SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 2010 |
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THE TUSCALOOSA NEWS
IA-DAYI
All eyes on A-Day 1
We know how good running backs Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson are, but the Tide has a stable of other running backs eager to find a place on the field for the 2010 season. Redshirt freshman Eddie Lacy and Demetrius Goode are two highly touted backs that could see significant playing time and have breakout seasons. Also look for big junior back Jeramie Griffin to make an impact after coming back from a knee injury.
What sort of crowd will UA pull after posting three consecutive A-Days of more than 70,000? The game will be nationally televised, which may not help attendance. Coming off a national championship, however, the excitement should be as high as it’s been since UA coach Nick Saban’s first spring, when 92,138 filled the house with a few thousand being turned away at the gates.
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Several players enrolled early in January in order to participate in spring drills, including quarterback Phillip Sims, defensive back DeMarcus Milliner and Brandon Lewis. Sims is a highly-touted QB from Virginia rated as the No. 2 overall QB in the country. Milliner was rated as the top cornerback in the country by Scout.com. Lewis, a 6-3, 274-pound defensive lineman, transferred from East Mississippi Community College and could turn heads in the fall. Keep an eye on these players and see what they have learned in a short period of time.
Demetrius Goode
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Nose guard Josh Chapman has waited a lengthy turn to start behind two-year fan favorite Terrence Cody. Though Chapman has gained significant experience spelling Cody the last two years, 2010 figures to provide his heaviest action yet.
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Julio Jones led the Tide last year with 596 yards and 43 catches. Marquis Maze is back in the mix as well. But who will step up to take the third receiver spot. Darius Hanks had some big catches last season, but a large cast of receivers, mostly inexperienced, will vie for an increased role. Senior Earl Alexander enters his final season. Others include Brandon Gibson, Kenny Bell, Michael Bowman, Kendall Kelly and Kevin Norwood.
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The Tide must replace an All-American kicker (Leigh Tiffin), a punter and holder (P.J. Fitzgerald), a long snapper (Brian Selman) and the SEC career leader in punt return yards (Javier Arenas). Kicker Jeremy Shelley saw limited action last season and Cade Foster, a freshman, could challenge for the starting role. Taylor Pharr, an offensive lineman, has actually been punting this spring, so keep an eye out for him.
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Who will be the Tide’s next Jack linebacker? The linebacker-end hybrid position in Nick Saban’s defense demands a playmaker, not just a warm body. Outgoing senior Eryk Anders made his share of big plays from the role in 2009. Courtney Upshaw has the most game experience of any candidate. If Alabama’s Jacks are easily handled by the inexperienced cast of right tackles on the spring roster, it may not be a good sign of things to come.
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You might be a little busy watching all the new players in the secondary today. Just one starter returns (Mark Barron) and the other positions are up for grabs. Two players to watch are sophomore Dre Kirkpatrick, who saw action last year on special teams, and freshman DeMarcus Milliner, who was rated as the No. 1 cornerback prospect in the country. He enrolled in January and has been performing in spring drills.
Here are 15 things you should watch for during today’s A-Day game
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Is Alabama’s two -tight end set going to be an A-Day staple for the second year in a row? Last year, both the Crimson and White offense played extensively with two tight ends. Look for Michael Williams, Brad Smelley and Preston Dial figure to see plenty of action once again Saturday.
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After redshirting last year, all eyes are on 6-foot-6, 340-pound offensive lineman D.J. Fluker. He was a five-star recruit when he signed with Alabama in 2009. He will be looking for a starting job on the line, which lost All-American guard Mike Johnson and tackle Drew Davis.
L i n e b a c ke r Dont’a Hightower missed most of the season after suffering a torn ACL against Arkansas. He’s back for his junior year and says he is better than ever. Defensive lineman Damion Square was just beginning to earn playing time early last season when he was sidelined with tore knee ligaments. As a defensive end on a team that lost two starting ends, Square’s healthy return is key.
D.J. Fluker
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A.J. McCarro n d i d n’ t set foot on the field last season while Star Jackson saw limited action behind starting quarterback Greg McElroy. With the No. 1 job locked up, McCarron and Jackson will try to solidify the No. 2 spot. McCarron has a strong arm and is accurate while Jackson has speed and can scramble to avoid trouble. Jackson was withheld from a few practices this spring due to academic reasons.
A.J. McCarron
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What role will Robby Green play on A-Day? The junior defensive back is eligible to practice, but his eligibility to play in 2010 remains in question. With his experience, he is a top candidate for playing time in the fall. But without assurances that he will be eligible, A-Day reps might be more useful to another player.
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The 2010 Tide won’t resemble the 2009 Tide team. As with any new season, different players will be on the field and new team chemistry will have to be forged. With all the talent Alabama has offensively, the play-calling should be a little different from last season. Look for some big plays in the passing game and for quarterbacks to take some more chances downfield.
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Center William Vlachos is still recovering from surgery and won’t participate in today’s A-Day game. There are several players who have been banged up this spring that will play, including running back Trent Richardson (strained calf). Richardson may not see substantial playing time and there may be some other players nursing injuries who might not play much or at all in today’s game.