Many things are associated with spring time, but for Alabama fans one can only think of three aspects: unpredictable weather, daylight savings time and Nick Saban’s need to experiment.
To pair with the six injuries it has, Saban is performing his annual ritual of locating the best players at each position. In recent years, he’s either flipped guys to different spots to increase depth or move someone to a different role because of higher possibilities to get drafted.
Alabama kicked off its first spring practice on Tuesday and prior to social media having a near panic attack over Tua Tagovailoa’s thumb injury, fans were shocked to get information on sophomore wide receiver Devonta Smith spending part of the practice with cornerbacks.
Smith, who averaged 22.3 yards per catch last season, totaled three touchdown receptions as a freshman – including two game winners. He snatched a 26-yard slant pass from Jalen Hurts against Mississippi State in a 31-24 win, while being on the receiving end of a 41-yard score from Tagovailoa versus Georgia in the College Football Playoff title game for a 26-23 win.
Saban has experimented with multiple players in the secondary.
During the tenures of Christian Jones and Cyrus Jones, he taught both guys how to play defensive back (Cyrus was flipped to CB in 2013). Blake Sims was moved around a lot, getting looks at running back, wide receiver, defensive back and quarterback before he graduated.
Even Cooper Bateman (no longer at Alabama) had that weird experiment at receiver, after turning in a 40-time of 4.59 seconds in spring testing. Just because Saban is a mad scientist or bartender that loves to provoke your emotions in the spring, it doesn’t mean the moves are final.
“He can play corner, but that’s not our plan for him,” Saban said of Smith.
“We don’t have enough guys in the secondary right now. We recruited some good players and hopefully they will come in the fall, but they are not here this spring. Saivion [Smith] is the only guy that is here. Smith works individually with corners and then plays receiver the rest of practice.”
Ross Pierschbacher is another starter looked at in a different spot.
Despite starting 42 games at left guard, he was at center on Tuesday. The Iowa native earned a look at center two years ago and held the position deep into fall camp, until he was unseated by Bradley Bozeman a week before the Crimson Tide’s season opener against Southern California.
“This will not be the first experiment we’ll have on the offensive line in terms of who plays where,” Saban said. “The goal is to get the best five players on the field and we may experiment with someone else at center at some point as well.”
The play of Alex Leatherwood in the national title game and potential of Jedrick Wills has both individuals in the mix for starting jobs too. Saban discussed how he really likes both players and can possibly see both at left tackle or Wills playing elsewhere on the line. And then, there is Jonah Williams. The two-year starter at offensive tackle could very well remain on the left side or be switched elsewhere. One thing for certain is that Saban wants to field a team that gives Alabama the best chance of winning a championship, and he’s been success at it five times.
Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
