Alabama opened its 2008 spring practice on Thursday, March 13. They’ll work the following Friday, and then reconvene after spring break. The following is a preview, written by a typical avid fan and “sidewalk alum”, myself. I apparently had nothing better to do, and could think of nothing else to post on my newly created blog. Anyway, this is how I see each position break down.

Why I’m stoked-

John Parker Wilson returns as a senior starter with 2 full seasons of starting experience behind him. Despite being one of the most maligned Crimson Tide players in recent memory, all the guy has done is break every major single season Alabama passing record each of the two years he has started. When he’s on, he can be as effective passing the ball as any player in the conference. He’s a tough player with decent mobility. If given the right coaching, he could be the best quarterback in the SEC this year not named Tebow or Stafford.

Why I’m not quite ready to book a hotel room in Atlanta for the 1st weekend in December just yet-

.493 is an excellent percentage- If you’re talking about hitting a baseball or shooting from the 3-point line. As a starting QB? Not so much. .493 was Wilson’s total completion percentage in Alabama’s 6 losses last season. In only two of those losses (FSU and Louisiana Monroe) did he pass for over 50%. Clearly, this is an area of Wilson’s game that must be improved upon if the Tide is going to do well this year.

It’s very clear that Wilson took a step back last year when a lot of folks were looking for him to make “the jump” to a big time performer in 2007. The reason why, however was not so clear. If it was coaching, then that problem has hopefully been remedied with the hiring of new offensive coordinator Jim McElwain. Alabama fans are hopeful that he can rekindle the performance in Wilson that ex-Alabama Head Coach Mike Shula, a very underrated QB position coach, was able to sustain.

Also, Wilson must learn his 3rd different offense in as many years without the benefit of his top three receivers from last year. Unless the NCAA inexplicably allows Alabama to dress every offensive skill player in the #22 (which seems unlikely to happen- even though we can all agree the NCAA owes us one), Wilson will be forced to break old habits of locking on to his favorite receiver on most pass plays. That is, of course, until Julio Jones gets to campus. Then all bets are off.

Overall Impression-

Despite the opinion of many moderately uninformed Alabama fans, John Parker Wilson is the best QB on the team. Many of the fans clamoring for McElroy or Fanuzzi couldn’t pick these guys out of a police line-up (I will refrain from making a joke about Alabama’s recent off the field troubles here). For Alabama to be successful, Wilson must be more consistent, make better decisions on the field, and take better care of the football. In other words, he needs to stop being the opposing quarterback on some other team’s “Pontiac Game Changing Play.”

Why I’m Stoked-

During the early part of the 2007, there was a freshman running back who was setting the conference on fire. Strangely enough, the back was not Knowshon Moreno, but rather Terry Grant. It’s been said that dynamite comes in small packages, and that was certainly t