Alabama Practice Observations: Freshman TE makes number switch, new look on defense
Alabama returned to the field on Tuesday morning for the final fall camp practice before school starts back.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — On Tuesday, the Alabama Crimson Tide were back on the field for the final fall camp practice before school starts. The media was allowed to watch multiple periods at the beginning of that practice, so here are some of our takeaways.
Alabama Practice Observations
-The offense and defense had their jersey colors flipped today. The offense had been wearing Crimson throughout fall camp with the defense in white, but on Tuesday, it was the offense in white and the defense in crimson. This is something we saw last year, where the offense’s practice jerseys were dictated by home and away. With Alabama set to play Florida State in Tallahassee for Week 1, it made sense to see them back in white.
-Geno VanDeMark continues to work with the first group at right guard, while Texas A&M transfer Kam Dewberry is at left guard. Following this past weekend’s scrimmage, we learned from coach Kalen DeBoer that Jaeden Roberts is working his way through concussion protocol, but he was out there donning a typical white jersey (not a black, no-contact jersey). He was clearly with the second group, though. In fact, when they split off into two groups, Roberts stood behind the second unit with his helmet off rather than the first. I’m not sure what that means exactly, but it feels noteworthy.
-The first-team offensive line didn’t have any changes that I noticed, but the second group did. It went Olaus Alinen (LT), Will Sanders (LG), Jo Ionata (C), Michael Carroll (RG), and Jackson Lloyd (RT). Lloyd and Carroll had been playing the tackle spots with the second team, but I’m sure they’re getting guys plenty of reps at multiple spots to make sure they’re ready to handle whatever the season throws at them. We’ve seen Alinen lining up at LT, LG, RG, and RT so far, and he’s even mentioned that he’s got some reps at center, too.
-Marshall Pritchett was sporting a new number. After wearing No. 18 since his arrival in the spring, the freshman tight end was rocking No. 14 during Tuesday’s practice. He reportedly made the switch yesterday. Is this due to him playing on a special teams unit alongside defensive back Bray Hubbard, who also wears No. 18? Possibly. JUCO transfer Fatutoa Henry wears the No. 14 on defense, but as a big-bodied Bandit, you’re probably not going to see him on special teams much (if at all).
-Speaking of the tight ends, Danny Lewis just doesn’t look healthy right now. He and Josh Cuevas were wearing white jerseys, but they were working off to the side while the other tight ends went through drills. Cuevas looked fine on the surface, but Lewis was clearly hobbling while having both ankles heavily wrapped (so did Cuevas, by the way). This is likely why you’ve heard about a lot of other guys getting reps with the first team during scrimmage. That said, I’ll reemphasize that neither veteran tight end was in a black, no-contact jersey, so they’re likely just limited.
-Lotzeir Brooks was in a white jersey as well after being seen at the last open practice in a black, no-contact jersey. He seemed to be moving fine, but we were a good distance away, so it was hard to tell.
-Alabama’s defense was working on something interesting. The defensive line was off doing its own thing, but the Wolf, other linebackers, and the secondary were working through different formations and coverage responsibilities. It was interesting because they had a three-safety look (plus the Husky, making six total defensive backs). So it was the Wolf, one off-ball LB, and six defensive backs (two perimeter corners, a Husky, and three-high safeties). Sometimes, one of the safeties (I noticed Bray Hubbard and Dre Kirkpatrick Jr.) walked down next to the off-ball LB to provide some Dime LB looks, which is an interesting wrinkle compared to a season ago when Kane Wommack was seemingly locked into 4-2-5 (or 3-3-5, depending on how you want to look at it) personnel.
-Cam Calhoun was practicing at outside corner, but we didn’t see DaShawn Jones. We might’ve just missed him, but it seemed like Dijon Lee and Domani Jackson were the two perimeter players up first, with Zabien Brown aligning as a nickel corner and the Husky playing that third safety. We should also note that Deontae Lawson and Nikhai Hill-Green were getting some work in on the tackling dummies with the defensive line, so the main two linebackers, as that lone ‘backer with the defensive backs, were Justin Jefferson and Cayden Jones. Certainly an interesting — and new — development.
– With Jam Miller out due to injury, the running back order going through drills was Richard Young, followed by Daniel Hill, Dre Washington, Kevin Riley, and freshman AK Dear. I did notice a couple of drills where Riley was ahead of Washington, so that order may not matter much — or maybe it does, who knows.
