Two Positives Seen Already

Discipline:

You can tell that the team is a better disciplined team and from what you can tell from the players, they like it. I have always told others that when you see a young child throwing a fit (crying and screaming) because they didn't get their way, that subconsciously they were screaming for discipline. They need it and even at an early age understand this principle. Note: this is true for adults as well. Our team has been screaming for it and now they are happy to have. This explains why the players are happy to have a coach who is "in our face every rep", "has a boot up our hind end's", etc... Do you think that Wallace Gilberry would have lost 15 pounds in the past 5 weeks if it had not been for Saban's 4th Quarter program? click here for an article from the Tuscaloosa News and here for another article from the Press Register.
The Offense:

To build a strong building, you must lay the proper foundation! The following excerpt is from an article by Christopher Walsh with the Tuscaloosa News about how the offense is starting to build it's foundation (click here for the entire article).

Few conclusions can be drawn from just two days of spring practice, with the team working out in helmets, shoulder pads and shorts under a warm sun. But three things are apparent:

1) As expected, Applewhite’s going to be very hands-on with the quarterbacks, with overall development the primary goal.

“I’ve always talked to quarterbacks about competing against the course like a golfer," Applewhite said. “You aren’t completing against other golfers, you’re trying to master the course. You have to worry about your game and getting your game better.

“If you’re worried about the next guy, did he complete a pass, did he not complete a pass, you’re not focusing on what’s important. For those guys, it’s about mastering the offense and not so much competing against one another."

2) Alabama’s offense will be try new things, experiment and be flexible.

For example, even though junior right tackle Chris Capps is being held out of contact drills, the biggest change on the offensive line hasn’t been in personnel, but in approach.

“We’re all learning both the right and left sides," Britt said. “Some people are learning tackle, some people are learning center. I’ve been learning both center and guard, to be prepared. We’re all sort of doing what Antoine [Caldwell] did last year."

Incidentally, during Tuesday’s individual drills, the top five linemen were Britt, Caldwell, sophomore Marlon Davis, freshman Andre Smith and sophomore B.J. Stabler.

The next five were all freshman: Evan Cardwell, Drew Davis, Mike Johnson, Taylor Pharr and David Ross.

3) With the rotating two-spot practice sessions, there’s a lot to get through.

“More up-tempo beat," junior wide receiver Matt Caddell said. “Everyone’s getting work and everybody as a whole, each individual is getting better, and our team is getting better as a whole."

Perhaps all the work has kept the players from looking over at their offensive coordinator, and having the thought that he’s close to the same age as some of their brothers.

But just like everything else with Saban’s team, it’s all about results.

“You’re given a job and you go do it," Applewhite said. “It’s as simple as that. You’re pleased, you’re driving hard, you’re excited about being in a place like Alabama, but you don’t reflect too much, there’s too much work in the meantime."