Five Takeaways from Alabama's A-Day Game

Running backs shines, a position battle, where Alabama will turn in the portal and more thoughts from Kalen DeBoer's first A-Day.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.— Things looked a little different around Tuscaloosa on Saturday. While Nick Saban was still in Bryant-Denny Stadium, he was watching from a suite rather than on the field as Kalen DeBoer conducted his first A-Day game.

The offense took the victory with a 34-28 win but because of the new format and atypical scoring system and no use of a game clock, it made things a little more challenging to keep track of. As per usual, the coaching staff didn't open up the playbook for the spring game and kept things mostly conservative on both sides of the ball.

Also, things will change in the coming weeks as players enter and exit the transfer portal. However, here are five takeaways from the Crimson Tide's 2024 A-Day performance.

1. Jalen Milroe is QB 1

This one may seem obvious, but since quarterback is always a big topic of discussion during this time of year, I'll go ahead and get this one out of the way. Nothing DeBoer has said all spring nor what happened on the field on Saturday should lead you to believe anything other than the fact that Jalen Milroe will once again be Alabama's starter at quarterback.

Statistically, it wasn't his best performance, completing just three of his nine attempts for 100 yards, but he took the first reps of the scrimmage with the first team offense against the first team defense. He also had one of the most impressive passes of the day on a perfectly-placed ball to Germie Bernard that ended up going for 52 yards and setting up the offense's third touchdown of the day.

Barring injury, Milroe is who DeBoer has confidence in to be the starter Week 1.

2. Alabama has serious depth at running back

Before the scrimmage, DeBoer said the running back group was one of the position groups he had been most impressed by this spring. They left the fans something to be impressed with as well after Saturday's performance.

Junior Jam Miller was named the A-Day MVP after his 83-yard, two-touchdown day. Overall, Alabama's top three running backs (Miller, Justice Haynes and Richard Young) combined for 122 yards and four touchdowns. True freshman Daniel Hill also got some valuable reps.

"When they saw a hole today, they hit it," DeBoer said about the running backs. "Especially early on, there were some seams, and they're not dancing which means they're getting more and more comfortable with the schemes, the trusting of the offensive line."

Once those backs found the hole, they were also able to display their speed with several long runs. Alabama could have one of the best running back duos in the SEC with Miller and Haynes leading the way. After redshirting last season, Young is also primed for a big year.

3. Kicker position isn't settled

For the last five seasons, Alabama fans didn't have to worry when it was time to line up for an extra point or field goal. Will Reichard was almost automatic at the position and went on to become the NCAA's all-time scoring leader.

But now Alabama enters the post-Reichard era, and after A-Day it's clear that the Tide hasn't yet settled on its next kicker. It was assumed that redshirt freshman Conor Talty would step into the role, but four different kickers attempted an extra point on Saturday. Three different kickers attempted a field goal, and Talty missed his lone attempt from 45 yards out.

Walk-on Upton Bellefant kicked off to open the game and attempted a 23-yard field goal. Fellow walk-on Reid Schuback also had a kickoff. This will be an underrated position battle to keep an eye on when Alabama opens fall camp in August.

4. Lack of turnovers is a double-edged sword

There were no turnovers in Saturday's A-Day game, and that has been a theme throughout the spring. According to DeBoer, Alabama's quarterbacks didn't throw an interception in any of the Crimson Tide's three scrimmages (even though there were a few near interceptions on Saturday.)

This can be looked at as both a positive and negative. On the offensive side, ball security is a great thing. It's an area DeBoer has seen growth in as the spring has progressed. But on the defensive side, not forcing turnovers can be a concerning thing.

Last season, Alabama finished with 12 interceptions on defense, but seven of those 12 were from Terrion Arnold and Caleb Downs. Both of those guys are no longer with the Crimson Tide. In 2022, Alabama only had five interceptions all regular season before snagging two more in the Sugar Bowl win against Kansas State.

Fifth-year defensive back Malachi Moore acknowledged that the defensive could have won the scrimmage if it had forced an interception or two.

"We’ve got to do a better job taking the ball away through the air and knocking the ball away from people," Moore said.

New defensive coordinator Kane Wommack has talked throughout the spring about Alabama's "swarm" approach on defense, and causing turnovers will be a big part of that. However, it is an encouraging sign that the Crimson Tide players are making smart decisions with the ball on offense so far.

5. Alabama will be active in the portal to fill positions of need

DeBoer was asked prior to A-Day about where Alabama might need to add some depth once the college football transfer portal opens back up on April 16 for two weeks until April 30. He said the Crimson Tide needs help along the offensive line and in the defensive backfield, and it was clear on Saturday that both groups will need to add a player or two from the portal.

The offensive line will get a boost with the return of Kadyn Proctor, last year's starter at left tackle who transferred to Iowa in January and announced in mid-March that he would be coming back to Alabama once the portal re-opened. He was seen inside Bryant-Denny on Stadium. But the Tide's thinness at the position was apparent during A-Day with freshmen getting significant reps and some guys having to play multiple positions.

Moore brings a wealth of playing time as a safety along with Michigan transfer Keon Sabb, but other than them, there's not a lot of experience. In fact, USC transfer Domani Jackson is the only cornerback with a college snap to his name. Alabama's lack of experience in the defensive backfield was on full display in the opening drives of A-Day as the defense was getting torched by the quarterbacks and receivers.

DeBoer and his staff will certainly be going after a cornerback in the portal that can add instant depth and possibly immediately slide into a starting role at the position as the Crimson Tide enters the summer.