Tide Tidbits – April 8, 2009

Is There a Real Danger in Unrealistic Expections at Alabama?
In recent days Saban has been sounding a warning about the team’s expectations. “Anything that we did last year does nothing but put a target on our back for what this team needs to get prepared for,” Saban said. “I doubt before last season anybody had Alabama as one of the teams to beat to win the West, SEC or whatever. I think everybody will have Alabama as a team to beat this year. With that goes responsibility and obligation of our team to have a higher expectation of what we expect of ourselves. Do I see that happening? Do I think we have a cultural problem here in terms of expectation and all that stuff? Absolutely. I love our fans, I think we have the best fans in the world, but we have an issue with that.”

Defense redefines roles
Shadowing Alabama’s excitement over returning nine defensive starters this year is the lingering memory of one of those two departing seniors. How valuable was All-American free safety Rashad Johnson? So much that it’s essentially taking at least two players to try to replace him. The Crimson Tide’s defense is employing a left and a right safety — as opposed to the typical distinctions of “free” and “strong” safety — to allow each safety to learn both positions in an effort to fill in for what Johnson offered on every play. Other similar articles:

• Alabama football notebook
• Replacing Rashad Johnson … and what it means for Alabama’s ’09 defense

Receiver Ronald Carswell of Georgia is Alabama’s seventh commitment
A few minutes ago, the Crimson Tide just got its fourth commitment of the month. Ronald Carswell, a receiver from Macon, Ga., has informed the UA staff that he’s committed for the 2010 signing class. A 6-foot, 180-pounder, Carswell gained more than 600 yards receiving for Westside High, which was undefeated in the regular season. Other similar articles:

• Tide gets commitment from Carswell
• WR Ronald Carswell becomes the fourth Alabama pledge in the past week

McClain, Cody named to Lott Trophy watch list
University of Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain and nose guard Terrence Cody have been named to the 2009 Lott Trophy Watch List. McClain, who will be a junior in the 2009 season, and Cody, who will be a senior, were part of a defense that ranked second nationally against the run last season. They are among 42 players announced to the watch list at a luncheon in Newport Beach, Calif., on Tuesday. The Lott Trophy, named after Hall of Fame player Ronnie Lott, takes into account the characteristics of integrity, maturity, performance, academics, community and tenacity.

Former Browns GM Phil Savage will be a radio analyst for Alabama’s A-Day…
Former Cleveland Browns General Manager Phil Savage is coming back to his roots. Savage, who began his career as a graduate assistant at Alabama, will be the color analyst for the A-Day radio broadcast, Crimson Tide Sports Marketing general manager Jim Carabin told The Birmingham News. Savage will work alongside play-by-play announcer Eli Gold for the April 18 game at 2 p.m. that will be broadcast on TV by ESPN. Barry Krauss will report from the sidelines.

Alabama Spring Camp: Reviewing the First 10 Practices of 2009 (Offense)
After following several decades of Alabama spring camp, I’ve been shocked very few times. This spring very well may make the one of the largest shocks I’ve experienced considering the pre-conceptions I had going in to the first practice close to three weeks ago. Some of the news has been expected. Some of it, well, dull, if it is even possible that football news could be described in such a manner. I fully expected the battle for the starting role at quarterback to be one we really didn’t have a clear cut answer for until we found ourselves emerged in fall practice. But, evidenced by Coach Saban’s remarks during his press conference last week, this anticipated battle may not even qualify as a skirmish.

Alabama, Mississippi State, Tennessee finally scrimmage
While South Carolina has scheduled its annual college football spring game for Saturday, April 11, three of its Southeastern Conference rivals just recently completed their first scrimmages. Alabama, Mississippi State and Tennessee finally showcased what they’ve been working on; typical of the spring, everything appears to look good so far.

Roll Tide!

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