ONLINE EXTRA: TIDE NOTEBOOK: Wilson more in sync with new receivers
Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson, perhaps giving an indication of problems with receivers in 2007, said he has been impressed with the work ethic and chemistry of the receivers this spring.
"I think everybody is responding well to me and me to them," he said. "I think we have a good relationship. We can say anything we need to say and nobody gets their feelings hurt."
And while everyone has been impressed with the spring performance of redshirt freshman Darius Hanks, John Parker Wilson said first-team receivers Mike McCoy and Earl Alexander are the leaders of the group.
"Mike and Earl are the older guys out of the group so everybody kind of looks up to them," he said. "I think it's a good group of guys. Everybody works hard and wants to get better every day."
Center Antoine Caldwell agreed.
"I feel like this might be the best team I've been around since I've been around here," he said. "Not taking anything away from DJ (Hall) and Keith (Brown) (but) we've got a lot of talented guys like Darius Hanks. We probably have some of the best hands I've seen since I've been here, a lot of guys just stepping up, competing for jobs, making the whole offense better."
Taking precautions
One receiver who has struggled with hamstring injuries throughout his career is fifth-year senior Will Oakley, who has tried to remain on the practice field despite recurring injuries that have threatened to sideline him on more than one occasion this spring.
"It was hamstrings, always the hamstrings," he said. "Ever since my freshman and sophomore year, it's been nagging. I've got one more year, so I just want to stay healthy and make the best of it. I'm only taking one class that I have to have to graduate and I don't have any class on practice days so I'm able to come up here all day and get treatment to make sure I'm stretched out really good."
Missing person
Medical issues with "sam" (strongside) linebacker Zeke Knight and the indefinite suspension of "will" (weakside) linebacker Prince Hall leave "mike" (middle) linebacker Rolando McClain as the only experienced linebacker on Alabama's team.
"I miss Prince Hall every day," McClain said. "I don't know about his off-the-field actions, but on the field and what I know him as a person, he's a great guy to me. When I first got here, he told me a lot of things. He was always in my ear, what to do, he and Darren Mustin both, trying to help me. I miss him every day."
Hall, whose bio is not included in the spring media guide, started five games last season, including one against Houston in which Mustin and Hall started together and McClain spent the day on the sideline.
"I felt like every day was just a learning experience for me," McClain said. "I knew that I had to get better each week and things were tough, but at the same time, I had great coaches to help me.
"The Houston week, it wasn't a situation where things were too tough for me, but it was easier for Prince. So it felt like it was his time to step up a little because I was having a little problem learning the defense a little bit."
Around the corner
Sophomore cornerback Kareem Jackson, who started 12 of 13 games last year to earn Southeastern Conference all-freshman honors, feels like a leader on the defense even though he rarely played defense at Westside High in Macon, Ga.
Jackson was a running back in high school who was converted to defensive back at Fork Union Military Academy in 2006.
"I'm still really getting used to the corner thing," Jackson said, "so it will kind of be like my second year playing corner."
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