Sunday, April 17, 2011

Sunday Hangover: A-Day & GymTide


What the hell, right?

What I am thinking--writing a Sunday Hangover feature about Alabama's spring game.

Although you might look at this post with scorn using a grimace similar to Coach Saban's above, here it is. When you're as addicted to Crimson Tide football as I am, this isn't "beyond the pale" or "jumping the shark." It's business as usual.

Three cliches in two sentences--I'm not starting strong in this post.

Damn it, another one.

Okay, okay, I'll get to the game.

Bryant-Denny was a packed crowd as usual--over 90K in the stadium for a free football game and lots of fun to be had afterward I can imagine.

The major battle in spring ball has been at quarterback, with AJ McCarron and Phillip Sims the main combatants even though Blake Sims could provide an interesting wrinkle for defenses in "wildcat" formations.

Of the two QBs, neither emerged as the clear number one signal-caller after A-Day. From this amateur's eyes, McCarron seems to have a better touch passing on the intermediate and longer routes, and P. Sims (below) seems better in the pocket and might possess the stronger arm.


Later in the game, Sims directed the White team down the field pretty well. I see why recruiting services ranked him the number one quarterback in the 2010 class.  

Trent Richardson, as you should expect, will be a force this season. Eddie Lacy played well, and the true freshman Dee Hart also looked good at tailback. He's a smaller version of Richardson, but he could be faster.

On defense, the secondary looked stronger. And it has to be because that was the Tide's main weakness last season. Unless Penn State suddenly gets pass-happy, its first major test will be when Arkansas comes to T-Town on September 24.

Dont'a Hightower, the senior linebacker, didn't look as sluggish as he was last season when it was his first season after knee surgery. He seems to have his speed back. The linebacking corps could be quite salty with Hightower, Upshaw, Johnson, and Mosley and Jordan, DePriest, Harris, and Stinson providing depth. This Adrian Hubbard guy could turn out to be a good DE too. 

As always, I look forward to fall. 

And congrats to the Alabama gymnastics team who won their fifth national championship on Saturday. The last time they won it all (2002) Mrs. Nasty and I were in attendance at Coleman Coliseum. 

Roll Tide, ladies.  

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