March 12, 2008

Tuscaloosa, AL (UWIRE) -- The Alabama football team wrapped up its spring conditioning program Tuesday, and head coach Nick Saban met with members of the media to discuss the spring practice calendar and updates on player positions and health.

Scheduled to practice Thursday and Friday, the team will participate in two days of the 15-day regiment. The annual Pro Day will be held Wednesday, sandwiched between the end of the fourth-quarter program and the start of spring training.

"We just had a really good fourth-quarter program," Saban said. "We had about a month of really good effort by our players. We had greater results in terms of people's ability to sustain performance, conditioning and strength."

The team will hold 15 practices, including three scrimmages, over the course of the next month. The first two scrimmages will be held March 29 and April 5. The annual A-day game is set for April 12.

Player positions

Saban has not released a depth chart as of Wednesday. At this point in the process, he said, the chart is "still just an organizational, operational thing for [the coaches]."

"We want to give everybody an opportunity to compete," Saban said. "We expect everybody to want to compete. I really don't like it when players go on the field and think 'Well, I'm going to be third team no matter what I do.'

"We're more interested in the depth chart at the end of the spring ... than we are in what it is right now." Saban said.

While Saban said any spot on the field is up for grabs, he seemed to identify a few players whose starting positions are theirs to lose.

He referred to Andre Smith, Antoine Caldwell and Mike Johnson as the "anchors" of the offensive line. He added that Marlon Davis, Drew Davis and freshman David Ross will most likely battle in spring practice to "solidify that group."

"That's what spring practice is all about," Saban said, referring to position battles.

At quarterback, Saban gave two-year starter John Parker Wilson his vote of confidence.

"I think there is competition at every position," Saban said. "But John Parker is our quarterback until somebody beats him out."

On the defensive side of the ball, the Crimson Tide again looks much leaner, Saban said. Recent discipline and health problems have compounded the issue.

An already lean linebacker corps was stretched a little tighter recently with the indefinite suspension of starter Prince Hall. Ezekial Knight's medical condition will keep him out of spring practice.

"Defensively, we probably have a few more questions to get answered. We're very thin potentially. We were last year; we're going to be this year. There are probably a lot of opportunities for young people here," Saban said.

With Hall and Knight out, rising sophomore Rolando McClain has the most experience at the position of all the remaining players.

Saban said Jimmy Johns, previously a running back whom the coaching staff struggled to place last year, has been moved to weak-side linebacker to add depth.

"The fact that [Johns] demonstrated a bit of defensive temperament as a football player on special teams created the awareness that he might be able to play on defense," Saban said. "But he's got a long way to go in terms of knowledge, experience and learning how to play. He has some of the physical attributes that we're looking for. Hopefully he'll be able to make the kind of progress we'd like for him to make. I think the spring/fall is going to be a critical time for him."

Saban gave no specific timetable on Hall's return.

"He's got things he needs to do, and if he does those things well, that could affect how long he's suspended," Saban said.

Saban said he will not guess at whether incoming freshmen will be able to fill any holes on the depth chart.

"You're asking us to, in some kind of a way, have a crystal ball ... and that's impossible to do," Saban said. "It's a very hypothetical thing to try to do, and we can't speculate on that kind of stuff."

Player status updates

Freshmen Patrick Crump and Jeramie Griffin, who both had knee scopes in the off-season, will miss practice Thursday and Friday but should be fine for the rest of spring training, Saban said.

Freshman Luther Davis missed a couple weeks of the fourth-quarter program and will not participate in spring practice for personal reasons, Saban said.

Saban said the running backs group of Terry Grant, Glen Coffee and Roy Upchurch are all back in practice. Coffee will be participating in limited contact for a while, Saban said.

-- Jason Galloway contributed to this report.

(C) 2008 The Crimson White via UWIRE