Nick Saban sends an early message to Alabama players: Are there intangible red flags?

Let’s be honest about something for a moment: Alabama has enough talent to be considered the favorite for the national championship nearly every year. “One of the things that we want to see is individual players improve, improve their ability to play winning football fundamentals, but I also think we’re trying to develop some team dynamics, some team chemistry, looking for people who put the team first,” Saban said. Whether it be players becoming more concerned with individual goals over team accomplishments or players not being the best teammates to younger or less experienced players, it’s happened in the past, and Saban is concerned enough about it to address it in the spring when such issues could be easily hidden. But it’s kind of up to him as to how he wants to accept the role of leadership, how assertive he wants to be.” This isn’t a pick-on-Battle story because, again, it’s April, and he certainly isn’t the only one Saban and the coaching staff are looking toward to address any chemistry and intangible issues. But for him to address them so early in spring practice tells you that Saban is not pleased, and he’s looking for corrective measures to mold the 2021 team.