Fifteen spring football practices have come and gone for Kalen DeBoer and Alabama football. After over a month of official workouts into a new era, the team wrapped up the spring schedule with the annual scrimmage known as A-Day.
The lower bowl was nearly full in Bryant-Denny Stadium as fans pilled in to watch the offense beat the defense, 34-28. DeBoer has said this spring has been installing the schemes and building confidence in players to execute the new system. That was demonstrated during Saturday’s workout, which was played in front of over 70,000 fans.
Here’s what DeBoer told reporters when fielding questions postgame:
–”Shoot, if it was a half, it would’ve been a tale of two halves. That’s why we keep playing. So many things we’re gonna get to learn from from this scrimmage depending on what side of the ball you’re on.”
–DeBoer said the team combined for six penalties across roughly 85 plays. Per DeBoer, that was the lowest total of UA’s three scrimmages.
–Running backs were hitting their holes and attacking the lanes Alabama’s offensive line created early.
“They’re not dancing so they’re getting more and more comfortable with the scheme.”
–”He does a great job back there,” DeBoer said of backup quarterback contender Ty Simpson. DeBoer called Simpson accurate and applauded his consistency this spring. DeBoer said Tide quarterbacks were encouraged to push up in the pocket to avoid the rush.
–A pair of anticipated starters on defense, Jehiem Oatis and Jihaad Campbell, went through warmups but did not record a snap through the game. DeBoer addressed their status:
“Just want to be careful and not push it. We don’t want to set them back. They’re right on pace, right where we expect them to be based on what they each have which are completely different types of injuries.”
–On Germie Bernard, who caught three passes for a team-high 122 yards. “I think he had a great day. … You saw it right away.
“That’s what he does. He’s a physical guy. The ball is up in the air, it’s his. He’s got that mindset. I think the guys, quarterbacks in particular, really believe in him. He’s a leader, cause that’s naturally what he does.”
–When asked to compare the spring game differences between Tuscaloosa and Sioux Falls, S.D. — where DeBoer played and coached after college —, DeBoer chuckled.
“There’s a lot of differences. Whatever it was, 72,000, just shy of that there. The cool thing is football is football. What you see is, in all the places you’re at, guys that love get out there. They’re excited about their opportunity to go out and make plays. This was a special day. It was a special day.”
–DeBoer said Alabama had its best pass protection of the spring to start the scrimmage, which led to four straight touchdowns. DeBoer did say that could be a result of the defense being “a little vanilla.”
–”Today was probably the day where it just really felt, you know, seeing the guys come on the Walk of Champions. Just seeing that and feeling the energy and excitement of what it would be on a Saturday. That was a lot of fun and being in the locker room, just the excitement.”
–DeBoer said no quarterbacks threw an interception through UA’s three scrimmages.
Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at NAlvarez@al.com.
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