Brian Branch reveals how the Alabama secondary can improve this spring

Alabama brings back a big portion of its defensive production from last year and adds a talented group of incoming players headlined by former LSU cornerback Eli Ricks. With the same players on the field but some in new positions or new roles, safety Brian Branch believes the secondary can lead the way and help make the Crimson Tide defense more stout this season.

During player availability this week, Brian Branch spoke about the cohesiveness of the Alabama secondary and identified the key areas where the defense can improve during spring practice.

“I see some good things out of the new guys,” said Branch. “A lot of people are doing different positions and moving in lots of areas. I feel like once we continue to grow as a defense, and gel, the main thing is our chemistry. And I think once that keeps growing, then we’ll be a good defense.”

In his second season, Branch took a big step forward in the Alabama defense, playing in 13 games after appearing in just nine as a freshman. He has 82 career tackles wit hone interception and 16 pass deflections.

Nick Saban on Alabama spring practice

Last year, Alabama had a younger team, and Nick Saban knew that coming into spring practice. After some NFL Draft departures, he’s working to get this year’s roster ready for the fall, as well — and that’s why spring practice is so vital.

“I think spring practice is always important because you’re always trying to develop the young players on your team,” Saban told reporters after Alabama’s Pro Day. “Our circumstance here doesn’t seem to ever change. We’d have had nine starters back on offense and nine starters back on defense. Last year was kind of a young, developing team. You have six guys go out for the draft, so now you’ve got five starters back and seven on defense.

“So you’re still trying to develop young players who need to be able to step up and maybe play a little earlier than maybe you anticipated they would because of those circumstances. I think that’s always the case, and I think that’s always something that’s really, really important to us especially in the spring, especially with young players. I think it’s even more important that they can self-assess so that they understand what do they need to do after spring, over the summer and in fall camp to even take the next step in their development so that they have a better chance to be successful in the fall.”