ROGERS COLUMN: Cleaning out the Alabama notebook before Media Days

Clearing out the notebook in advance of this week’s SEC Media Days in Birmingham …

Summing up spring
Alabama coach Nick Saban said he was “very pleased with the progress our team has made this spring.”

The Crimson Tide must replace three-year starter John Parker Wilson at quarterback, three starters — including All-Americans Andre Smith at left tackle and Antoine Caldwell at center — on the offensive line and standout free safety Rashad Johnson. Leading rusher Glen Coffee, like Smith, left early for the NFL.

But the aura of optimism around the program, enhanced by another stellar recruiting season, is palpable. Nine starters plus rotating defensive end Lorenzo Washington are back on defense. All three specialists — placekicker Leigh Tiffin, punter P.J. Fitzgerald and return man Javier Arenas — return. SEC Freshman of the Year Julio Jones leads a receiving corps that is expected to be vastly improved.

“We had a lot of chances for our young players to develop,” Saban said. “We think that’s the most important thing, is to create improvement with the players that you have on your team, especially the young players.”

Injury updates
Three players were held out of the spring game. Sophomore running back Mark Ingram had a hamstring injury, senior running back Roy Upchurch is coming off neck surgery and wide receiver Earl Alexander is coming back from shoulder surgery. In addition, tight end Colin Peek, a transfer from Georgia Tech, has been slowed with a foot injury.

Over the limit
There are two “problems” with signing great talent. First, having enough scholarships to go around. Second, keeping everybody happy. The Tide has some problems with both.

The Birmingham News is reporting that starting jack linebacker Brandon Fanney will transfer. Fanney was suspended with inside linebacker Prince Hall for most of the spring for undisclosed reasons. He did play briefly in the spring game. Hall is gone.

Fanney’s exit gets the Tide closer to it scholarship limit.

Chris Jackson and Alonzo Lawrence are already considering transfers, according to the Press-Register of Mobile. The numbers will work themselves out by the time Alabama reports for fall practice on Aug. 6.

“Two things that I think are the most important to us having a good football team are developing the players that we have on the team as people, students and as football players and working hard at what we do to bring players to our team, which is basically recruiting,” Saban said this spring.

Lessons from Utah
OK, his memorable rant putting part of the Sugar Bowl loss on the fans aside, Saban hasn’t dwelt on the loss to Utah specifically.

Instead, he uses it an example of what happens when mental preparation doesn’t meet the physical preparation.

“I talked a lot about energy, enthusiasm, positive attitude, passion to play being important factors in playing well,” Saban said when asked about his message to the players. “Our team did a good job of that for 13 games last year. In the last game we really didn’t have the same intensity as a team, which comes from that positive energy and passion. It’s a good lesson for our players to learn from and build from and understand how important that is to playing with consistency.”

McElroy out front
The coach has gone out of his way to avoid handing the quarterback job to Greg McElroy. Instead, the Texan has all but won it himself.

“He’s smart, makes good decisions, has good anticipation, has a good understanding of the offense,” Saban said. “He’s done a nice job for us. The other two guys, Star Jackson and (Thomas) Darrah, are both young players who have learned a lot and made a lot of progress. Their continued development is going to be important to the future of the program.”

Ken Rogers covers Alabama sports for the Dothan Eagle.