Having seven potential defensive draft picks comes with consequences.
That likely had some part in the offensive numbers witnessed in Saturday's A-Day game in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Offenses combined for 600-plus passing yards in a relative shootout won 27-24 by the first-team offense's Crimson squad.
It was a long way from the 7-3 final in last year's game featuring Jonathan Allen and Co. The defensive lineman who went on to be the national defensive player of the year was in Tuscaloosa for the offensive outburst.
"It was completely weird," Allen said with a slight grin Wednesday before the NFL draft in Philadelphia. "I had to leave at halftime. I couldn't take it. It was tough. I wanted to be out there so bad."
The teams combined for 38 first-half points as both Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa finished north of 300 passing yards. A year ago, it was Allen and the outside linebackers that wrecked any offensive life in an old-fashioned A-Day game. The game's only touchdown was scored by the second-team offense with 2:48 to play.
It took fewer than five minutes for the first one this year. Hurts had three passes for 50-plus yards before halftime on the first-flight defense.
"I didn't like all the scoring," Allen said. "I thought they were scoring too much, but as a defensive guy, I don't want to see no team score. I want to see zero-zero. So, I think the offense looked really good. A lot of new faces on the defense. It's going to be excited to see how they handle and what they do."
Former left tackle Cam Robinson was also on the sideline for the first half of Saturday's spring game.
All the offense wasn't so bad in his mind.
"They'll be fine ultimately," said Robinson, also in Philadelphia for Thursday night's NFL draft first round. "They have to keep the cycle going. They'll bring in new players each and every year. As long as the players keep the right mindset and as long as the players are work and ready to put in, they know what goes into it."
And Allen wasn't worried about the defense long term.
It's early in the regeneration process of a defense that was among the program's best in 2016. Allen promised he wasn't concerned.
"No, it's only the spring game so they have a lot of time," he said. "Not everybody is in. Not everybody was playing, so I understand. You have to keep it vanilla. You can't give away too many secrets. So, I wasn't too mad. We'll see in summer camp."