Happy Thursday, everyone. Football practice is upon us! Some notes from the head man’s first press conference of fall camp are below.
DeBoer on Deontae Lawson…
“His trajectory is going up. Deontae, his leadership is the thing. I think that’s really come out, so that’s exciting. He is gonna be limited, and just the number of reps, the volume – I guess the best way to put it – and what he can take, as expected. And that was gonna be the plan, just with his timeline from the beginning. But it’s great
ADhaving him out there. I think he feels really good about being out there. Mentally and physically, I think he’s in a really good spot. But there’s still progress to be made as we build for the first game.”
Russell got far less reps with the first-team in spring, largely due to how inexperienced he was within the offense. However, DeBoer said his staff was expecting improvement from him.
“Probably Keelon’s gonna be the one that you’re gonna see the biggest jump, naturally,” DeBoer said. “And I feel like that was good. I mean, he’s making quick decisions and not sitting there thinking too much.”
DeBoer said earlier in the offseason that he would like to have a starter in place a week-and-a-half before UA’s season-opener at Florida State. That game is scheduled for Aug. 30 in Tallahassee.
DeBoer highlighted Simpson for thriving in the offense by connecting on the “gimme” throws: short passes that maybe aren’t as exciting but are needed to keep the drives going.
“I think Ty, we’ve talked about all the quarterbacks, but just the gimme, the ones that are just should be 100% making those plays all the time,” DeBoer said. “And I really felt like he did that. He got probably more opportunities just because of the way the plays developed. To have more of those gimmes, and those gimmes add up. Gimmes are five-yard gains that turn into 15 and 20, and sometimes explosives. And they keep the chains moving.”
No matter which quarterback gets the starting job, DeBoer is happy with the direction the position is heading in.
Everyone wants to talk about the quarterbacks, but three weeks is a pretty short time to try and supplant a dude who has been the clear leader thus far. It’s good to hear that Lawson is on the right track as he will be a huge piece to the puzzle for this defense. They should be able to handle Florida State without him if needed, and in fact Justin Jefferson’s speed would likely come in quite handy against a run first QB. Get Deontae back and ready for SEC play, and we’ll be happy.
You can listen to the entire presser below.
Matt Stahl noticed Geno running first at left guard.
— No surprises in the quarterback battle. Ty Simpson went first in drills, followed by Austin Mack, then Keelon Russell. Crimson Tide coaches have said that Simpson leads the way in the race, and would start if the season started after spring practice.
— During offensive line drills, Geno VanDeMark appeared to be running with the first group at left guard. Kam Dewberry, who transferred in from Texas A&M this offseason, was going second. Those two are battling for the starting job during preseason camp, replacing Tyler Booker.
Chase and Colin have some more practice notes for you from the Tuscaloosa News.
Alabama football has full tight end room once again
After a spring where Alabama had to add offensive lineman William Sanders to its tight end room due to a lack of available bodies, the Crimson Tide seemed to work with a full room at the start of fall camp, including Marshall Pritchett — the freshman who was out for spring with an injury — and newly-enrolled freshman Kaleb Edwards. Transfers Brody Dalton (Troy) and Jack Sammarco (West Virginia) took pass-catching reps with Mack and Russell, respectively.
With the weapons Alabama has outside, defenses are likely to leave plenty of room available for this group.
Is this Keon Keeley’s year?
Keeley will play a new position in 2025, moving from outside linebacker to strongside defensive end. He won’t start at that spot, however. That role belongs to star Alabama edge LT Overton. But he should at least emerge as part of the rotation for an Alabama front that lacks proven pass rushing production. If he can’t … Keeley begins to track toward the bust label every five-star recruit hopes to avoid.
Tank Jones announces his decision this afternoon, and all of us here at RBR are rather skeptical that he stays home.
Alabama: “We came back up there and everything was still consistent,” his father told BamaOnLine. “There wasn’t anything different. There isn’t anything that is forced. They let you be yourself. You are not just coming in there trying to be someone you aren’t. … They want you to be there because you want to be there. It’s more about family and just keeping in touch with each other. It’s nothing glamorous, and not for the money. If you want to be here the door is open. You like it better than how some of these other schools approach it as they’ll just try to throw anything at you.”
May we prove to be curmudgeonly old cynics, but based on his comments it sure seems like Oregon and A&M are offering him a bag that Alabama won’t come close to matching.
Alabama football will be losing a longtime staffer.
Ellis Ponder, the UA associate athletics director for strategic operations, is leaving the Crimson Tide in August and will be joining super agent Jimmy Sexton at CAA, sources with knowledge of the hire told AL.com.
Ponder joined the Alabama football staff starting in 2015. By the end of his tenure, he became a deputy to Saban as Ponder rose to associate AD and football chief operating officer. Prior to that, Ponder served as football director of operations in 2017. During an earlier stint at Alabama, Ponder was a student assistant in the equipment room from 2006 through 2011. In between the two stints at Alabama, Ponder was an event director for Bruno Event Team in Birmingham.
Last, Greg Byrne has made some waves pushing non-conference SOS as a key playoff metric.
Starting this year, through 2034, Alabama has two games scheduled per season against either Power Four non-conference opponents or Notre Dame. Adding playoff selection value specific to non-conference metrics might therefore accelerate Alabama in bubble situations.
But, shouldn’t we want teams to follow Alabama’s lead of seeking out challenging non-conference opponents, rather than ducking Power Four opponents in favor of Austin Peay?
To Byrne, the answer seems obvious.
“Good non-conference games are really good for college football,” Byrne said.
Rewarding teams that play good non-conference games would help ensure those games remain part of college football’s future.
Should be common sense.
That’s about it for now. Have a great day.
Roll Tide.
More from rollbamaroll.com:
- A legend hangs them up — Tua Tagovailoa enters the 2020 NFL Draft
- Jumbo Package: Decision Day
- MONDAY UPDATE: Alabama Crimson Tide NFL Draft Junior Tracker
- Devonta Smith announces his return to Alabama in 2020
- Tua Tagovailoa and Nick Saban to hold press conference at 11am CT Monday
- Predictions: Will they stay or will they go?
- Watch: NFL analyst breaks down Rashaan Evans’ role in critical goal line stand vs. Patriots
