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Alabama kicked off its spring practice on March 11 and will have its “A-Day” Spring Game on April 16. What else is there to say about the Tide’s 2016 season?
Alabama just won its 16th claimed national championship and its fourth under head coach Nick Saban. The Tide also won the SEC Championship for the second consecutive season and the third time in four years.
Alabama didn’t have many blemishes during its regular season or College Football Playoff run aside from a Week 3 loss to Ole Miss. But the offseason brought changes as former defensive coordinator Kirby Smart accepted the head coaching position at Georgia, his alma mater, after nine seasons with the Tide.
Alabama answered by naming former Georgia defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt as Smart’s replacement. And, of course, Saban is still manning the ship…so expectations remain high in Tuscaloosa.
Here’s a look at what to watch for in Alabama’s spring practice.
First look at Pruitt’s defense
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(Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire)
Alabama lost one of college football’s best coordinators and still managed to find someone with comparable success. Pruitt won a national championship at Florida State during his first season as defensive coordinator. He joined Georgia’s staff the following season and continued his success as one of the nation’s highest paid assistants.
Pruitt’s teams have all ranked in the top 20 nationally for total defense since 2013, including No. 8 overall in 2013 and No. 8 in 2015. Plus, he’s an Alabama native, alum and former assistant who has referred to his new position as his “dream job.”
Pruitt should continue Alabama’s success on defense. The Tide ranked No. 1 nationally in rushing defense and No. 3 in total defense. Like Smart, Pruitt coaches a 3-4 defense, so the personnel will fit his scheme.
Pruitt should live by the old phrase, “don’t fix it if it isn’t broken” during his first season back in Tuscaloosa while still providing an excellent replacement to Smart.
Finding a quarterback
Alabama looks to replace its starting quarterback for the third consecutive season. But this spring won’t include Jake Coker, who finally won the job last fall and started in all 15 games for the Tide.
Al.com’s Matt Zenitz projected redshirt junior Cooper Bateman as Alabama’s starter, redshirt freshman Blake Barnett listed second, redshirt sophomore David Cornwell third and freshman Jalen Hurts fourth in February. Bateman’s name was thrown into the mix with Coker last offseason and he should win the starting job, but there is a chance that Barnett — the No. 2 pro-style quarterback for the 2015 recruiting class — could upset the more experienced quarterback.
Replacing Derrick Henry
You’d think replacing a Heisman Trophy winner would be the biggest concern Alabama faces this offseason, but the Tide has managed to replace one great running back with another throughout Saban’s tenure.
Alabama’s current depth chart includes former 5-star sophomores Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris, as well as 4-star junior Ronnie Clark. Scarborough is the favorite, as he provides a similar frame and explosiveness to Henry, but he has a history with injuries.
Per usual, though, the Tide will have plenty of options at running back, even without Henry in 2015.
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