2014 Spring Practice

Alabama put on the pads today for the first time this spring, as they get set to reload at most of the major positions.

There are a lot of question marks regarding who will be replacing Alabama's key losses at key positions, but one of the most interesting position battles may come from a position that has everyone returning.

There's no denying the reason for Nick Saban bringing in Lane Kiffin: to improve offensively. So what, exactly, did Saban see in Kiffin that convinced him to be his next offensive coordinator?

The University of Alabama football team began spring practice on Saturday afternoon with a two-hour workout in shorts and helmets on the Thomas-Drew Practice Fields.

Nick Saban is a defensive minded coach and a master recruiter. Put those two things together and you get what we've been seeing at Alabama over his entire tenure: a defensive powerhouse. Big time players are leaving for the NFL draft, but there are players with big time potential lurking in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to contribute on one of the best defenses in the nation...

First impressions arguably mean more to Nick Saban than any other coach in college football. Spring allows newcomers to show what they can do. Every player is out to prove something, but none more than freshmen that have already enrolled...

Spring practice has arrived, which means it's time for avid Alabama football fans to get their final fix before the 2014 season kicks off against West Virginia. With stars leaving for the NFL draft, many holes are left unfilled, giving young players the opportunity to step up and show off their abilities ...

The biggest questions of the off-season can be answered during spring practice, and Alabama is one of many teams with multiple voids to fill. One particular position of concern for the Crimson Tide is replacing quarterback AJ McCarron, who won two national championships as a starter.

A primary focus for Saban this off-season will be the restructuring of an Alabama secondary that struggled throughout the 2013 season. Injuries plagued last year's group, which opened the door for a number of younger players to step up. Those players now have valuable SEC experience and that will come in handy under a new secondary coach...

Since Nick Saban had arrived in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide has sent many players to the NFL, sometimes as many as ten being drafted in a single season. The flip side of that is the holes left when these players depart.