Alabama football: Crimson Tide start spring practice today

Tide begins spring practice today

By Michael Casagrande

sports@ledger-enquirer.com

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The ink isn’t dry on the 2009 national championship, but its defense already is beginning.

Just over three months after walking out of the Rose Bowl, crystal football in tow, the Alabama football program heads back to the practice field today.

Spring football arrives eight days before spring itself in Tuscaloosa.

The Crimson Tide will conduct the first of 15 practices today. Then comes a 10-day hiatus for spring break before the final 14 workouts culminate in the April 17 A-Day game at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

“We’re anxious,” coach Nick Saban said. “We’ve got lots to evaluate, lots of people to teach. It’s going to be critical for development in certain positions that have opportunities to be good players, but they need to show they’ve got the right stuff to do it as well.”

This season’s spring schedule is similar to last season’s that created a long gap between the first and second practices. There is considerably less negativity surrounding the beginning of this year’s spring regimen.

The NCAA had just announced the program committed “potentially major infractions” surrounding the textbook scandal, linebackers Brandon Fanney and Prince Hall were suspended, and there was uncertainty for the first time in years about who would start at quarterback. Fanney and Hall left the team before preseason practice.

The appeals process of the NCAA’s ruling has yet to meet resolution, and defensive back Robby Green faces a potential suspension, but the waters are much calmer this spring.

A national championship helps calm fears, but it also can create motivational obstacles.

“I’m always thinking ahead, anticipating problems,” Saban said at a news conference about 12 hours after wrapping up the BCS championship win over Texas.

“Every success brings a new set of problems. Every success brings a new set of issues, attitude of next year’s team, development of the players for next year, issues that you have from a staff standpoint or player standpoint, personnel standpoint, recruiting standpoint.

“You know, there’s really no time to sort of let your guard down because every success brings a new set of issues for everyone. And being able to manage that is what allows you to be successful with more consistency.”

Returning two of 11 starters on defense is the pink elephant in the football complex. There were questions of replacing departed offensive stars last spring but not to the same degree as this year. Only safety Mark Barron and Nico Johnson, a midseason replacement, return to the starting lineup, but newcomers and last season’s solid depth will fill some of the gaps.

Saban used the major losses of potential early-round draft picks Rolando McClain, Javier Arenas, Terrence Cody and Kareem Jackson as reasons to temper expectations for 2010, but it fell on deaf ears. Practically every preseason projection lists Alabama as the No. 1 team for the upcoming season. VegasInsider.com has the Tide as 3-to-1 favorites to claim a second straight title.

The obvious basis for such optimism is the offensive fire power that returns. Having most of the big guns on the offensive side back creates the impression, Saban said, that everthing is “going to turn up roses.”

That hype revolves around players such as Mark Ingram, Julio Jones and Greg McElroy, but the loss of right tackle Drew Davis and left guard Mike Johnson leaves a leadership vacuum on the line. Filling those holes is what spring practice is all about.

All eyes will be on emerging players such as true freshman defensive back DeMarcus Milliner, redshirt freshman offensive lineman D.J. Fluker and sophomore defensive linemen Kerry Murphy.

There also will be more than a few eyes on the progress of Dont’a Hightower. A potential All-American in 2009, the sophomore’s season was cut short by a devastating knee injury in Week 4. It’s unclear how much he will be able to do this spring after tearing his ACL, MCL and meniscus against Arkansas in September.

At the very least, he has said, he should be back by the fall to help alleviate the loss of McClain.

The five questions facing Alabama as it enters spring practice:

1. Where will their heads be?

It was a concern from the beginning for Nick Saban. He spoke of it the morning after picking up the crystal football in Pasadena. Will the 2009 title stifle the hunger in 2010? No doubt it was a motivating factor during the run to the perfect season so will the oversized rings weigh down this team’s desire? It will be hard to tell during the spring practices, maybe a question better suited for the fall, but every thing starts now. Saban has said several times that his most difficult season came immediately after winning the 2003 national title with LSU.

2. Who will play in the secondary?

Serious questions litter the defense as a whole, but none are more pressing than those in the backfield. Unlike the line and linebackers, the depth from seasons past can’t simply file into more prominent roles. Sure, there are hands full of top recruits who have the potential to fill in the empty slots of Javier Arenas, Kareem Jackson and Justin Woodall. They just haven’t seen much, if any serious playing time in college. Dre’ Kirkpatrick, Rod Woodson joins LSU transfer Phelon Jones, and Mark Barron the only returning starter from ‘09. Also look for true freshman DeMarcus Milliner to make some noise. Junior college transfer DeQuan Menzie is another leading candidate, but he won’t enroll until the summer and will not participate this spring.

3. Which fresh face will step up?

Speaking of Milliner, he’s a prime candidate to be the next early standout considering his talent and circumstances he inherits. As one of the top recruits nationally, it’s natural to expect he’d be primed for a breakout season. He’s one of 11 who enrolled early so to participate in the 15 spring practices and study the defensive playbook akin to a NASA rocket building guide. Kicker Cade Foster, also enrolled this spring, is the leading candidate to replace Leigh Tiffin. Other than the obvious names, it is hard to handicap this race. There are so many unknowns. Top recruits don’t always develop into stars at the collegiate level. Results vary.

4. And the next great leader is?

The obvious answer is Greg McElroy. He was among the leading voices last season, but most of the others were lost. No more Rolando McClain, the heart and soul of the defense. Mike Johnson, the role model of the offensive line is also gone along with the personality of Javier Arenas and Colin Peek. So, who’s left? Well, Julio Jones is far from a vocal player and Mark Ingram tends to be more reserved as well as most of the top returnees. It could be a bigger issue than most think. Upperclassmen such as McClain and Johnson did way more than produce after the ball was snapped. Their contributions were easily greater in between the whistles and their prominent voices will be missed this spring and fall. Junior linebacker-to-be Dont’a Hightower could step into McClain’s old role as defensive play caller, but his progress following last September’s major knee surgery could factor into that equation.

5. Will any of the top talent get frustrated in backup roles and transfer?

It’s a problem most coaches envy. Stockpiling top recruiting classes four years in a row means a herd of talent must accept secondary roles. Trent Richardson wouldn’t be a second option many places, but with a Heisman Trophy winner on the squad, he won’t likely be the main back again this season. Behind him is Eddie Lacy, another former top prospect. Wide receiver is another position with a long line of one-time top recruits who could grow frustrated with the view from the sideline. In the transfer-happy culture of modern college football, it will be interesting to see if the depth is trimmed by the allure of playing time elsewhere.