Scrimmage Dispatch: Stephen Smith's Notes

First Scrimmage Recap: Bo Scarbrough and ArDarius Stewart both stand-outs

After two hours of work at Bryant-Denny Stadium, Alabama coach Nick Saban spoke to the press Saturday to give his thoughts on the first scrimmage.

He provided stats on nine players, five of which were on offense:

• Running back Bo Scarbrough and wide receiver ArDarius Stewart both stood out, accounting for solid performances against a defense that forced some turnovers.
  
• Scarbrough, a sophomore, led all backs in rushing with 132 yards and three touchdowns on nine carries. He anticipates being the featured runner next season, but Saban did say there are some things he needs to improve on. The 6-foot-2, 230-pounder rushed for 104 yards last season.

"He is certainly capable of doing the things that we need him to do," Saban said on Scarbrough. "Part of it is having knowledge, confidence, experience and knowing what he's supposed to do and how to do it. When he understands these things, he is very effective."

• Stewart, a redshirt junior, is fresh off a 2015 campaign in which he totaled 63 catches for 700 yards and four touchdowns.
  
• He came to work Saturday and it paid off with a team-high seven receptions for 100 yards and two touchdowns.
  

Saban said "Stewart made a couple of big plays."

Both Scarbrough and Stewart will be critical names to keep tabs on in the fall; however, Saban said the first scrimmage was more so about getting players experience and knowledge of what's going on.

Alabama did a lot of rotating with its quarterbacks, which altered the continuity. "The number one thing about this is it really doesn't matter about the result that anybody got out there," Saban said. "It's about knowing your goals, what sacrifices you need to make, who you need to work with, are you going to make the right decisions in being the best that you can be and create the right habits so that you can go out there and play winning football."

The Crimson Tide has resumed practice this week in preparations for its second scrimmage on Saturday, April 9. Its A-Day game is set for April 16 at 2:00 p.m. at Bryant-Denny Stadium.