Alabama spring football: 3 takeaways from Kalen DeBoer's first A-Day
Alabama held the first A-Day of the Kalen DeBoer era on Saturday afternoon.
The exhibition game headlined a loaded slate of SEC spring games on Saturday, but was the only one to appear on ESPN. In the end, the offense defeated the defense 34-28. Like many spring games put on by other schools across the country, A-Day featured a unique scoring system.
Alabama is likely to have one of the best-attended spring games in the nation this year, as 72,358 people were in the stands to watch DeBoer’s first A-Day.
Here are 3 takeaways from the afternoon in Tuscaloosa:
Jalen Milroe showed improvement as a passer
One of the biggest questions facing Alabama this spring has been how Jalen Milroe would adjust to DeBoer’s pass-heavy scheme. Milroe had some limitations at times as a passer last season, and often had to do damage in the running game instead.
But on Saturday in the spring game, Milroe showed off some of his improvements as a passer. His best ball of the day was a cross-field throw to Germie Bernard, which ended up going for 50+ yards. Milroe hit Bernard in stride and allowed the talented wideout to make a play after the catch.
Here’s video of Milroe’s toss:
Making it look EASY!!@JalenMilroe ▶️ @oti_germie #RollTide pic.twitter.com/Su8a2ezSyw
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) April 13, 2024
Milroe’s growth will be crucial to the level of success that Alabama is capable of in 2024. In the spring game on Saturday, he showed as much as he could have to prove that he’s on the right track.
Bernard emerging as a top offensive weapon
Alabama will need to re-make its wide receiver room this offseason after losing top receivers Jermaine Burton and Isaiah Bond. Bernard is an early favorite to be one of Milroe’s top targets in 2024 given his performance on Saturday.
Bernard transferred to Alabama back in January after spending a season at Washington last year. He managed to go for over 400 yards a season ago with the Huskies despite playing behind a trio of elite wide receivers who will be playing on Sundays in the near future.
Bernard also caught a 30-yard pass from Milroe early in the game and is shaping up to be an effective deep-ball weapon in Alabama’s offense this season. Last year for Washington, he averaged 12.3 yards per reception.
Alabama’s defense struggled early, but rebounded late
The Alabama defense struggled in the 1st half, but rebounded well as the game went on. The Crimson Tide’s offense scored points (3 touchdowns and 1 field goal) on each of their first 4 possessions before the defense settled in.
One of the plays of the day for Alabama’s defense was made by true freshman defensive back Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. He picked off Austin Mack on 4th down in the end zone, but the pick was negated due to an offsides penalty. Still, it was a good sign of progress from a young defensive back that may be able to play for the Tide in 2024.
Alabama’s struggles against the first-team offense underscore some of the concerns the team is facing now that spring ball is over. DeBoer told reporters earlier this spring that the team will likely look to add a defensive back or two in the transfer portal in the spring.
The portal window is set to open on Monday. That will mark the first time that Alabama’s new coaching staff has been able to make full use of the portal since arriving in Tuscaloosa.
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“ Milroe showed off some of his improvements as a passer.”
He was 3-9 for 100yds. That sounds exactly like last year.
chirp chirp… Apparently this is a basketball school now.
And apparently Kirby has a chance to build on his one and only win against Bama now that Saban is gone.
Yep. Can’t change the past. It is over.
Yep. Can’t change the past. DeBor can sure work on the future.
? Don’t smoke weed kid.
Nothing wrong with weed. It’s great for $ex and listening to music.
I didn’t watch the game, but it is odd to say he showed improvement as a passer by going 3 for 9.
Certainly looked like the offense was superior but I did hear they kept the defense very generic to prevent giving other teams a look at the new defense. One thing looks sure, the two RBs are going to do well.
Yep, that’s your tale so I’ll let you tell it. Looked like the same vanilla generic defensive look that Michigan lit up to me. Now if you want to see real defense, go check out the UGa spring game.
Here…let me start your response for you donke…
I have no interest in watching other programs or visiting their articles. I’m a bammer and I will die a bammer reading and commenting only on bammer articles. Oh, and I don’t like oak trees…
Well LH, you tried very hard to stay away from Bama articles. Really thought you might be on your way to overcoming your affliction. Let me throw some gas on that affliction. 27-24 and 2023 SEC champions. If Michigan lit up the Bama defense then Bama really lit up the puppy defense. Welcome back and let’s restart your therapy at square one once again.
My takeaway is that the Vols aren’t very good
The spring game means nothing. It is a show/practice put on by the coaches, for the fans, and it allows you to see what they want you to see.
Coaches can get a look at the OL vs DL matchups and WR vs DB. Everything else is a very controlled environment. No information to make accurate predictions. A good day for the fans to get out and enjoy themselves.