Alabama football continued its spring practice on Tuesday, as A-Day approaches on Saturday. The Crimson Tide will hold an open session that day, in Bryant-Denny Stadium, though it won’t be a scrimmage or game as in past years.
For the second time this spring, reporters were allowed to observe part of practice. The viewable periods did not include any 11-on-11 football, or anything resembling a scrimmage, and was mostly individual and group drills among position groups.
Here’s what we saw during the nearly-20 minutes of observable practice.
Alabama football practice observations
– Reporters were allowed in at the start of the fourth practice period.
– Temperature was around 50 degrees and climbing in Tuscaloosa. Sunny skies for the morning practice session.
– Offensive lineman Geno VanDeMark and wide receiver Cole Adams spent the entirety of the observable sessions riding stationary bikes off to the side of the practice fields. As soon as reporters entered, WR Ryan Williams joined them, and remained for the rest of the observed time, after DeBoer said following the Tide’s second scrimmage that he’d be limited for the rest of spring due to minor injuries. All three of the bike riders appeared to be fully dressed in regular practice uniforms.
– Defensive lineman James Smith and linebacker Fatutoa Henry were spotted wearing black jerseys, signifying them as non-contact participants in practice.
– Offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor, who has been limited all spring, was also in black. However, he appeared to be working in during some of the drills involving contact.
– With Alabama extremely thin at tight end due to injuries, Jay Lindsey, the lone remaining scholarship player at the position, saw plenty of reps in individual drills. Other walk-on tight ends also got work in drills and catching passes from quarterbacks, including Peter Knudson, Lane Whisenhunt and Jayden Hobson.
– The tight ends later mixed in with the offensive line, practicing blocking against a mix of humans and dummies.
– Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack led groups of linebackers and defensive backs through wrap-up drills during the fourth period. He got fiery at times, imploring players to “Quit f****** guessing,” and “F****** run through him,” during the drill.
– Outside linebackers coach Christian Robinson led the Tide’s edge-rushers through various drills, including having them hit blocking dummies and work on pass-rush moves.
– The defensive line mostly went through one-on-one drills, led by Freddie Roach, during the observation period.
– The playlist for Tuesday’s practice included Kodak Black’s “Versatile,” Kenny Loggins’ “Danger Zone,” Pop Smoke’s “Shake The Room” and Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love.”
– The observation time ended after the seventh period.
