Alabama Football: 5 Things to Look for in A-Day Spring Game

It's been three long, but sweet months for Alabama fans since the Crimson Tide earned the 14th national championship in school history by defeating LSU, 21-0, in the BCS National Championship Game. 

In a state where college football is a 365-day affair, the wait for football will come to a temporary halt when the Crimson Tide hold their annual A-Day spring game this weekend.  

Nick Saban will unleash a fresh batch of former prep stars that will try to fill the holes left by several of last season's difference makers bound for the NFL. 

So where should fans be paying close attention to this Saturday? 

Here are five things to look for during the annual A-Day game. 

Moving Parts

With no games scheduled until the fall, the beauty of spring practice is that it allows coaches to evaluate their talent and experiment with their roster without hesitation or risk.  

Saban has changed the position addresses for a pair of seniors that figure to be cornerstones in the trenches on each side of the line.  

All-American left tackle Barrett Jones has moved to center and defensive end Jesse Williams slid over to nose tackle—and both appear to be settling in nicely after battling one another in practice for the last three weeks.  

Meanwhile, the saga of ballyhooed 2011 stud recruit Brent Calloway continues—with him switching from running back to linebacker at the beginning of spring, and then to H-back last week.     

It will be interesting to see where he sees the field during A-Day.  

Primary Faces in the Secondary

With Robert Lester being the only returning starter in the secondary, the battles for playing time in the secondary will likely rage on into fall camp.  

However, fans, a pair of intriguing clashes at strong safety and the corner spot opposite rising junior Dee Milliner—who figures to have his spot locked down—will be worth monitoring this weekend.  

Sophomores Vinnie Sunseri and Ha’Sean Clinton-Dix will vie for the right to line up alongside Lester while JUCO transfer Deion Belue and junior John Fulton are among a group of defensive backs jockeying for the vacancy opposite Milliner.  

The battle for the nickel spot will also be worth keeping an eye on with JUCO transfer Travell Dixon likely in the lead for that spot for now.  

Ground and Pound

Two spots where Alabama has to replace departing All-Americans are at running back and linebacker. 

At running back, with projected starter Eddie Lacy out for the spring nursing an injury, rising junior Jalston Fowler may have gained some separation from freshmen Dee Hart and T.J. Yeldon with a monster 155-yard, three-touchdown performance in the Crimson Tide’s most recent scrimmage.

On the other side, veterans Nico Johnson and C.J. Mosley figure to be key cogs of Kirby Smart’s defense this fall. 

However, fans can expect to get a glimpse of several players who should get a chance to make an impact this fall—like sophomores Xzavier Dickson, Adrian Hubbard and Trey DePriest, etc.    

Emerging Playmakers

Clearly, Saban was aggressive on the recruiting trail the last two seasons with a specific intention to target wide receivers capable of making explosive plays. 

Considering the average play of the  Crimson Tide’s wide receivers last season (only seven receiving touchdowns in 2011), Alabama wants to usher in a new era with their young cast of pass-catchers. 

So far this spring, the results have been positive judging by the big days had by the likes of sophomores DeAndrew White and Christion Jones in the Crimson Tide’s first two scrimmages.  

Add in impact true freshmen like Amari Cooper and Chris Black, and fans will get an idea of what to expect from the wide receiver unit in the near future.  

Depth on the Offensive Line

Alabama’s projected starting lineup on the offensive line figures to give the Crimson Tide a group capable of being the best in the country.  

However, the concern for Saban is the second unit—which he expanded on following the second scrimmage.  

Considering the physicality of the position, it is crucial to find a player or two who can fill in in the fall should injuries arrive—like the ones that cost guard Anthony Steen (concussion) and tackle Cyrus Kouandijo (knee) multiple games in 2011. 

Several young players possess the talent to contribute—like guards Isaac Luatua and Ryan Kelly, center Chad Lindsay and tackle Arie Kouandijo amongst others—but getting minutes in an environment that will be the closest thing to game day in the fall will be huge for their confidence if their numbers will be called on later this season.  

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