In the Huddle with Hannon: Takeaways From A-Day 2023
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Get it out. Let out your frustrations about this Alabama Crimson Tide team now.
Saturday’s A-Day game was an interesting one for sure. You had 12 total sacks, four interceptions and plenty of other mistakes. You also had breakout games for some young guys — and an experienced guy in Malachi Moore.
The other thing to remember? This game means nothing — for the most part. While some things like the current depth chart may be clearer — it’s still April. The Crimson Tide doesn’t play a regular season football game for another 132 days.
In recent years, we’ve seen special performances from people that ended up never having a real impact on the program. Remember Agiye Hall in 2021? I’m sure you’d rather not hear his name again.
We won’t really know what this Alabama team is made of until this fall. There were good things, there were bad things — let’s talk about them.
Is the Quarterback Battle Between Just Two Guys?
OK — I know I just said to not overreact to A-Day. But there’s no question that both Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson struggled. 19-for-37? 12-for-26? Yuck. Milroe made a few nice passes down the stretch — including a 36-yard touchdown to Emmanuel Henderson Jr. He also led his unit down the field on the final drive of the game for a score — a four-play, 70-yard march in just 50 seconds.
Simpson has been said to be a mobile guy when needed and he showed that with 58 yards on the ground — including a 45-yard scamper.
Milroe and Simpson are the “veterans” in the quarterback room if you will so they obviously have the early advantage on the depth chart.
But could that change over the course of the summer and fall?
Dylan Lonergan looked cool, calm and collected — going 8-for-14 with 79 yards and a touchdown. I thought Eli Holstein looked poised in limited time.
There’s also something called the transfer portal.
It’s probably not true, but maybe this isn’t just a two-horse race.
Is Justice Haynes the Next Great Alabama Running Back?
Wow — Georgia is going to wish it didn’t lose this guy.
It’s no surprise that Haynes had the potential to be a star. I just didn’t know he could do it this fast. This is a kid that arrived in Tuscaloosa just three months ago — and he already looks like a threat to make a huge impact in his freshman season.
64 all-purpose yards and three scores in the spring game? That’s how you grab a fan base and coaching staff early.
Head coach Nick Saban has been high on Haynes all spring for good reason. He’s also wearing No. 22 — like another guy that exploded onto the scene as a freshman. Could Haynes emerge as a star in the backfield like Mark Ingram did in 2008?
Malachi Moore Reminds Everyone About His Playmaking Ability
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — Moore returning for Alabama this season is massive for the Crimson Tide’s defense.
He has had a full circle career that not many have. Who else starts their freshman year and then gets essentially benched until their senior year?
Let’s not forget the player Moore was in 2020. Playing slot cornerback, Moore forced four turnovers and had a touchdown in Alabama’s national championship-winning season.
With Jordan Battle, DeMarcco Hellams and Brian Branch out of the picture, Moore is the veteran in the secondary.
He was all over the field on Saturday, picking up three sacks, nine tackles and a pass breakup. He earned the Dixie Howell Award — the spring game’s most valuable player.
What’s Wrong with the Offensive Line?
All spring, Saban has mentioned the offensive line as leaders of the offense and that the unit has been doing an excellent job.
The group itself has said how nasty and ferocious it wants to be. It didn’t look like those qualities on Saturday, allowing 12 combined sacks in the game.
To be fair, there were a lot of different groups moving around in the game. It wasn’t like the five “starters” were getting exposed — but it wasn’t pretty. Also keep in mind that a “sack” was just placing a hand on the quarterback.
But the defense was making it look way too easy getting into the backfield — in both passing and rushing situations. The Crimson Tide ran for 171 yards on 56 carries — an average of 3.05 yards per carry.
The silver lining? Maybe the defense is that good.
