After a disappointing end to the 2013 season, with a heart-breaking loss in the Iron Bowl to Auburn and getting blown out by Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl, the Alabama “A-Game” signified the start of what will be a storyline-filled 2014 campaign.

The Tide enter 2014 without a few of the cornerstones of their championship runs, including Ha Ha Clinton Dix, Cyrus Kouandjio, and Anthony Steen, but most notably, quarterback A.J. McCarron and linebacker C.J. Mosley. McCarron and Mosley were the leaders on their respective sides of the ball; they knew exactly what Saban wanted out of his schemes and they successfully filled their roles and made sure the rest of their teammates on the field succeeded in theirs.

Saban runs a more aggressive Spring Game than most teams, matching up his first-team offense against the first-team defense, and the same for the second-team units.

Here are some takeaways from the game:

1. Alabama is loaded at wide receiver entering 2014. Despite losing Kevin Norwood, the Tide still have Amari Cooper and the explosive, DeAndrew White and Christion Jones running out of the slot. Robert Foster, a speedy-receiver with long arms and a good ability to track the ball over his shoulder, looks the part of a future number-one receiver and should see some snaps after redshirting in 2013. Behind them, Raheem Falkins, ArDarius Stewart and true freshman Bo Scarborough fill out the position group, with a couple other true freshman that will likely redshirt and develop.

2. Cooper Bateman is the best quarterback currently on the roster. While the legend of Jacob Coker continues to grow, he will not be joining the team until early May. Reports are that Blake Sims is currently the leader in the clubhouse to start in 2014, Bateman was far more impressive during the spring game. He displayed arm strength, accuracy, touch and an ability to read the field. Although he telegraphed multiple slant passes that almost turned into interceptions, Bateman showed better tools and more potential as the starter than Sims, who struggled the whole day, forcing multiple passes, with two of them turning into interceptions.

3. Jonathan Allen was incredible the whole game. Allen was consistently in the backfield, disrupting running plays and putting pressure on the quarterback. He has a chance to play a huge role in the Alabama defense in 2014.

4. Although he got hurt, Reuben Foster was explosive from the middle linebacker role. Foster showed ability to blitz and that he can get off blocks and get to the ball carrier. With Trey DePriest and Reggie Ragland holding down the inside linebacker spots, he will primarily play a rotational role in 2014, but there is a lot to be excited about moving forward.