What Alabama Players Learned from First Scrimmage

After the Crimson Tide's first scrimmage, here's how some of the veteran players feel about this year's team.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama football held its first scrimmage of the spring Friday in Bryant-Denny Stadium, and head coach Nick Saban is not satisfied with where the team is, but is pleased with the progress the players continue to make throughout the spring. 

Saban appeared more happy with the offense. He said the offense moved the ball effectively and had good balance between passing and rushing. 

Alabama running back Roydell Williams said the offense looked good in the first scrimmage. They are working on the little things like pre-snap penalties as they continue to improve. Williams noted that the running backs did well in short-yardage situations down in the red zone. 

"The emphasis on that is, we gotta go get it," Williams said. "When they put that package in, we’ve got to go get it."

There also were no turnovers on offense, which is a good thing for that side of the ball, but not as good for the defense. 

Forcing turnovers was a big struggle for the Crimson Tide last season, and Saban said it is an area of emphasis for the defense this spring. Redshirt sophomore defensive back Terrion Arnold said it is really an area of focus for the secondary. 

"I feel like as a secondary, we can really change how games are, especially causing people to be scared to put the ball in the air," Arnold said Monday. "It's really something that can get the crowd into the game. So I feel like it's something that we really have to keep emphasizing.”

Alabama only had five interceptions throughout all of last regular season, with two more coming in the Sugar Bowl win over Kansas State. Six of those interceptions came from players in the secondary. Arnold's lone interception came in the Texas A&M game. 

The defense was missing several veteran players during Friday's scrimmage like Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell (injury) and Kool-Aid McKinstry (personal reasons) with Justin Eboigbe limited while coming back from his neck injury. Saban noted the defense gave up too many explosive plays and needs to improve on tackling. But Arnold is optimistic for the potential of this year's Alabama defense with A-Day less than two weeks away, when fans and media alike will get their first look at the 2023 Crimson Tide. 

"We've learned that we could be a really, really great defense," Arnold said. "We just have to put all the little things together. I feel like we have a lot of guys who have a lot of want-to and more grit, and we really want to refine the standard and really bring it back to a positive outcome. I feel like this defense is going to be one of the great defenses.”

Both Williams and Arnold brought up young and new players like Justice Haynes, Jam Miller, Malik Benson, Caleb Downs and Earl Little Jr. that have been impressing this spring. Downs was the highest-rated player in Alabama's 2023 class, and Saban's said he's been getting a lot of reps this spring. 

"Caleb is still a young guy, and I feel like the impact that he has made has been tremendous coming in as a freshman," Arnold said. "With all the accolades he has, I feel like he's a really humble guy. He's really taken it and really grown. I feel like he's going to be a good player here."

See also:

Five Football Recruits Visiting Alabama on Monday

What Nick Saban Said After Alabama's First Spring Scrimmage

Saban Praises Alabama Offense in First Scrimmage: 'Both Quarterbacks Played Really, Really Well'