Spring football for the Crimson Tide won't be about AJ McCarron or Barrett Jones or Robert Lester, players whose place on this team is assured no matter what they do.
Instead, it will be about Phillip Sims, Dee Hart and Jeoffrey Pagan -- or guys like them who are fighting to make good impressions on a coaching staff which is trying to figure who can fill which holes for a team aiming for its third national championship in four years.
Coach Nick Saban made it clear before the first workout on March 9 that this isn't a defending national champion in anything except name. Too many stars to replace, too many unproven players going into key roles.
"It's very important that this team dedicates itself and commits itself to develop an identity of its own," he told the Birmingham News.
For that to happen, Alabama must figure out a way to replace seven defensive starters, all of whom figure to make NFL rosters or start right away. The good news is that Saban and his coaching staff has recruited so well that the talent is there. It's just a matter of getting them up to game speed.
That process must be quick in the secondary, where three possible first-round picks waved goodbye, either due to graduation (Mark Barron, DeQuan Menzie) or because there was simply nothing left to prove (Dre Kirkpatrick) at this level.
Offensively, there are fewer questions as McCarron is back under center and Jones returns to anchor a line with four starters. But the Tide must figure out a go-to guy at receiver to replace Marquis Maze and will play young running backs this spring with Eddie Lacy out to rest a nagging turf toe injury.
Which means that for those who stood on the sidelines last year, this is the time to make their move.
"Your best opportunity to advance as a football player is in spring practice," Saban said to the Birmingham News. "You have the best opportunity to learn mentally, fundamentally, what your assignments are and what it takes to execute those assignments."
NOTES, QUOTES
-With the departure of offensive coordinator Jim McElwain for the head coaching job at Colorado State, the Tide had to go find a new play-caller. Enter Doug Nussmeier, who comes to the Capstone after a successful three-year stint at Washington, where he tutored NFL first-round pick Jake Locker for two years and then helped Keith Price enjoy a successful first season after taking over for Locker. Nussmeier's Huskies' offenses had a reputation for being balanced and explosive, finishing last year with 431 points -- second-most in school history.
-Alabama's other new assistant didn't exactly need a road map to get around campus. Lance Thompson was on Nick Saban's staff in 2007-08 before spending the last three years at Tennessee, working first for Lane Kiffin and then for Saban acolyte Derek Dooley. Thompson will coach outside linebackers and also add to the staff's recruiting strength. An assistant coach for 24 years, Thompson also served under Saban at LSU when the Tigers won half of a national title in 2003.
The Crimson Tide are losing seven starters on defense, all of whom are likely to pay for play in a few months, barring injury. It wouldn't be a surprise if five of them were first round picks from the best Alabama defense since the 1992 team won Gene Stallings a national title. Replacing Trent Richardson at tailback means there will be a bit of a drop off, although a healthy Eddie Lacy means it won't be a steep one. Other concerns include firming up special teams and identifying a No. 1 receiver/punt returner to replace the graduated Marquis Maze.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
RB Dee Hart -- Many around the program felt he would serve as Trent Richardson's backup last year. That was before Hart tore an ACL in July and sat out the 2011 season. Now with projected starter Eddie Lacy sitting out the spring with a turf toe, Hart will get plenty of reps to show why he should be a vital part of this year's title defense.
DB Deion Belue -- Don't be surprised if he figures into the secondary mix. After the Tide's first practice on March 9, Saban praised Belue's ability to learn football quickly. He was rated as the nation's No. 7 JUCO defensive back by one scouting service.
LB Dillon Lee -- After the team's first practice, returning LB Nico Johnson said Lee caught on to the defensive scheme faster than anyone. That's a good sign that Lee, one of the top five recruits out of Georgia last year, may see the field right away. He could follow the path of Trey DePriest, who was a special teams ace and also played decently as a reserve last year, in 2012.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
2012 OUTLOOK: For the second time in three years, the Crimson Tide are defending a national championship. They hope this title defense goes better than it did in 2010, when they lost three times as their defense gave up a spate of big plays. Speaking of their defense, they must replace seven NFL-bound starters, but last year's reserves were good enough to be starters most other places, so although there might be a rough patch or two, this defense will be good in time. The offense must replace Trent Richardson, but welcomes back four starters on the line and QB AJ McCarron. Anything less than a national championship won't satisfy the ravenous appetites of Alabama fans, but coach Nick Saban has recruited so well that this team will be in the hunt every year.
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: McCarron went from being a guy who the coaches tried to protect to a guy that they allowed to go win games at the end, as was the case in the Sugar Bowl, when he completed 23-of-34 passes on the great LSU defense. With new coordinator Doug Nussmeier's willingness to open up the offense and a year of experience, expect McCarron to shoulder even more of the load this season.
A healthy Eddie Lacy could team with redshirt freshman Dee Hart to provide quite a 1-2 punch at tailback. The team has good wide receivers and a potential NFL star at tight end in Michael Williams, but no true No. 1 pass-catcher yet. The line should be this team's biggest strength with four returning starters, including Outland Trophy winner Barrett Jones.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: At just about every other program, losing seven starters -- all of whom are likely headed for NFL careers of varying length -- would be devastating. At Alabama, it simply means that it's time to plug in the next group of four and five-star recruits. The secondary waved goodbye to three starters, but Saban's true area of expertise has always been defensive back play, so it's hard to imagine this group will stink. C.J. Mosley and Nico Johnson will anchor the linebacking corps, while the D-line will be led by senior Damion Square. DB Deion Belue and LB Dillon Lee could make immediate impacts.
SCOUTING THE SPECIAL TEAMS: The kickers were average and cost Alabama a Nov. 5 OT loss to LSU, missing four field goals. Although Jeremy Shelley converted five field goals in the BCS title game, Saban's signing of Georgia prep PK Adam Griffith was a sign that Shelley's job isn't safe. Punter Cody Mandell doesn't have a huge leg but does a good job putting the ball inside the opponents' 20.
TOP NEWCOMERS
DB Landon Collins (Dutchtown High, Geismar, La.) -- While his mom famously frowned upon his verbal commitment to Alabama in January, Collins made Tide fans smile. The five-star recruit with 4.4 40-yard dash speed and a 36-inch vertical leap has an opportunity to see immediate playing time, even if he doesn't start.
WR Eddie Williams (Arnold High, Panama City, Fla.) -- The top-rated athlete in the entire recruiting class, Williams might have been ticketed for defensive back if Missouri hadn't kept Dorial Green-Beckham in state. But the 6-foot-4, 204-pound Williams could give Alabama the big receiver it hasn't had since Julio Jones left early for the NFL.
RB T.J. Yeldon (Daphne High, Daphne, Ala.) -- After verbally committing to Auburn, Yeldon slipped a lump of coal into the Tigers' Christmas stockings by switching to the Tide the week before Santa delivered presents. A five-star signee, Yeldon enrolled early and will be able to go through spring practice, perhaps giving him a better chance to play right away.
ROSTER REPORT
-RB Eddie Lacy (surgery) is sitting out the spring after having a nagging turf toe repaired. Lacy was a perfect complement to Trent Richardson, rushing for 631 yards despite being injured in late September and not being 100 percent for the season's remainder.
-WR Duron Carter (suspension) won't participate in spring practice, continuing a frustrating career which has never gotten off the ground. The son of NFL great Cris Carter has had issues with academics and running afoul of team rules since arriving on campus.
-OTs Cyrus and Arie Kouandijo (knees) are sitting out spring practice as they continue rehabilitation. The brothers were injured last year and are hoping to earn more playing time in the fall.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"It was great to get back on the
field, be around the coaches and just get back to football." -- LB Nico
Johnson on the first day of practice.
