BAMANEWSBOT
Staff
Ten days can feel like an eternity.
Alabama spent that week-plus away from the football field in the wake of an SEC title and before beginning Sugar Bowl preparations. A few stars made the awards circuit, most got to go home for a few days, but everyone was back in Tuscaloosa on Tuesday afternoon.
The 10-day layover ended with the first of seven on-campus practices before breaking for Christmas. Players described a spirited workout in the indoor complex.
"We was on each other," quarterback Blake Sims said. "Leaders was calling everybody out. I think Coach (Nick) Saban liked the way he saw practice today. Even if we did things bad, he liked the way the leaders was trying to get on everybody and try to let everybody know we were trying to keep the same rhythm we left off with."
Sims got to take a few days off and go home. Safety Landon Collins was in Southern California over the weekend as a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy.
That created its own set of circumstances that created a challenge when returning to action. After finding a rhythm in the first three months of the season, taking more than a week away from the field "can mess it up," Collins said.
"It was tough on me," Collins said. "I've been away for a week. I mean, the guys were still on their A game. It was tough on me because that stress between that whole week, being all over the place was different. That messed up a lot of my sleep times and time for working out."
RELATED: Tuesday's full practice report
Collins promised he ate responsibly in his trip out west. Grilled chicken, orange juice and water were menu-regulars for the week away from football.
The next few days won't be much about Ohio State and the Jan. 1 Sugar Bowl in Alabama's practices. Per the December norm, Saban is treating the first few workouts as a camp-like refresher for the fundamentals.
In the past, Saban said there's such thing as over-preparing for a game, so the Tide is sticking to working on the little things in practice. Scout team jerseys are still a few days away.
"For the offensive line it's hands inside, feet driving, bending in the passing game," center Ryan Kelly said. "So for the first couple of days it's what we'll be focusing on. We'll get to Ohio State eventually, but I think these first couple of days are critical to get back to into football shape. It's kind of crazy how fast you can get out of it."
Continue reading...
Alabama spent that week-plus away from the football field in the wake of an SEC title and before beginning Sugar Bowl preparations. A few stars made the awards circuit, most got to go home for a few days, but everyone was back in Tuscaloosa on Tuesday afternoon.
The 10-day layover ended with the first of seven on-campus practices before breaking for Christmas. Players described a spirited workout in the indoor complex.
"We was on each other," quarterback Blake Sims said. "Leaders was calling everybody out. I think Coach (Nick) Saban liked the way he saw practice today. Even if we did things bad, he liked the way the leaders was trying to get on everybody and try to let everybody know we were trying to keep the same rhythm we left off with."
Sims got to take a few days off and go home. Safety Landon Collins was in Southern California over the weekend as a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy.
That created its own set of circumstances that created a challenge when returning to action. After finding a rhythm in the first three months of the season, taking more than a week away from the field "can mess it up," Collins said.
"It was tough on me," Collins said. "I've been away for a week. I mean, the guys were still on their A game. It was tough on me because that stress between that whole week, being all over the place was different. That messed up a lot of my sleep times and time for working out."
RELATED: Tuesday's full practice report
Collins promised he ate responsibly in his trip out west. Grilled chicken, orange juice and water were menu-regulars for the week away from football.
The next few days won't be much about Ohio State and the Jan. 1 Sugar Bowl in Alabama's practices. Per the December norm, Saban is treating the first few workouts as a camp-like refresher for the fundamentals.
In the past, Saban said there's such thing as over-preparing for a game, so the Tide is sticking to working on the little things in practice. Scout team jerseys are still a few days away.
"For the offensive line it's hands inside, feet driving, bending in the passing game," center Ryan Kelly said. "So for the first couple of days it's what we'll be focusing on. We'll get to Ohio State eventually, but I think these first couple of days are critical to get back to into football shape. It's kind of crazy how fast you can get out of it."
Continue reading...
