Alabama spring grade out: Special teams

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* Alabama spring grade out: Defensive backs

Special teams

Alabama finished its spring camp last month revealing an early preview of what to expect in the coming season. We will break down each position, sharing what we saw and what to expect for this year. Today we conclude our spring evaluations with the special teams positions.

Biggest thing we learned: Place kicking might be a two-person job

It’s worked in the past, and Alabama head coach Nick Saban might need it to work again this year. Replacing departing kicker Adam Griffith might be a two-person job, as Saban alluded to using a pair of kickers for field goal attempts this season. Fortunately for the Crimson Tide, that's a model it has had success with in the past.

With blueshirt freshman Joseph Bulovas not yet on campus, Alabama lined up walk-on kicker Andy Pappanatos and punter JK Scott on field goal duties. The makeshift duo didn’t provide much confidence with their performance, but the use of two kickers revealed Saban’s plan at the position moving forward.

“The competition there is we have a guy that is pretty accurate that doesn't have a real strong leg and we have a guy who has a really strong leg that can kick long field goals,” Saban said during the spring. “We’re going to have more of a situation like we had with Jeremy Shelley in years past where he kicked the short ones and someone kicked the long ones. I’m comfortable with that situation with those two guys. Do we need to improve that? Yeah, but I think everyone can improve at every position. But I also think the completion that’s coming in may enhance that as well.”

During the A-Day scrimmage, Scott was brought on for the game’s longest field goal while Pappanastos attempted two field goals within 40 yards. Whether or not that changes with the emergence of Bulovas is yet to be seen. Although, it is worth noting kicking duos have delivered results for the Tide in the past

During back-to-back national championship seasons in 2011 and 2012, Alabama used Jeremy Shelley for short field goals while bringing in Cade Foster for longer attempts. Shelley made 21 of 27 attempts (77.8 percent) in 2011 and was a perfect 11-for-11 in 2012, while Foster made 2 of 7 (22. 2 percent) in 2011 and 4 of 9 (44.4 percent) in 2012.

Biggest spring concern: Alabama struggles on field goals

While Scott’s game-winning field goal handed the Crimson team a 27-24 win on A-Day, Alabama’s special teams left much to be desired on the afternoon.

Scott’s game-winner from 30 yards out was one of three field goals he made on the afternoon but came after a 45-yard miss which would have given the White team a late lead. He performed far better than Pappanastos, who missed both of his two attempts on the day from 31 and 38 yards respectively. All in all, Alabama was 3 of 6 with no field goals of 40 yards or more.

Biggest spring surprise: JK Scott can kick in an emergency

Scott is far from the ideal option at placekicker, but his ability to step up in spot duty is encouraging for Alabama. The former three-star recruit kicked and punted during high school and was rated as the No. 4 kicker in the 2014 class.

“I’ll do whatever the coaches want me to do,” Scott said after the A-Day game. “Definitely, I can see myself doing it. I like the busyness of it because one of the problems of being a punter is you have to worry about being warmed up. So, if you’re kicking more then you don’t have to worry about that problem so much.”

On top of his punting duties, Scott will also take over the kickoff role next season. While Griffith handled the bulk of the kickoff duties last year, Scott came on nine times, averaging 62.33 yards per kick including four touchbacks.

“This year is the first year I’ve been able to really train to work on all three,” Scott said. “My kickoffs, I’ve been able to spend a good time working on those, and I will continue to progress into the summer.”

Looking ahead: Plenty of pressure on incoming freshman Joseph Bulovas

One of Alabama’s most highly anticipated summer arrivals, Bulovas will step on campus next week with plenty of weight on his shoulders. As inconsistent as the Tide’s kicking game was this spring, the three-star kicker has been viewed by many as a silver lining at the position. Bulovas is rated as the No. 1 kicker in the nation and has range from 70 yards out, according to a post on his Twitter account.

“He’s one of those kids you knew right away,” said Chris Sailor of ChrisSailiorKicking.com. “He stands out physically, he’s extremely athletic. Then as soon as he hit his first ball, the power, control, natural swing and ability were obvious. He was really one of those kids, it was obvious he’d be a top prospect down the road.”

The freshman is the latest in a line of high-rated kickers to arrive at Alabama and will look to provide the stability the Tide has been lacking at the position in recent years. Outside of Shelley’s short-range role, the last time Alabama had a kicker who made at least 80 percent of his field goals was in 2009 when Leigh Tiffin connected on 30 of 35 tries en route to being a finalist for the Lou Groza Award.

That might be a lot to ask for a true freshman. However, anything close to those numbers would make the Mandeville, La. native a much-welcomed addition.

“He competed with all the top guys in the country and didn’t miss a kick,” Sailor said. “There was yelling, cheering and a lot on the line. He made kicks from big distances that looked like he was just practicing. I’ve just seen the kid be too successful too often to think that he’d crumble under pressure.”

Outside of the kicking game, Alabama should have plenty of options in the return game. Summer arrival Henry Ruggs is fresh off of recording a state record 10.58 time in the 100-yard dash and offers shifty speed at both kick return and punt return.

Junior Xavian Marks had three kick returns for 85 yards during the A-Day game, while early enrollee Najee Harris returned two kicks for 43 yards. Sophomore Trevon Diggs is also an option in both kick return and punt return.

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