Other plausible explanations are a bit more concerning. Here are a few that come to mind:
1. The coaches are still searching for a replacement for AJ McCarron and the most likely candidate drove in from Tallahassee to watch the game from the sidelines.
2. The defensive line has improved since last January's Sugar Bowl fiasco.
3. The offensive line has not.
4. The offensive play-calling was purposefully vanilla.
5. The kickers spent the entire spring concentrating on academics.
There were some bright spots. Tony Brown plays fast and hits hard. The threat of Robert Foster and Amari Cooper being on the field at the same time is going to cause defensive coordinators across the conference many sleepless nights. Jonathan Allen is a force of nature. And those were not all. Some of the end-of-spring awards are noteworthy: The Dwight Stephenson Lineman of the A-Day Game: D.J. Pettway and Jonathan Allen; Dixie Howell MVP: T. J. Yeldon; Lee Roy Jordan Headhunter Award: Jalston Fowler and Reggie Ragland; and (my personal favorite) Jerry Duncan "I Like To Practice" Award: Chris Black, Pettway, Bradley Sylve and Nick Perry.
People say that statistics in spring games don't really mean anything. Here is Cecil Hurt on the QB stats: "Final QB numbers: Bateman 11-24-0, 156; Sims, 13-30-2, 178. Coker, an easy par-3 and back to the clubhouse." One of Sims' interceptions-returned by Pettway in the third quarter for the game's first points-was an ugly thing that he side-armed under pressure right into Pettway's hands behind the line of scrimmage. That turnover was perhaps even more depressing than Kenyan Drake's lost fumble at his own 6 yard line.
Before he coughed up the ball, Drake was having a great day. He ran hard, broke tackles, and really competed. On one short-yardage play in the first half, he was hit squarely in the hole by an unblocked Reuben Foster. The impact knocked him back at least a full yard, but Drake kept his balance, broke free from Foster's hold on his right foot, and carried two other would-be tacklers for the needed yardage to earn the first down.
I could not find Drake's name in the awards list. Perhaps Marc Torrence can tell us how he is responding to what must be a disappointing finish to an otherwise good day.
Tradition requires that grades be awarded. So here's how I grade the A-Day Game:
Offense: Incomplete. The quarterback competition is just now beginning, and from my perspective it is between Cooper Bateman and Jacob Corker.
Defense: Incomplete. I like what the defense brought to the game, and judging from his post-game comments, I think Coach Saban did as well.
Special Teams: F Come on, people! Either we develop a place kicker starting right now, or we just decide to run a play on 4th down whenever the line of scrimmage is between the opposing team's 30 and the 3.
Coaching: Incomplete. For all the reasons listed above.
Fans: B The official attendance-73,500-is down a bit from the Saban-era A-Day average, but the number of people who showed up to watch a scrimmage in Tuscaloosa was 6,000 more than the largest crowd ever to attend a Tennessee Titans game....or for that matter, any Music City Bowl....ever played.
The 2014 home football schedule is going to be a good one. Florida, TAMU, Miss State and the Barn all come to Tuscaloosa.....I won't see you at all of those games.....but we will all be together in spirit as the Tide once again heads down the Road To Number 16!
Have a joyous Easter. For readers still at the Capstone: study hard and good luck on exams!
Roll Tide, y'all......
The Commissioner
