Alabama Football: Friday and Saturday's Practices and What We Learned

Larry Burton (Syndicated Writer) With only eleven practices to go before the spring A Day game and then leaving for summer, Nick Saban knows he won't get to see everything he'd like to from this group, but he's certainly enjoyed what he's been seeing.

Following Saturday's practice, Saban was upbeat and even jovial with the press, something I can tell you first hand is somewhat rare. Yes he grumbled a little bit about the passing game getting a little better, but overall, he was quite happy.

He made mention of some new freshmen who enrolled early to get a leg up and be more help to the team and one of them was a linebacker recruit, Vinnie Sunseri, who was recruited as a linebacker, but with the wealth of talent at that position, the thin reserves at safety and Sunseri's versatility, Saban is experimenting with Vinnie there and likes what he sees.

Sunseri has proven to have the "head" for almost any position as you would expect from the son of a major college coach, but his quickness in making good decisions and overall speed has raised eyebrows of the coaches as well.

Saban was also praising true freshmen Trey DePriest and Dee Hart as freshmen who may have in impact this year. He's been pleased with everything he's seen from this so far this spring.  

Although it's only been four practices, he's been watching them through the end of winter in the fourth quarter program and the seriousness they've taken to that as well.

Saban has no hesitancy in skipping a red shirt year for a hot shot linebacker and has a history in letting them play in their freshmen year.

As for Hart, a smiling Saban told the press that, "There are only two guys on the team shorter than I am, and Dee is one of them." Then he went on allude that Hart may be seeing playing time as a freshman too.

Rumors are circulating that in addition to getting a few touches as a running back, that he may work with the special team in a kick and punt return spot too, possibly backing up Marquis Maze.

He made a comparison between the size of Hart and Arenas but you could tell he was also reflecting the similarities in the explosiveness they bring to the job of returning kicks and punts.

Saban is still experimenting with the backup center position as well. Chad Lindsey may be the eventual man in charge, but there are some others who may place him in the third seat on that list.

Kellen Williams was noted by Saban as one of those players saying he had been doing a great job of picking up the position. This is his third season at Alabama. In 2009 Williams arrived late with a knee injury, but seemed healthy last year and started picking up the position then.

Most think he will be the eventual backup.

Saban is showing less patience with players who won't follow the rules, even those who break the small ones. And why should he? With a bench full of players who could be starters themselves, the message is being sent, there's not going to be any rule breakers on this team.

The latest victim of rule breaking is defensive lineman Brandon Moore who has missed his second practice and who Saban only said, "Violated a team rule", is gone indefinitely.

Moore had been set to battle for playing time at defensive end. As a red shirt freshman last season, he had just 6 tackles in limited play.

Rumors are swirling that this could be for good, but as usual Saban will only say the very minimum on such matters. He joins Robby Green on the suspended list and it won't be until fall until we officially learn which if either is gone for good. This was Green's second chance.

The Tide will be back on the field this Monday in pads getting ready for their first live scrimmages of the spring in preparation for this year's A Day Game.