Tide ready for first scrimmage

TUSCALOOSA — Alabama will work at Bryant-Denny Stadium today for the first of two scrimmages before the April 18 A-Day Game.

Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said he will be looking for competitors in today’s session.

“If a guy can play hard, not get frustrated, be relentless and (keep) coming back and playing … that’s probably the No. 1 thing,” Saban said. “The No. 2 thing is obviously the consistency and performance … and obviously, to evaluate players.

“You know, there are some guys that practice good, and then they get in the game and they can’t take it to the field. There are other guys that it’s always a struggle for them in practice a little bit, but they always play a little bit better in the game. I think sometimes you realize that about some of your players.”

Certainly, quarterbacks Greg McElroy and Star Jackson will be closely watched as they compete to replace three-year starter John Parker Wilson. But Saban resounded a theme he has frequently used — that quarterbacks can play only as well as those around them.

“I see improvement every day in both guys,” Saban said. “But quarterback is a hard position to play unless the people around you play well, too. I think it’s important that the receivers run the routes correctly. I think it’s important they separate. I think it’s important for our offensive line to be able to protect so those guys can make the progress that we’d like to see them make.”

In fact, the offensive line, which must replace three starters including All-Americans Andre Smith and Antoine Caldwell, will be just as scrutinized as the quarterbacks today.

One of the two returnees, guard Mike Johnson, said he is encouraged by the progress up front in the Tide’s first six practices.

“The offensive line as a whole has really made some progress,” Johnson said. “We are really beginning to gel with our quarterbacks and the guys playing next to us. We have made huge, huge strides since we started.”

Johnson said offensive line coach Joe Pendry has kept things positive this spring.

“He says it all the time, if we can just get a little better every day, by the time the season rolls and we get through fall camp, we are going to be pretty good,” Johnson said.

Saban, too, said no jobs would be won up front today.

“I’m not worried about it being settled, I’m worried about every guy continuing to improve,” the coach said. “Obviously, I think we have to continue to make progress in that area. I’ve been very pleased with the two newcomers (Chance Warmack and James Carpenter) in terms of the potential that they have — but they also have the greatest learning curve in terms of what we need to do to help develop them.”

David Ross and William Vlachos have alternated at center in the early part of the spring.

“There’s no question that there’s a huge amount of competition going on,” said Ross, who started three games at guard last season. “It makes everybody better when we do that, so it’s a good thing.”

“That gets the best out of you every day, not knowing what’s happening,” Vlachos said. “We’ve got some fantastic athletes on our offensive line. Having competition like that makes you know you have to come out every day and do your best, listen to what everyone tells you and go 100 percent all the time.”