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By Alex Byington Sports
TUSCALOOSA — While the departure of redshirt freshman quarterback Blake Barnett might have put Alabama in a bit of a lurch depth-wise, head coach Nick Saban isn’t letting it affect how the Crimson Tide calls plays.
“We certainly don't want to do anything that would get our quarterback injured in any way, shape or form,” Saban said Wednesday. “But I think his skill set is what it is, and we have to use the things that he can do effectively in our offense.”
Among quarterback Jalen Hurts’ best skills is his running ability, which has allowed him to add a new element to Alabama’s offense. Hurts has 1,265 yards of total offense, ranking second on the team with 276 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.
“He can hurt you. I’m sure that’s not the first pun that’s been thrown (his way),” Arkansas coach Bret Bielema said Monday. “I think everybody’s going to talk about his rushing and their rush offense with him in there, but it’s the way he throws the football, the way he can convert and make special plays last longer. … He’s an exciting player.”
If an injury to Hurts does happen, Saban expressed confidence in junior backup quarterback Cooper Bateman, who appeared to be the frontrunner to win the starting job as late as the beginning of fall camp.
"We have confidence in Cooper Bateman,” Saban said. “He's been a backup quarterback for us in the past and has some experience and has a similar skill set.”
Saban compliments Bielema
Arkansas hasn’t beaten Alabama since Saban took over in 2007, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t seen the improvement taking place under Bielema.
“I think Bret is a really, really good coach,” Saban said Wednesday during his portion of the SEC’s weekly coaches teleconference. “This is always difficult preparation when you play against one of his teams at Arkansas. They’re always very physical, they’re very tough, they’re fundamentally sound in everything that they do.”
Following a 52-0 loss in 2013, Bielema’s first season, the Razorbacks have lost by only a combined 14 points the last two seasons, including a gut-check 14-13 Alabama victory in 2014 — its last trip to Fayetteville.
The top-ranked Tide (5-0, 2-0 SEC) looks to stay unbeaten when it takes on the Razorbacks (4-1, 0-1 SEC) at 6 p.m. Saturday in Fayetteville.
Frazier could play more
Alabama’s defense has seen its share of adjustments as its adapted to defending the more prevalent spread offenses around the game today.
That has meant some players better suited for the traditional 3-4 base defensive set have seen their opportunities diminished as a result.
Which is why, when the Tide take on a traditional offense like Arkansas’ this Saturday, some of those miscast players like junior nose guard Joshua Frazier could see increased playing chances.
"We're working hard with those guys, (and) Josh has done a good job of playing nose guard,” Saban said of Frazier. “We haven't played a lot of regular people (with the base defensive set) where the nose guard plays a lot, but he has played some in nickel and improved. (Frazier has) worked hard and got his weight down and moves a little better, the pass rush is a little better. I think in a game like this, he's going to get a lot of opportunity to be in there. This is his kind of game.”
Among the other interior defensive linemen that could see more opportunities Saturday include newly-cleared sophomore Johnny Dwight and 6-foot-7 true freshman Raekwon Davis.
Decatur Daily—Continue reading...
“We certainly don't want to do anything that would get our quarterback injured in any way, shape or form,” Saban said Wednesday. “But I think his skill set is what it is, and we have to use the things that he can do effectively in our offense.”
Among quarterback Jalen Hurts’ best skills is his running ability, which has allowed him to add a new element to Alabama’s offense. Hurts has 1,265 yards of total offense, ranking second on the team with 276 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.
“He can hurt you. I’m sure that’s not the first pun that’s been thrown (his way),” Arkansas coach Bret Bielema said Monday. “I think everybody’s going to talk about his rushing and their rush offense with him in there, but it’s the way he throws the football, the way he can convert and make special plays last longer. … He’s an exciting player.”
If an injury to Hurts does happen, Saban expressed confidence in junior backup quarterback Cooper Bateman, who appeared to be the frontrunner to win the starting job as late as the beginning of fall camp.
"We have confidence in Cooper Bateman,” Saban said. “He's been a backup quarterback for us in the past and has some experience and has a similar skill set.”
Saban compliments Bielema
Arkansas hasn’t beaten Alabama since Saban took over in 2007, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t seen the improvement taking place under Bielema.
“I think Bret is a really, really good coach,” Saban said Wednesday during his portion of the SEC’s weekly coaches teleconference. “This is always difficult preparation when you play against one of his teams at Arkansas. They’re always very physical, they’re very tough, they’re fundamentally sound in everything that they do.”
Following a 52-0 loss in 2013, Bielema’s first season, the Razorbacks have lost by only a combined 14 points the last two seasons, including a gut-check 14-13 Alabama victory in 2014 — its last trip to Fayetteville.
The top-ranked Tide (5-0, 2-0 SEC) looks to stay unbeaten when it takes on the Razorbacks (4-1, 0-1 SEC) at 6 p.m. Saturday in Fayetteville.
Frazier could play more
Alabama’s defense has seen its share of adjustments as its adapted to defending the more prevalent spread offenses around the game today.
That has meant some players better suited for the traditional 3-4 base defensive set have seen their opportunities diminished as a result.
Which is why, when the Tide take on a traditional offense like Arkansas’ this Saturday, some of those miscast players like junior nose guard Joshua Frazier could see increased playing chances.
"We're working hard with those guys, (and) Josh has done a good job of playing nose guard,” Saban said of Frazier. “We haven't played a lot of regular people (with the base defensive set) where the nose guard plays a lot, but he has played some in nickel and improved. (Frazier has) worked hard and got his weight down and moves a little better, the pass rush is a little better. I think in a game like this, he's going to get a lot of opportunity to be in there. This is his kind of game.”
Among the other interior defensive linemen that could see more opportunities Saturday include newly-cleared sophomore Johnny Dwight and 6-foot-7 true freshman Raekwon Davis.
Decatur Daily—Continue reading...
