The Alabama Crimson Tide held their second fall scrimmage this past weekend, offering fans and coaches another look at the team’s progress as the season opener approaches. While head coach Kalen DeBoer praised the strides made by the defense, he also acknowledged lingering concerns on special teams and highlighted areas of growth and opportunity across the roster. From promising freshmen to veterans under pressure, the scrimmage provided plenty of storylines as Alabama continues preparations for the 2025 campaign.
Defensively, Alabama showed marked improvement compared to the first scrimmage. DeBoer and his staff were particularly pleased with the unit’s energy, communication, and ability to disrupt offensive rhythm. The defensive line generated consistent pressure, forcing quarterbacks out of the pocket and limiting explosive plays downfield. Linebackers also looked sharper in their reads, closing gaps quickly and tackling with more authority. For a team that expects to lean on its defense early in the season while the offense adjusts to personnel changes, this progress is an encouraging sign.
One of the standout performers was freshman cornerback Dijon Lee. Despite being new to the program, Lee earned significant first-team reps during the scrimmage, reflecting the trust the coaching staff already has in his abilities. Long, athletic, and confident in man coverage, Lee brings a physical presence to the secondary that Alabama fans have been eager to see. His rapid development could be critical for a defense looking to match up against the SEC’s increasingly pass-heavy offenses. If Lee continues to perform at this level, he may establish himself as a cornerstone of the secondary much sooner than expected.
On the offensive side, the scrimmage revealed both promise and lingering issues. Wide receiver Cole Adams, expected to compete for a larger role this season, had a difficult outing with several drops in key moments. Consistency has been a point of emphasis for the receiving corps throughout camp, and Adams’ struggles underscored the need for reliability when games begin to count. DeBoer stressed after the scrimmage that the staff will continue to push for sharper execution from receivers, as Alabama’s offensive system relies heavily on timing and precision in the passing game.
Perhaps the most concerning area of the scrimmage came on special teams, particularly in the kicking game. Alabama is breaking in new players at kicker, punter, and long snapper, and the lack of stability was evident once again. Missed field goals, erratic punts, and timing issues on snaps have raised legitimate concerns with just weeks remaining before the season opener. DeBoer did not shy away from the issue, noting that the unit has to improve quickly to avoid costly mistakes in close games. Given the SEC’s reputation for tightly contested matchups, reliable special teams play could be the difference between playoff contention and frustration.
While challenges remain, DeBoer emphasized that the second scrimmage was an important step in the team’s growth. The defense looks sharper, younger players like Dijon Lee are emerging, and the offense continues to fine-tune its rhythm under coordinator Ryan Grubb. At the same time, questions at wide receiver and special teams provide clear areas of focus for the coming weeks. For Alabama, the scrimmage was both a reminder of progress made and a reality check about the work still left to do before the 2025 season begins.
