As Colorado’s much-hyped debut of Deion Sanders in the Buffaloes’ spring game aired on ESPN’s main television network, Alabama went to work inside Bryant-Denny Stadium at the same time Saturday.

The Tide’s A-Day game appeared only as a live stream within ESPN’s app, with Roy Philpott and Jordan Rodgers calling the action.

Here is what we learned from the broadcast, including the commentators’ conversations with Nick Saban and his coordinators:

FIRST QUARTER

— ESPN’s broadcast stream did not begin until after the sixth play of the game, a Jalen Milroe run on third down that ended short of the first-down sticks. The success of most of the quarterback runs Saturday was tough to gauge when the quarterback was wearing a non-contact jersey.

— Rodgers on Ty Simpson: “Talking to Tommy Rees, new offensive coordinator — really wants to see him operate within the pocket, step up in the pocket, work through his reads, and not escape too early.” Rees has yet to speak to reporters after being hired in February; his only news conference before the postseason will come in early August.

— As usual, Alabama split up its players for the spring game with first-team offensive players joining second-team defense players on one team (white) and second-team offensive players joining second-team defensive players (crimson) on the other. There were a few exceptions, and it seemed like Alabama balanced the rosters out at wide receiver to give both Milroe and Simpson higher-level options.

— It was not shown on the broadcast, but Milroe began the game with Malik Benson, Isaiah Bond and Kendrick Law at wide receiver, with Ja’Corey Brooks the first sub onto the field. Danny Lewis began with Milroe at tight end, with Maryland transfer CJ Dippre later joining him. For Simpson, his starting group was Jermaine Burton, Kobe Prentice and Shazz Preston, and Amari Niblack at tight end. Junior tight end Robbie Ouzts wore a black non-contact jersey for warmups but did not play after being limited all spring because of injury.

— There does not seem to be much settled in the order of the top six wide receivers. Alabama used different combinations of Brooks, Law, Bond, Benson, Burton and Prentice in pregame warmups, with Preston and Emmanuel Henderson among the next players to watch. Said Saban after the game: “Isaiah Bond had a really good spring. Ja’Corey Brooks had a good spring. Jermaine Burton had a really good spring. I think [Benson], who made some catches at the end of the game today, has got a chance to be a real contributor. [Henderson] is getting better all the time, made a really nice touchdown catch today.”

— Inside linebacker Justin Jefferson broke up a third-down pass for the white (second team) defense from Simpson intended for running back Jam Miller. It was a reminder that Alabama has come a long way at the position from the days of Reuben Foster, Rolando McClain and Dont’a Hightower — all thumpers in the 245-260 pound range. Wearing No. 28, Jefferson is listed by Alabama at 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds after being listed by Pearl River Community College last season at 6-foot-3. He looked about the same size as the player he was covering in Miller, who is 5-foot-10 and 211 pounds. The trend for Alabama has been toward smaller, quicker inside linebackers over the past half-decade.

— ESPN experienced “technical difficulties” with its scoreboard temporarily not working after two offensive possessions. It kept that notification on its score bug for a while.

— There had been some indication of this during spring practices, but freshman James Smith — a five-star recruit from Montgomery — has a chance to make an immediate impact. He was on the field with the first-team defensive line early in Saturday’s game, alongside Jaheim Oatis and Justin Eboigbe.

— Alabama’s third outside linebacker has often seen significant playing time — last season it was Chris Braswell — and there is a competition worth watching this fall for that spot. Braswell, who had his right arm in a sling, and Dallas Turner were both out for Saturday’s game, with Keanu Koht and Quandarrius Robinson playing with the first-team defense in their place. Koht, once a flip from LSU in December 2020, has played little over the past two seasons with some injuries partly to blame. Robinson enters his fourth season, having played mostly on special teams the past two seasons. Jeremiah Alexander, a five-star recruit and the top-ranked player in Alabama’s 2022 class, was part of the second-team defense on team white. The Tide also has a pair of five-star edge rushers, Keon Keeley and Yhonzae Pierre, enrolling this summer as freshmen.

— The crimson team brought a double inside linebacker blitz on third-and-10 that resulted in Jihaad Campbell sacking Milroe. Campbell, in his second season, saw playing time in the Sugar Bowl and started Saturday alongside Georgia transfer Trezmen Marshall with Deontae Lawson out this spring because of injury. From ESPN: “Kevin Steele, new defensive coordinator, was raving about [Campbell]. He said this guy is going to be special.”

— “When we asked him about [freshman running back] Justice Haynes, there was a little bit of a smile,” Rodgers said of Saban. “He said, ‘He’s good,’ and kind of paused. That’s all I needed to know.” Saban has publicly praised Haynes this spring both after the second scrimmage and again Saturday.

— “[Freshman safety] Caleb Downs is a guy which every coach we talked to raved about as well,” Rodgers said. Saban spoke glowingly about Downs, one of the nation’s top-rated freshmen, earlier in the week.

— Will Tommy Rees run more two tight end formations? Rodgers: “I don’t think so. In talking to Tommy yesterday, I think they are really impressed with this receiver group. They said we got eight or nine guys that can play almost anywhere in the country. I got the feeling we might see four, even five, wide receiver sets as Tommy begins to put his imprint on this offense.” Rees told Rodgers that there are some running plays he feels Alabama can execute best out of two-tight end personnel sets.

— Rodgers said coaches were impressed with the “growth” of Bond this spring. “He really reminds me of DeVonta Smith,” said Rodgers.

— There was a huge gap open on Milroe’s 35-yard touchdown run, the result of Koht and Campbell biting on the option fake to Roydell Williams, and safety Kristian Story coming down to cover a backside screen route by Benson.

— Steele told ESPN’s announcers that 75 percent of the defensive terminology is the same as his previous at Alabama as linebackers coach in 2014. Steele said Saban’s defense does not change itself to match new offensive systems, but rather adapts within the same system.

— Rees mentioned to Rodgers the capability of Niblack to become “dynamic” in the passing game. Niblack lined up as a slot wide receiver on the next play.

— Simpson hit his right throwing hand against the helmet of left tackle Kadyn Proctor on the final play of the first quarter, a 3-yard catch by Jalen Hale. You could hear it on the broadcast and ESPN’s announcers heard it on the field, too. Simpson was shaking and flexing his hand afterward.

SECOND QUARTER

— Haynes’ first touchdown, from three yards out, came through a gap in which tight end Miles Kitselman (6-foot-5, 250) met Jefferson (6-foot-1, 215), with second-year safety Jake Pope (6-foot-1, 192) behind him. Jefferson held his ground, but Haynes (5-foot-11, 200) powered through into the end zone. The downside of Alabama trending smaller on defense is losing some beef in goal-line situations like that.

— Rodgers: “Nick Saban wants Tommy Rees get back to the run game. Let that be the identity.” ESPN then broke to commercial before Rodgers finished the thought from Saban.

— On his first play, freshman quarterback Eli Holstein got good protection but his deep ball to Brooks had some wobble and was short. Brooks adjusted well to it, with Kool-Aid McKinstry over-running Brooks in coverage to allow the 35-yard gain. A better play from Brooks than Holstein, who collided with running back Jase McClellan on the next play to cause a loose ball and 10-yard sack.

— Rodgers: “Tommy Rees and Nick Saban both said there are seven offensive linemen who could start for us right now.” Rodgers specifically mentioned Proctor, a five-star freshman, as an “incredible talent that they’re really excited about.” Proctor was the second team left tackle Saturday.

— A rare Thaiu Jones-Bell sighting on a 15-yard catch in the second quarter, his only of the afternoon. Jones-Bell has played in 11 games over his first three seasons with the Tide with four catches. The other two receivers in his 2020 class, Traeshon Holden and Javon Baker, transferred out of the program.

— Philpott said Rees and Saban were “high” on the development of freshman quarterback Dylan Lonergan in the spring. That carried over into what Saban said about Lonergan after Saturday’s game.

— Haynes was wide open on his 6-yard touchdown catch from Lonergan. It was a busted coverage in which inside linebackers Ian Jackson and Kendrick Blackshire both picked up tight end Miles Kitselman breaking across the field toward the sideline.

— Malachi Moore got under the arms of left tackle Elijah Pritchett to reach Milroe and record his third sack of the first half. Pritchett gave up a blow-by sack of Milroe by Robinson later in the first half and was bull-rushed into a sack by Keanu Koht in the closing minute before halftime. There could be a competition between Pritchett and Proctor for that job in August.

— Rees told Rodgers that Simpson needs to “step up in the pocket, let his eyes tell him when something is developing. Don’t let his feet dictate leaving the pocket too early.”

— Saban said in his pregame CTSN radio interview that Alabama would keep it simple offensively, but it strayed from that in running a reverse with Burton attempting a pass downfield to Prentice. It almost was one of the biggest plays of the game, with the ball bobbling around Prentice’s hands with second-year cornerback Antonio Kite helping to disrupt it. But the play could have been even bigger if Burton had seen receiver Shazz Preston waving his arm wide open down the middle of the field, after cornerback Earl Little and safety Brayson Hubbard both bit on the reverse.

— Under-the-radar play from McClellan late in the first half after he caught a third-and-5 pass over the middle, was hit by both Marshall and Campbell short of the marker, but then broke free for the first down.

— Will Reichard missed a 50-yard field goal that struggled to even reach the end zone. It did not appear the ball was tipped but rather ESPN’s commentators on the field noted there was a strong wind in Reichard’s face and the ball hit the wind.

— Simpson had a well-placed ball to Jaren Hamilton that was dropped, but a deep ball a few plays later to Burton was under-thrown. Burton had beaten cornerback Dezz Ricks but had to wait for the 40-yard pass, with Ricks catching up to it. Burton still had a chance to catch it, just facing contact from two defenders.

— Departing Alabama players at the NFL combine noted Simpson’s perhaps underrated athleticism, and that showed up when he juked Little in the open field on an 11-yard run. Little got his revenge when he caught up to Simpson’s throw to Prentice and dove to pick it off at the goal line. Simpson needed slightly more juice on that throw to lead Prentice.

— After Milroe lobbed an easy interception to Story, who returned it to the 1-yard line, Simpson’s crimson team had a prime chance at another touchdown. But on second down Simpson seemed to miss Pope blitzing off the edge. Simpson pulled the ball away from Miller on an option run and instead kept it, only to run directly into Pope for a loss.

— Two of Milroe’s best passes of the half came to Law down the right sideline, for 36 and 27-yard gains.

— There were 25 total plays run in the final 3:34 of the first half, including three interceptions and three sacks. Only three points were scored — a field goal after the crimson offense had a first-and-goal at the 1-yard line.

— Saban to ESPN at halftime: “We threw three interceptions toward the end. We were going two-minute the whole time. You don’t need to force the ball. You’re taking points off the board when you do that. I think consistency is the key to the drill. Being able to execute, being a little more confident in executing. Some of it’s technical, but most of it is just decision-making.”

— Saban to ESPN: “Running back is not an issue on our team; I just hope we can keep them all healthy.”

— Saban’s third answer during his pre-recorded halftime interview, about the secondary, was abruptly cut off by ESPN with a commercial break.

SECOND HALF

— Milroe nearly had a third interception on his first drive of the second half. His pass looked like it was intended for McKinstry, who played the role of receiver while the actual intended receiver, Emmanuel Henderson, did a good job playing defense and breaking it up.

— Milroe was sacked seven times, including five in the first half. There should have been another from defensive lineman Monkell Goodwine on third down early in the third quarter after he beat center Seth McLaughlin and got to Milroe. Goodwine was gesturing for the sack as Milroe scrambled and was stopped short of the first down.

— Rodgers: “Talking to Kevin Steele about Caleb Downs, he’s like, ‘Look. It feels like he’s a senior out there. Guys don’t look at him like he’s a freshman.’ … There are certain guys where right away, it clicks. Right away, they’re a veteran, they’re a leader. They can play at that level. That was kind of how he talked about Caleb Downs.”

— There was plenty of passing yardage taken away from Simpson on drops, including a wide-open drop by Burton on what would have been about a 25-yard gain in the third quarter. Saban said the high number of drops Saturday were not reflective of the whole body of spring work by the receivers.

— Holstein interception in the third quarter, one of his six pass attempts for the game, came after the freshman quarterback stared down wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks. But Brooks seemed to be run blocking, with the pass going directly to cornerback Terrion Arnold instead.

— Philpott said “consistency” was the “word we heard a ton talking with Tommy Rees, talking to Nick Saban” about the quarterbacks before the game. Rodgers emphasized the quarterbacks will be judged more by Saban for their mistakes and not their “wow” plays.

— Another sack allowed by Pritchett early in the fourth quarter, this one by Eboigbe beating him off the edge.

— Philpott said Alabama is replacing the stadium grass before the season.

— Rees told ESPN’s announcers it would be Saban’s decision whether he calls games from the booth or the field this season.

— Milroe’s sack on third-and-12 in the fourth quarter came after he faced pressure on his left side from Eboigbe on a stunt against Pritchett. Milroe tried leaving the pocket to his right, where Robinson caught up to him coming off a block by right tackle JC Latham.

— Rodgers said Vanderbilt players had a beer pong tournament to celebrate the end of spring practice when he played there.

— Two bad drops in the second half by Bond — one on third down from Holstein, and another later on fourth down from Milroe. Neither was contested by the defense, and both throws were accurate.

— “I’ve been really impressed with Lonergan,” Rodgers said. “He looks really comfortable.”

— As Alabama’s white team offense began a drive with 2:50 left in the fourth quarter, 10 players lined up. Missing was Pritchett, the left tackle. Milroe and McClellan began throwing their arms up and looking toward the sideline until Pritchett ran onto the field and joined his teammates, who were waiting and ready to run a play.

— On the fourth play of the drive, Koht beat Pritchett around the edge for the seventh sack of Milroe. The next play, Koht made a move to get around Pritchett again and was near Milroe’s feet when he threw an incomplete pass. Milroe seemed to rush his fourth-and-16 throw by scrambling and throwing on the run when there was not yet pressure.

— Second-year kicker and punter Upton Bellenfant made a 49-yard field goal late in the game after missing a 52-yarder earlier. The Tide has scholarship freshman Conor Talty joining the team this summer, and it will be interesting to see who is the primary backup to Reichard following his somewhat surprise return for a fifth year.

— Milroe’s most efficient drive was his final one, when he completed four consecutive passes to Benson, including a touchdown. It is worth noting that Alabama’s defense had pulled most of its first-team players off the field at that point, with mostly walk-ons in the game. Walk-on cornerback Ty Roper and walk-on safety Caleb McDougle were the closest defenders on all four of Benson’s catches.

— Saban to ESPN on Benson: “Really good player. Really good size. Great speed. He’s got good hands.”

— Saban to ESPN after the game about the quarterbacks: “They made some good plays, they made some bad plays. They played a lot of cover-2 once they got ahead, so I didn’t think they took advantage of the throws they had. The tight end was open down the middle all the time. I kept saying, ‘Throw it to the tight end.’ Nobody would throw it. I guess I got to get back in there.”

Mike Rodak is an Alabama beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mikerodak.