Are you ready to get this thing started again? That's right! Spring practice starts today! It is a one day introductory practice and then the team will be off a week for spring break and then return for full speed practice before April 17th for the A-Day game that will be televised by ESPN.

If you thought last year was fun, I have a feeling that we are going to have a lot of fun learning about the 2010 edition of the Crimson Tide. The foundation of the 2010 team will be laid in the spring practice, especially with several freshmen reporting early to dissipate in the spring.

New star blue chip players like defensive back DeMarcus Milliner and John Fulton have a chance to step right into starting roles by undergoing early enrollment. The chance to learn the complex defensive playbook early should be very valuable to the team. Kareem Jackson did the very same thing as a young defensive back and started his freshman year. Coming out early this year for the draft in his junior year, his development early is the blueprint for success for young defensive backs trying to make a break into the Alabama defensive backfield. I look forward to see what those five-star players can do, but it has to be earned on the field... and spring practice is the perfect place to find out what they're "made of."

Other players are coming to the forefront that have been waiting in the wings. One of the redshirt players that has been highly anticipated in the Crimson Tide fan base is DJ Fluker. As if the offensive side of the ball wasn't already loaded enough, here comes the big man coming into play offensive tackle where All-American Mike Johnson left off. Granted, he will have to win it, but look at the tools that he has. Standing 6'7" and weighing at 350 pounds, he is a freak of nature physically. He was one of the crowning jewels of the national championship recruiting class of 2009. He sit out one year to redshirt and to prepare for this year. Look for him to make a big impact on offense. Can you imagine Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson (and possibly Eddie Lacy) running behind the offensive line that we have coming up this year?

The biggest question mark on this team is the defense. The defense loses 9 out of 11 starters. The impact will be tremendous; I do believe that the depth is like it has never been at Alabama since the Bear years. This year's recruiting class was heavy on defensive backs, and it couldn't have come at a better time. Also the players that we've already been playing in games will have valuable game experience. Alabama is stacked with fast physical linebackers in the defensive line rotation looks very strong with a powerful Marcell Dareus & Josh Chapman coming on. Be on the lookout for Kerry Murphy, a back flipping nosetackle. One place to look forward to is the return of Dont'a Hightower, the freshman sensation who hurt his knee this year. He will be back in the ball but will work out but not scrimmage with the team in the spring.

There will be invariably surprises this year in the spring just like every year. Last year it was Robbie Green coming out of obscurity to get regular playing time in the defensive backfield rotation. It will be this year's player to make a name for himself in the same fashion? Who knows? We should all know by the A-Day game.

Many people are picking Alabama to defend their national title this year. I say it all depends on the defense gels and the return of Dont'a Hightower. The offense will be fine as long as everybody stays healthy.

I hope you're looking forward to the 2010 edition of the Crimson Tide... I know I am!

Get a taste fof what it is like for the linebackers in Spring practice with Sal Sunseri:

Today is the day that the NFL scouts descend on Tuscaloosa to check out all the top football players leaving the Crimson Tide this year. With the wealth of talent that Alabama has coming out this year, expect a lot of NFL scouts to be taking plenty of notes.

If you thought that the Indianapolis NFL combine was the only workout that mattered, you would be wrong. In fact, this is very common for the NFL scouts to travel out to campuses for workouts to evaluate players in their own environment. Players love it because they get a second chance to prove themselves on their own turf.

Players will undergo a series of physical tests to determine if they show improvement over the existing workout results from the Indianapolis combine (if they where there). The only outgoing player who will miss Pro Day is star senior cornerback Javier Arenas. Arenas has been troubled by a hamstring injury that he suffered in the Indianapolis workouts. He is scheduled to do a private workout with NFL scouts prior to the draft. McClain decided not to be tested at the first NFL combine. Instead, he opted to be tested at Pro Day because of a reported hamstring that needed to heal.

Many NFL teams are high on the "Man child" McClain, who is huge and fast.  He is expected to have 4.5 speed in the 40 but one coach said it did not matter to him.  The 49ers coach Mike Singletary, who knows a little something about defense as an All-Pro linebacker of the Chicago Bears, says he would be "shocked" if Ro' McClain doen't have a "very good NFL career." 

All American OL MIke Johnson is expected to be a third-round draft and a solid offensive lineman for any team that picks him up.

Junior cornerback, Kareem Jackson, threw his hat into this year's NFL draft and was very impressive in the Indianapolis combine. He is expected to be a second round draft pick, yet may go late 1st round. He ran an impressive 4.48 40 yard dash and the buzz among scouts was that his interviews went very well. David Jeremiah, a former Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns scout said that "Kareem Jackson helped himself immensely," in the Indianapolis scouting combine.

Two players in fact ended up missing the Washington DC check this week because they were training for Pro Day. Those players include Terrence Cody and Rolando McClain.

Terrence Cody's weight will be a "big" thing today as the NFL scouts will see if the big guy was able to work off some of the extra luggage. He came into the Senior bowl game at 370 pounds. It is commonly thought that if Cody can weigh below 350 (and he was already down to 354 at the INdianapolis NFL combine) he could be on track for for the big money with a top 15 draft pick. The teams that will be interested in any are the ones that run the 3-4 formation on defense. Approximately half the NFL temas utilize this scheme.

There some other players that did not get an invite to the Indianapolis combine that will get the opportunity to prove their abilities today at Pro Day in Tuscaloosa. Those players include players like Marquise Johnson, Roy Upchurch, & Eryk Anders.

Most NFL draft experts are considering Rolando McClain the top draft pick from the Alabama team this year. He is projected to be anywhere between the fifth (Chiefs) and the 15th draft pick (Giants).

The NFL draft is set to be on April 22-24.

Here is video from a past Pro Day:

Watch this video below about the heart of this year's Alabama team on its road to winning #13.  The road wasn't easy but the Tide laid it all on the line to make this a year to remember forever. I have no doubt that we are the road to number 13 in the championship column.

You can see the determination, passion, dedication to excellence as you see players like

1. McCLain hitting Tim Tebow
2. Mark Barron laying his body horizonally for a pass deflection
3. Javier Arenas sacking the QB
4. Trent Richardson burning the hogs on a long run up the sideline.
5. Greg McElroy hopping up the sideline on a tightrope
6. Mount Cody blocking the Tennessee kicks

Isn't it good to be an Alabama fan? Roll Tide roll!

The offense seem to have an off day today but the defense took over the show in a dominating fashion. Allowing Ole Miss a minuscule 19 yards in the first half, Alabama's defense was nothing else but smothering to the Ole Miss offense so heralded in the off-season as a potential in national championship team. But on this day, Alabama put all the stops to rest and killed those dreams.

To me, this Alabama team looks as close to the 1992 national championship team as we have seen since that year. The balance of the Alabama team on offense coupled with a stifling defense that it's extremely hard to run on, the grind it out style of Bama is put numbers on the board and keeping the opponents down.

Jevan Snead found out today how stifling the pass defense of Alabama can be to an opposing quarterback when he passed for four interceptions and zero TDs.  He was rushed all day long as he tried to pass.  The Tide defense made him pay on just about every pass, even though there was not an official sack by the Tide defense.  In the second half he somewhat got into a passing rhythm, but Kareem Jackson and others intercepted in the break his heart and the hopes of the Ole Miss nation.

Alabama's offense had a rough time in the red zone punching it in for a touchdown on numerous occasions but Leigh Tiffin was solid going five for five on field goals.

Mark Ingram had a solid day run the ball for 172 yards and one TD jaunt for the highlight reel.

It's saying from the slow way that Alabama was meticulously handling the game plan and it had put forth that Ole Miss had a chance to come back, but nothing was further from the truth. Nick Saban had his most glowing reflection on a game all year when he said, "Probably the most complete team win we've had all year... We've got a good team. Our guys play hard and play well together." He went on to speak highly of his defense in the first half by saying," that's about as fine a defensive performance in the first half as I've been around for awhile"

Below are some highlights from ESPN on this fine Alabama Crimson Tide victory over the Ole Miss Rebels in Oxford, Mississippi.