With the NCAA’s approval of helmet communication for all FBS schools beginning this fall, Alabama football is in full effect with the new technology as it prepares for the 2024 season.
With the helmet communication system, five players will be selected to have coach-to-player communication per game, with only one helmet with the device being allowed on the field at a time. A green dot will be displayed on the back of the helmet with the device to help officials identify which players are connected with sideline communication.
The communication will be one-sided, with only coaches being able to talk to players and players being unable to respond back. The coaches will be equipped with a radio allowing them to speak with players throughout the game, but not during plays. One coach will be able to speak with a player at a time. The communication will be shut off with 15 seconds remaining on the play clock or with the snap of the ball.
The Crimson Tide first got a taste of this helmet communication through spring practices and have continued to do so through the fall. Quarterback Jalen Milroe will likely be the player with green dot duties on offense while linebacker Deontae Lawson will likely assume the role on defense.
“It’s going pretty well right now,” Lawson said during fall camp. “I had it in the spring, so I tried to get all my difficulties out in the spring. In fall camp, it’s gone good.”
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Alabama held its first scrimmage of fall camp last Saturday, getting its first taste of game-like experience using helmet communication. When asked about the helmet communication system on Tuesday, defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said it will be a “cat and mouse game.”
“You could write a book on the headset communication and how different it is from where we were with signaling to where we are now. I think you’re going to see all things over the spectrum,” Wommack said. “I think you’re going to see some people that still do all the signaling and some who go exclusively to the headset communication. I think there’s a fine line there because it cuts off at 15 seconds, so what happens afterwards when an offense is going to make a check. You’re going to see some offenses that goes really fast. I think that’s going to be helpful to us on defense because I can immediately get a call to the core, and they can communicate to seven or eight guys immediately.
“It will be a cat and mouse game. I’m excited to see how to navigate that. I want to stay ahead of the curve.”
When it comes to the Alabama offense, offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan did not reveal the team’s exact strategy when it comes to using the helmet communication system, but did mention the importance of mixing up tempos.
“I think it’s a great question and I think that’s something that we wouldn’t really want the people we’re going against to know,” Sheridan said.
“I think the mixing up of tempos is important. How each team, each opponent, what you feel benefits you. I think the pace of play has always been something that offense has utilized to try to create an advantage, whatever that may look like. Going as fast as possible or as slow as possible, just to try to win the game and so, we’ll be ready to do whatever we feel is gonna help us win.”
Alabama kicks off its 2024 season on Aug. 31, hosting Western Kentucky at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
