The offensive numbers were about as ugly as the weather Saturday in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Rain dumped buckets on A-Day on an afternoon that exposed the gap between Alabama’s defensive front seven and the offensive line there to protect quarterback Bryce Young.
The first-team offense scored a single touchdown — a 75-yard run from Georgia Tech transfer Jahmyr Gibbs — on a day dominated by the defensive front. The first-team defense was credited 10 sacks, a number aided by the two-hand touch rule to avoid big hits on the passers but an injury-depleted offensive front had a long afternoon regardless.
With returning starting lineman Emil Ekiyor and Darrian Dalcourt out for the spring, the experienced defensive front feasted. Outside linebacker Dallas Turner was credited with three sacks followed by Will Anderson, Chris Braswell and Jamil Burroughs with two apiece.
Anderson came untouched off the edge on one particular first-half snap with what would have been a clear blind-side shot on the reigning Heisman Trophy winner before pulling the emergency brake just in time.
“Well it’s not that difficult when you know who’s back there throwing the ball and how much the team needs him,” Anderson said with a grin when asked about the challenge of not completing the hit in a scrimmage like Saturday’s. “Or you’re going to get your butt chewed out so all spring we’ve been very cautious about touching Bryce.”
Young finished the afternoon 14-for-29 passing with 153 yards and one interception. There were a number of dropped passes, an issue Saban noted the weather didn’t help but also couldn’t be an excuse on an afternoon the three QBs combined to complete 30 of 64 passes. The first-team offense finished with 201 total yards, 75 of which came on Gibbs’ touchdown in the third quarter.
There was clear frustration from all three Alabama quarterbacks — Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson included — when scrambles into open field were whistled dead because they were touched down by a defender.
Anderson called somewhat of a shot in the postgame when making a prediction about the legacy this pass rush could leave in the fall.
“I think this year is going to be something special,” he said bluntly. “I think you guys talk about the 2016 defense pass rush, I feel like you guys are definitely are getting ready to see that again.”
That 2016 team finished with the No. 1 total defense that recorded 3.6 sacks a game — good for third-best nationally. Last year’s group had 3.8 a game, also third in FBS, with practically all the main pieces back for 2022.
Saban rattled off a list of names when asked about the front seven players he’s seen grow this spring. He started with Burroughs, a junior who won the lineman of the game award with his two sacks on the first-team defense. Junior Tim Smith also made moves along with outside linebacker Braswell, a former five-star recruit who Saban said he considered a starter alongside Anderson and Turner.
“A couple of the freshman guys have made progress,” Saban said. “Tim Keenan made progress. (Damon Payne) made progress. They all improved. But the key to the drill is can they stay focused to continuing to do that.”
Saban also noted the inexperience of the offensive line has to contain that deep group on the defensive front. There’s certainly an expectation Vanderbilt transfer Tyler Steen will compete for one of the two offensive tackle jobs open after Chris Owens graduated and Evan Neal left for the draft.
Saban said he saw improvement from former five-star tackle JC Latham, noting his increased confidence and natural ability.
“He’s one of those guys who needs to focus on development,” Saban said while mentioning the limited nature of spring games doesn’t showcase the talents of tackles like Latham on the right side.
Anytime sacks (15 total) more than double third-down conversions (seven in 27 attempts), it’s a rough day for the offense.
Watered-down playbooks and water from the heavens didn’t help that balance of power but it’s clear the Crimson Tide defense exited the spring closer to a finished product than its offensive counterpart.
Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.
