With the advent of spring football at Alabama and several new position coaches, all jobs are open for competition.  While there are some sure bets on Alabama’s roster for some this spring is a key moment in their college career.  

Here are seven players who have everything riding on success this spring.

 

AJ McCarron QB sophomore 6’4″ 205:

I could list his main competition Phillip Sims as well.  The reason I list McCarron is that, on paper, he should be the front runner for the quarterback position.   McCarron has been in the system one more year than Sims and has seen the only live action.

Conventional wisdom says McCarron should have the edge, but in the only meaningful snaps of the 2010 season, McCarron looked flustered and ineffective in a late appearance against Auburn.  

If he had managed to get a few first downs to make the game interesting, it might have gone a long way toward giving the coaching staff confidence.  

As it stands, McCarron will have to go toe-to-toe with talented freshman Phillip Sims.  

The end results could be mixed.  If one player clearly passes the other, it’s likely Alabama will lose the other to transfer.  If neither can separate themselves from the other, the fight may go on into fall and could eventually play out during the 2011 season.

It’s certainly possible for both quarterbacks to end up playing but that situation isn’t ideal and would only be a situation of last resort.  It’s just too difficult for more than one quarterback to develop the timing necessary for an effective passing game in the SEC.

The eventual winner will have a chance to lead Alabama to championships.  The loser will have to wait in line for playing time or take their game somewhere else. 

 

Eddie Lacy RB sophomore 6’0″ 220:

Alabama fans expected Eddie Lacy to be the next Mark or Trent in 2010.  It didn’t happen.   

In Lacy’s defense, Alabama’s offensive line had an off year run blocking.  They didn’t get the kind of movement that Ingram and Richardson had benefited from the year before.  

Lacy has breakaway speed similar to Richardson and an unusual spin move that has confounded more than one potential tackler.  He hasn’t been as physical a runner or as physical a blocker as Ingram and Richardson.  He has also fumbled several times when hit.

Lacy has bulked up in the last year from 212 to 220.  Hopefully, the added weight will allow him to be more physical and protect the ball better.  Though his spin move is unique and effective, he needs to learn when to use it and when to pick a crease and get upfield.   

If Lacy can have a big spring it will put him in line to succeed Richardson should he opt for the NFL next year.    

If he doesn’t, Alabama has younger players who will try their level best to put him in the rear view mirror. 

 

Kevin Norwood WR sophomore 6’2″ 193:

Playing time for young receivers has been more scarce than the Libyan air force lately.   With the departure of superstar receiver Julio Jones, roughly 52 percent of the wide receiver production is up for grabs.  

While starters Marquis Maze and Darius Hanks certainly have eyes for some of that production, at least one and as many as three more players could get a portion of that. 

Kevin Norwood was the most impressive looking young receiver we saw on the field last year, and a big spring from him could put him squarely into the receiver rotation for this season.

Even though only one other receiver saw the field last year, the competition will be stiff. 

Kenny Bell is a fast receiver and did play sparingly last year.  

Alabama redshirted two speed burners in Deandrew White and Keiwone Malone in 2010. Both will look to snag their particular piece of the pie.

Michael Bowman has moved back and forth from receiver to H-Back.  At 6’4″ and 225 lbs, he is a big target who can get physical with defensive backs. 

A bad showing this spring by Norwood could also open the door for one of the true freshman to come in this fall and compete for playing time.  

Prichard receiver Marvin Shinn was one of the nation’s top recruits, and at 6’4″, has a height advantage.  

 

Harrison Jones TE freshman 6’4″ 248 

Harrison is the little brother of starting guard Barrett Jones.

He was recruited as an H-Back and was originally supposed to grey shirt.  He did end up reporting in the fall when another player didn’t make it in.  

Jones used his redshirt season to get bigger.  He reported at 225 and is now up to 248. 

Currently, the starter at H-Back is Brad Smelly who is experienced and a good route runner but has not put on any significant size and may not be the most physical blocker.

Harrison’s added bulk could give him an advantage blocking that could make him a more physical option.  It could lead to early playing time or even a starting assignment.   

 

Aaron Douglas OL junior 6’6″ 275

Nick Saban stated on signing day that Douglas was brought in to compete for the left tackle spot, and by compete, he really means “win the job”.

Like Carpenter before him, the junior college transfer has an opportunity to start at the coveted left tackle spot for two years for a premier program in college football.  The lights don’t get any brighter for an offensive lineman.  The job is more or less his if he can take it. 

Alabama has other players who will attempt to contest for it. Austin Shepherd has added 20 pounds to his 6’5″ frame during his redshirt season.  Alfred McCullough has also been a tenacious competitor in the past.

With a good performance this spring, Douglas likely gets the nod.  

He will face another test when super recruit Cyrus Kouandjio arrives this fall, but it’s rare for a true freshman to be able to hold their own at the left tackle spot in the SEC.

Douglas has had a troubled past, and that trouble has continued until recently when he was convicted of a DUI.  Douglas clearly has the talent to play in the SEC, but the question remains if he has the focus.

It remains to be seen if he can adjust to the Alabama environment quickly enough. Playing for a hard nosed disciplinarian like Nick Saban isn’t for everybody.   

 

Jarrick Williams DB sophomore 6’2″ 210

Mark Barron and Robert Lester have sewn up the starting safety spots, but this spring, Barron will not take any live reps.  That means when it’s time for live action, someone else will get the reps.  

Jarrick Williams is a very talented true sophomore who is in position to take many of those live reps and get a leg up on the competition to replace Barron in 2012.

Currently, Williams is also wearing a black jersey signifying no contact.  If that continues all spring, it will be a missed opportunity.  

Of the other safeties available, Nick Perry is the only one likely to supplant Williams, but he too is wearing a black jersey.  

This fall, another top ranked recruit Hasean Clinton-Dix arrives to add more talent to an already talented secondary fighting for playing time.

If either Williams or Perry can get healthy and take the scrimmage reps, it could go a long way toward playing time this fall.

 

Ed Stinson DL sophomore 6′ 4″ 279:

Ed Stinson started as early as Week 2 in 2010 at Jack linebacker, and the results were less than spectacular.  The staff soon decided to try him at defensive end, and by the second half of the season, was already practicing there.

Stinson packed on a whopping 27 pounds and will give it another try this spring.

With Alabama going worldwide in its recruiting of defensive line this last fall, it’s clear they are willing to look anywhere and do anything within the rules to solve the pass rush dilemma.

Ed Stinson might have been a tad slow for a linebacker, but a slow linebacker makes a fast lineman if he can make the switch.

If Stinson can make the switch and become part of the answer to Alabama’s pass rush, he will go from a reserve to a star immediately.   

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