Alabama’s offensive line is in flux as spring practice continues.
How beneficial is spring practice for an offensive line that is missing key pieces?
The Alabama Crimson Tide football program will conclude spring practice this week with its annual A-Day scrimmage. The Monday edition of “The Joe Gaither Show on BamaCentral” examines Alabama’s second spring scrimmage, which took place this past Saturday, as well as some of the offensive line movements.
First and foremost, Washington transfer. Parker Brailsford is still not participating in spring practice while he adjusts to Tuscaloosa. Head coach Kalen DeBoer stated that his absence was not related to football, and that he did not anticipate him to leave the program. However, it raises questions in the center of Alabama’s offensive line.
Is James Brockermeyer ready to start at center for an SEC championship contender? If Brockermeyer does not start and Brailsford does, what is the point of these spring practices if they will not carry over into the fall?
The program continues on the offensive line with a discussion of Elijah Pritchett and Wilkin Formby. The two allegedly started at left and right tackle in the scrimmage, but the Crimson Tide also expects Kadyn Proctor to return for the upcoming season.
What will happen to Pritchett? Will he earn and hold the starting left tackle position, or will he be pushed to the bench when Proctor returns? Also, is Pritchett a better tackle than Formby? Should the Tide’s current left tackle go to the right side when Proctor returns so that both can play?
The final offensive line problem occurred on Saturday, when Jaeden Roberts suffered an injury. Alabama’s starting right guard left the field on crutches, but DeBoer dismissed the injury as minor. Roberts’ mother used social media over the weekend to describe the injury as a simple ankle twist.
If Alabama’s offensive line will look radically different in the fall when real games are played, how helpful are spring practices?
How important is spring practice for Alabama’s offensive line when the starting five will most likely be very different in the fall?
