Alabama’s first full week of spring practice ended on as sour of a note as imaginable. Geno Smith and Jonathan Taylor were arrested in separate incidents, and Nick Saban immediately dismissed Taylor from the team. On top of that, sophomore wide receiver Cam Sims tore an ACL, putting him on the shelf for potentially the entire 2015 season.

Related: Moving forward after a bad weekend in Tuscaloosa

It’s not all bad, though. There are several developments Alabama can be pleased with from its first week back from spring break, things that point to success to come in 2015.

1. Derrick Henry looks fantastic — Nick Saban has been talking endlessly about Henry since the Tide returned from spring break. To hear Saban gush about a player in the way he’s been talking about Henry provides good reason to believe the rising junior is ready to become a full-fledged superstar in his first year as the lead back in Alabama’s offense (although Henry did lead Alabama in rushing with 990 yards in 2014). Saban has praised Henry’s work ethic, both in the weight room and on the practice field, and Henry has even tacked on some weight to his massive frame, apparently without losing any of his speed. With the losses Alabama has to weather in the passing game, with last year’s quarterback and top three receivers all departed, it’s reasonable to think the Tide will lean on the running game a bit more in 2015 than they did in 2014. If Henry can dominate SEC competition the way he’s been owning Alabama’s practices, it won’t be a surprise to hear his name in the Heisman conversation.

2. Kenyan Drake is healthy — Drake was on the verge of a breakout campaign in 2014 before a gruesome broken leg against Ole Miss ended his season. Drake was already running this past winter, but now he’s on the field and it looks like he’ll hold down a major role in Alabama’s offense. Coaches have talked about packages involving both Henry and Drake, saying they trust both in pass protection. Drake has also spent time working with the wide receivers, an indication that he could be a major threat in Alabama’s rebuilt passing offense this fall. With the loss of Amari Cooper, Alabama will spend the spring and summer searching for a new dynamic weapon to stretch defenses. While there are a host of talented receivers ready to step up out wide (although their numbers are down with Sims’ injury) none possess the versatility that Drake does.

3. There is plenty of competition at cornerback — Unlike at safety, both of Alabama’s starting cornerbacks from 2014 return. One of those returning starters, Cyrus Jones, is a very good bet to start once again in 2015. However, Jones will miss all of spring practice as he recovers from a hip injury. While having Jones on the sideline isn’t ideal, it’s opened up plenty of reps to figure out his opposite starter. Saban has specifically said that Eddie Jackson, who started about half of last season opposite Jones, needs to improve after allowing too many deep completions last fall. This spring, Jackson is being pushed by rising sophomore Tony Brown, who has stepped up to take first team reps with Jones out. Bradly Sylve, who spelled Jackson at times last year, has been playing on the second team with redshirt freshman Marlon Humphrey, a five-star recruit from 2014. Regardless of who ends up starting across from Jones, Alabama is developing depth at the position that it didn’t have last season.