BAMANEWSBOT
Staff
Goodbye, acclamation period.
Hello, full pads at Alabama football practice.
The first practice in full gear comes this afternoon after five practices with limited equipment. Offensive coordinator Jim McElwain said having the first two in just helmets and shorts was like practicing in underwear.
That’s over and the equipment locker will empty before the 3:30 p.m. workout in Tuscaloosa. Senior receiver Brandon Gibson said there’s a buzz in the locker room anticipating some extra hitting.
“We’re looking forward to maybe banging around a little bit,” he said. “There’s alot of trash talk going on between the offense and defense. Dont’a (Hightower) is always talking about ‘When we get the pads on, we’ll see.’ So we’ll see tomorrow.”
Practices on Sunday and Monday introduced shoulder pads to the equation, so big hits won’t be completely unfamiliar this afternoon. Sunday’s fan day drew audible reactions from the crowd when pads popped.
“Practice is pretty much similar,” defensive end Damion Square said. “You go out there and bang a little bit and go hard. The pads don’t really change the tempo of practice. … At least that’s what I like to think.”
The first of four two-a-days is scheduled for Wednesday with a 10:30 a.m., workout followed by another at 8:30 p.m.
Fluker staying put
Considering the experimentation with the left tackle position, it’s worth asking.
After a season playing right tackle, is it possible for D.J. Fluker to switch ends of the line?
McElwain put it simply.
“I think it’s one of those deals where he has become fairly comfortable at that spot, and right now it’s not as much as which tackle as it is which five guys are going to work together the best,” McElwain said. “Those are really five individual positions that must work as one obviously on every single snap, so it has more to do with how those guys blend together.”
Barrett Jones, the starting right guard for the past two seasons, continued working with the first-team at left tackle Monday. The All-SEC performer first took snaps protecting the quarterback’s blindside in final week of spring practice.
Rivalries don’t die
It’s been five years since Brandon Gibson wore a UMS-Wright jersey.
His last argument with a former rival came yesterday. High school trash-talk dies slow in the Alabama locker room.
“That’s the No. 1 topic in our locker room,” Gibson said. “Everybody says they could beat each other.”
That’s especially true between Gibson and quarterback AJ McCarron who starred at another Mobile private school, St. Paul’s. “I told him every year we played them, we beat them,” Gibson said smiling. “So he kinda got quiet.”
Hello, full pads at Alabama football practice.
The first practice in full gear comes this afternoon after five practices with limited equipment. Offensive coordinator Jim McElwain said having the first two in just helmets and shorts was like practicing in underwear.
That’s over and the equipment locker will empty before the 3:30 p.m. workout in Tuscaloosa. Senior receiver Brandon Gibson said there’s a buzz in the locker room anticipating some extra hitting.
“We’re looking forward to maybe banging around a little bit,” he said. “There’s alot of trash talk going on between the offense and defense. Dont’a (Hightower) is always talking about ‘When we get the pads on, we’ll see.’ So we’ll see tomorrow.”
Practices on Sunday and Monday introduced shoulder pads to the equation, so big hits won’t be completely unfamiliar this afternoon. Sunday’s fan day drew audible reactions from the crowd when pads popped.
“Practice is pretty much similar,” defensive end Damion Square said. “You go out there and bang a little bit and go hard. The pads don’t really change the tempo of practice. … At least that’s what I like to think.”
The first of four two-a-days is scheduled for Wednesday with a 10:30 a.m., workout followed by another at 8:30 p.m.
Fluker staying put
Considering the experimentation with the left tackle position, it’s worth asking.
After a season playing right tackle, is it possible for D.J. Fluker to switch ends of the line?
McElwain put it simply.
“I think it’s one of those deals where he has become fairly comfortable at that spot, and right now it’s not as much as which tackle as it is which five guys are going to work together the best,” McElwain said. “Those are really five individual positions that must work as one obviously on every single snap, so it has more to do with how those guys blend together.”
Barrett Jones, the starting right guard for the past two seasons, continued working with the first-team at left tackle Monday. The All-SEC performer first took snaps protecting the quarterback’s blindside in final week of spring practice.
Rivalries don’t die
It’s been five years since Brandon Gibson wore a UMS-Wright jersey.
His last argument with a former rival came yesterday. High school trash-talk dies slow in the Alabama locker room.
“That’s the No. 1 topic in our locker room,” Gibson said. “Everybody says they could beat each other.”
That’s especially true between Gibson and quarterback AJ McCarron who starred at another Mobile private school, St. Paul’s. “I told him every year we played them, we beat them,” Gibson said smiling. “So he kinda got quiet.”
