NCAA: Alabama's Football Spring Experiments

Spring training has finally arrived at Alabama and Nick Saban continued his annoying habit of beginning spring the day before Spring break to wet our apatite for information and then send the players off for a week to rest. 

As with all things Saban I'm sure there is a tactically advantageous, well thought out reason for this.

What we did learn was confirmation on a few experimental position changes.

Running back Jalston Fowler has been moved to inside linebacker. This was a bit of a surprise to me because I felt like his size and power could be useful on offense. The reason may be the ridiculous depth Alabama possesses at running back these days.

Alabama has not had an abundance of luck lately switching running backs to linebacker.  Scout.com called Fowler a “contact oriented” running back. Perhaps he will be the one to break that trend.   

Fowler is powerfully built and fast at 6' 0” 245.  He'll likely get even bigger if he stays at linebacker.  Fowler was a few days too old to play high school ball his last year.  With the layoff and position change a red shirt year is almost certain.

Alabama's mass exodus of experienced defensive backs along with the unknown eligibility of Robby Green has left Alabama short of warm bodies, especially at safety.  

Two high school corners arrived early for spring but neither of the two freshman safeties will arrive until fall.

Mark Barron has one spot,  Robert Lester and Rod Woodson are battling it out for the other,  but for spring Alabama will field two defenses,  so unless they have perfected the cloning process Alabama needs more safeties.

Enter Kendell Kelly. He was not a surprise candidate for the move.  At last report Kelly was 6' 3” 216 lbs with room to grow.    All spring moves are experimental but like Fowler Kelly seems to have the tools needed to play this new position.

The other player being tried at safety is Junior Brandon Gibson.   This was a bit of a surprise. 

Gibson has always graded out very well in the conditioning program but has not been consistent enough with the other aspects of the game to get much time on the field.   Perhaps this move will be the key for Gibson to find his place.

After several years in the program Gibson is behind the curve to get playing time in the secondary but you never know how a player will do till you hit the field. 

Undra Billingsley from Woodlawn started out as a defensive end and spent all of 2009 at tight end.  Billingsley began spring back at defensive end.  Alabama is not short of defensive ends so this may be Saban trying to match up Billingsley's strengths to a position.

Word began leaking out last week that sophomore wide receiver Michael Bowman had gotten his freak on in the weight room and had bulked up to a hulking 245 lbs.   Luckily Nick Saban “has an ap for that”,  Its called H-Back. 

H-Backs are a combination of wide receiver, fullback, and tight end.  Alabama has played a number of players at the position. 

Preston Dial and Brad Smelley have had some success at the position but neither of those players has the size, athletic ability, or the hands of Georgia native Michael Bowman. 

Many Georgia fans were none too happy to lose Bowman to Alabama on signing day.  That bad feeling may grow to bitterness if Bowman reaches his potential in this area.

A player with Bowman's measurables would be too fast to cover with a linebacker and too big to bring down for a defensive back.  

I can see the gears turning in offensive coordinator Jim McElwain's head as the evil grinch grin crosses his face before sneaking off to his office to draw up more plays.

One non move of note was defensive lineman Brandon Moore of Montgomery.  It was not known if he was going to play offensive or defensive line.  With him beginning spring on the defensive line it seems the decision for now has been made.

All position moves this time of year are termed experimental and that experimentation may continue on into the fall.  Normally some of this gets started in the bowl practices but last year Nick had other things on his mind.