How Alabama Can Still Develop Depth at this Point in Fall Camp
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The freshmen are already enrolled. The transfer portal window has closed. Alabama can't add more players to its roster at this point in fall camp. So when Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban says he still wants to add more depth on the team at certain positions, what does that mean?
"It's maturity," Saban said Tuesday night. "And the only way those players are going to get it is, how many times can we do it over and over and over and over? And it's not practicing until you get it right. It's practicing it so much you can't get it wrong. And that's how you develop confidence in things in terms of the habits that you develop and the things that you need to do to be able to play to the best of your ability. And that's what we have to do."
After Saturday's scrimmage, Saban specifically mentioned offensive line and defensive line as areas where he wanted to develop more depth, saying he had confidence in six or seven guys at both positions.
His main message at Tuesday night's press conference: his team needs more players to play winning football.
"When you lose guys on your team, then the younger guys get cast into positions maybe they wouldn't have been in if those guys didn't leave your team," Saban said. "And the depth of your squad gets affected to some degree by some of those things. So it's important that we do a great job of developing the young players and getting them in a position where they can be players who can go in and play with confidence and give us a chance to be successful even if they have to play."
It is rare, but not unheard of, for an Alabama freshman to start from the beginning of the season. Think of Minkah Fitzpatrick in 2017 or Evan Neal in 2019. A name to keep an eye on for this season that could fulfill that role is safety Caleb Downs.
However, it has been much more common in the Saban era for freshman to get playing time, especially as the season goes on whether on special teams, in a backup/rotational role or eventually in a starting spot. And that is what Saban is looking for right now– younger players who can contribute and possibly start for Alabama in 2023.
The Crimson Tide offensive line is missing three starters from last season: Tyler Steen, Emil Ekiyor Jr. and Javion Cohen. Steen and Ekiyor graduated and moved on to the next level while Cohen transferred to Miami over the offseason. This has created an opportunity for true freshman Kadyn Proctor and redshirt freshman Elijah Pritchett to compete for a starting spot at left tackle.
Junior offensive lineman JC Latham uses outside linebacker Dallas Turner's freshman season as an example of always being ready for the younger players. Because of injuries to Chris Allen and Drew Sanders in 2021, it forced Turner into a major contributing role at his position as a freshman.
"Even though Dallas is an amazing player today, before–his freshman year–guys in front of him went down, and he had to step up," Latham said. "He did a great job at that, because he was prepared. So just letting younger guys know that, like, just because you might not be where you are, or where you want to be in that moment, you never know what can happen. Guys might not be performing in front of you, or they might just be hurt. However it might go. Just always stay prepared, always stay ready to go."
Saban talked about players pushing themselves out of their comfort zones and making individual sacrifices for the good of the team. Younger players have to buy in now during fall camp to be ready for when their number might get called.
"I think we probably need a critical mass of people to continue to improve so that we can have enough guys that can play winning football," Saban said. "So that's our challenge as coaches, and that's each and every individual's challenge, to be able to invest in themself so that he can do that."
See also:
Nick Saban on Quarterbacks: 'Force Me to Play You'
Photo and Video from Alabama Football's Tuesday Practice
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