Finally, Alabama will face someone other than itself – sort of.

All summer and fall, the Crimson Tide players have been preparing for the season by focusing on themselves – how they can get better, stronger and faster. But, beginning at the end of last week, Alabama began studying for specific opponents, which includes a scout team offense and defense designed to mimic the team on that week’s schedule.

Alabama started team-specific preparations on Wednesday, looking at the first three teams on Alabama’s schedule – Michigan, Western Kentucky and Arkansas – in no particular order. And on Monday, the focus all shifts to the Wolverines.

“What I can tell you is they are a physical team, very physical team, come off the ball quick,” guard Chance Warmack said. “We’ll have to look at film more and get a better shot of how they run their defense.”

It’s unclear who will play the role of Denard Robinson, Michigan’s dynamic, dual-threat quarterback, in practice. Linebacker C.J. Mosley said that duty will fall to the “fastest one out there.”

“He’s just a playmaker. You know how he makes his players,” Mosley said. “That’s where he got his name from. We’ve just got to be ready to be a sound defense and be ready for anything they throw at us.”

Defensive lineman Damion Square said it will take a total team effort to slow Robinson down.

“As a defense, we’ve got to first and foremost come in the game and stop what they want to do first,” he said. “They want to give [Robinson] the ball first, and that’s what we’re coming to stop. You just take it one step at a time. He has the ball in his hands every play, and he’s a real dynamic guy, so it is very dangerous. But you have to come and be prepared to stop him, first and foremost.”

While most of the focus is on Michigan’s explosive offense, the Wolverines’ defense is nothing to scoff at, either. It held opponents to 322 yards of total offense per game and 17.4 points per game and looks to be improved in head coach Brady Hoke’s second year.

It’s a welcome change for players, who are ready to play a game after a long summer and fall camp of playing only against one another.

“Right now, we’re just taking it easy,” wide receiver Christion Jones said. “We go in every night a little on what we’ve got to do on certain teams and what we do on them. But right now, starting next week, we’ll get into the game plan of what we’re going to do.”