.  I think the Iron bowl might be our toughest though.  Still, as I said above, I think those will be our hardest games to win...

Our hardest games to win this year is: FSU, TENN. LSU, and auburn I think. These people have a reason to really put it all on the field. RTR!

All our SEC games are a challenge since Bama has a huge target on its back, front, side, everywhere. No doubt your 4 teams are a big challenge.


 :wave: :wave: :wave:

Well Preacher, I agree that UT and LSU will be potentially tough games as usual but I was trying to narrow the list of the toughest games down to less than 1/3 of the entire schedule...  ;)

Our two most difficult games will be the Playoff Semi-Final and Final. HTH

Well after seeing what you was doing, then here i my 2 cents worth. Our 2 toughest games of regular season will be LSU and auburn. RTR!

Finally I hear of one name that might can fit the "alpha dogs" leadership role on the team this season, Rahsaan Evans. He was compared to Rueben Foster by one of the players which says a lot. I have thought about a couple of others, Harrison and Fitzpatrick, but to me the jury is still out on them. Harrison has that mean toughness about him but has a bad temper which gets him in trouble with some silly penalties that has hurt the team at times and leaders don't make ill tempered mistakes that cost the team. Fitzpatrick is a good player and shows leadership qualities at times but I don't know if he likes the leadership role, some of them don't. I haven't heard much on the offensive of the ball but I have to figure Bozeman will be in that group of leaders.

FSU is a solid team with good players all around and generally well coached.  Their QB may be the best QB we'll see during the regular season.  He's not D Watson but the guy can extend plays and make plays.  FSU is also a strong 2nd half (of the game) team. So if it's close at the half, or even if Bama is ahead by 2TDs or something, it's not time to relax.  This will be a tough game and one that will need to be finished!

By the end of the season, Awbarn may have the 2nd best QB we'll face. But Barn has a new OC and it will take a while for their new scheme to take hold.  But by IB time, they could be a dangerous team. Lots can happen between now and then -- injuries on both teams, players blossom into stars (or not), etc.  But my guess is with the game being played in Jordan-Hare it will be a tough one.

If any other games are as tough as these two, it will be somewhat of a surprise.  But it could happen.