Four areas Bama seeks to find answers

TUSCALOOSA — There aren’t as many questions facing Alabama’s football program as there were a year ago in spring practice. But finding the answers are just as crucial if the Crimson Tide plans to add more hardware to its trophy case this fall.

Spring drills resumes Monday in Tuscaloosa. Actually, they begin in earnest. The Tide’s “wild-card” workout — as coach Nick Saban called it — on March 12 gave coaches “a starting point” before spring break.

Alabama will work on Monday, Wednesday and Friday this week before scrimmaging on Saturday.

While answers don’t need to come until Sept. 4, here are four key areas that will be scrutinized over the next 14 practice sessions, which ends with the April 17 A-Day Game on ESPN.

1. Special teams
This requires a massive overhaul. Alabama must replace first-team All-American Leigh Tiffin, a three-year starter at placekicker, four-year punter P.J. Fitzgerald, four-year return specialist Javier Arenas, even reliable long snapper Brian Selman is gone.

Julio Jones has caught punts when Arenas was hurt, but pretty much was instructed to fair catch them.

Whoever is the answer likely will be baptized under fire this spring. Arenas often shared stories that Saban himself would stand directly behind him, screaming, as punts came his way.

As for the kicking specialists — or “snipers,” as Saban calls them — there are two good ones in the signing class. Placekicker Cade Foster of Southlake, Texas, played in the U.S. Army All-American Game. Punter Jay Williams from Thomasville will get a strong look to replace Fitzgerald.

2. Secondary
Alabama didn’t only lose three starters, it also lost backups at every position. Mark Barron, the lone returning starter at strong safety, is a tremendous impact player. But he can’t be everywhere. Saban devoted much of the Tide’s resources to this position. He said seven of the 20 players Alabama recruited were defensive backs.

There is talent, but speed and athletic ability aren’t enough to thrive in Saban’s defensive system. DeMarcus Milliner from Millbrook enrolled early and will go through spring practice. Touted junior college transfer DeQuan Menzie won’t get to Tuscaloosa until June. They will have opportunities to impress coaches early.

But the development of DBs already in the system — Dre Kirkpatrick leads that pack — and the status of Robby Green are also key.

3. Linebackers
Rolando McClain left after his junior season. Cory Reamer graduated, as did Eryk Anders. And Dont’a Hightower is recovering from knee surgery.
Just like in the secondary, there is potential, but spring practice will go a long way toward realizing it.

A pair of Wiregrass players — rising junior Courtney Upshaw of Eufaula on the edge and sophomore Nico Johnson of Andalusia inside — have a chance to expand their roles from a year ago.

The wild-card, of course, is Hightower and how he will be used. He started inside next to McClain, but was also used to blitz off the edge in passing situations. He could move to McClain’s spot inside and be the quarterback of the defense.

Or he could return to his role of creating havoc. The key to that equation is finding the player that fills McClain’s considerable shoes.

4. Offensive line
Even with three starters returning, that still leaves 40 percent of the line to replace — and 50 percent if you count the tight end.
Colin Peek didn’t have big numbers, but he had plenty of big moments. He caught touchdown passes against Auburn and Florida, though his biggest game came against Kentucky.

There are a number of candidates for his job. Brad Smelley has proven to be a solid possession receiver and Preston Dial is a good blocker. Chris Underwood and Michael Williams, two bigger, more physical players, will be looked at this spring.

It’s difficult to imagine D.J. Fluker not factoring into the offensive line somewhere — likely at right tackle. There are a number of candidates at left guard, too — Chance Warmack, John Michael Boswell, David Ross and Brian Motley will compete for that spot.

Some of the cohesion that spring builds up front is in jeopardy with the absence of center William Vlachos, who is rehabbing from foot surgery and will miss the spring. In his absence, Motley and Ross may work at center.