Alabama Spring Game: Turnovers Plague Crimson Tide Offense; Nick Saban Unhappy
By Josh Sanchez
Spring games are often used around the nation to get a glimpse of your roster and see how players will be able to perform in game situations. For the Alabama Crimson Tide, they already know they have a team that is capable of playing at a high level and winning a national championship, but their spring game did not go as planned. In fact, it left head coach Nick Saban very unhappy.
Alabama’s offense was plagued by turnover after turnover.
Starting quarterback AJ McCarron threw two interceptions during the game and had a third called back. Back up quarterbacks Blake Sims and Cooper Batemen each launched two interceptions of their own. It isn’t the type of performance that gives your coach confidence as you are preparing for a three-peat.
“The biggest thing I was concerned about was how the team would go out there and what would be their energy, their enthusiasm, and their attention to detail,” Saban said in quotes that were distributed by the university. “I don’t think that there were enough guys that answered that question in a positive way to my liking. But I’m never satisfied.
“We’re not there yet. That’s why we have all these practices, that’s why we have all the work we need to do.”
To be fair to Alabama, it is just an exhibition game.
Players are constantly coming in and out of the game and it is hard to get into any sort of rhythm. McCarron summed up the performance perfectly with his quote.
He said, “This is like playing in an all-star game. You don’t get in a rhythm. It’s not a real game, but it’s fun to go out there and try to make plays happen, and do some trick plays.”
While the turnover filled spring game isn’t what Saban and the Alabama fans would have liked to see, there is no reason for anyone to panic. There is still plenty of time to prepare for the upcoming season and there is no reason to believe the Crimson Tide won’t be a mainstay atop the college football rankings.