🏈 🏈 FALL CAMP 2019 🏈 Tide preps for season opener

If that were truly the case, you'd have already looked. Taking a chance on learning something ... damn, there's a risk. :rolleyes:

You made a snide comment about him. I get why. What's he going to talk to the team about? I told you how to find out.


Now I have to assume coach sent you his guess itinerary. I don't enjoy his bombastic style in the least. To suggest he occasionally has something to say is to concede Finebaum can be rational if he puts his Jerry Springer mind to it. Neither is getting near my mancave.
 
Justin E. running with the 1's is fantastic sign for him! Great to know a young cat is already in the mix. Have to believe Alfano is not far behind, and also believe that Ray will slide into that starting role if/when healthy and hopefully not suspended.

No real surprised on D... Shy Carter starting in "Base" at Safety is a solid option, but as he slides down to Star most of the game, who is the guy?

I usually get after Terry this time of year, but I think he's had it right on Womack for a while now. Rarely do you see a guy taking those leadership interviews who isn't solidly in the line up. Looks like Neal and a few other talented youngsters will have to wear on these vets as the season goes on... It could easily happen.

Appreciate all the updates, fellas! Great time of year! RTR
 
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DL is going to be super deep.

Egboigbe ahead of Barmore and Wynn presently while Ray is out....wow. And then there's Alfano and more freshmen.

Tua resculpted his body big time.

Sark giving praise to Trey Sanders, and Najee and Robinson gonna be scary.

Really positive stuff on Lewis, McMillon, and Jobe.
 
Just curious. If we spend more time in the nickel package this season, doesn't that by default become the real base defense? And I guess based on number of snaps I would be more inclined to view the real starters being the guys getting the majority of snaps
 
Man I love the sound of that secondary! Justin getting snaps is awesome as well. A lot of talking about him flipping last second on us, so i'm glad we kept the Georgia boy, and even happier to see he's doing well so far. Can't wait to watch our defense.
 
Just curious. If we spend more time in the nickel package this season, doesn't that by default become the real base defense? And I guess based on number of snaps I would be more inclined to view the real starters being the guys getting the majority of snaps

Our "base" defense is pretty much what "regular" would be - an odd front. The thing is when you're facing spread teams almost weekly nickel becomes much more "regular" than anything else. I think it all starts with that "base" set, though. The only thing that really changes is we swap out a backer for another DB.
 
Our "base" defense is pretty much what "regular" would be - an odd front. The thing is when you're facing spread teams almost weekly nickel becomes much more "regular" than anything else. I think it all starts with that "base" set, though. The only thing that really changes is we swap out a backer for another DB.

Pretty much what I'm alluding to. I haven't seen the defensive snap count for last season but would love to crunch the numbers on how many plays were in the nickel and dime as opposed to our base. This season, even the LSU game is going to take a different defensive approach. I think calling our defensive packages "regular" is plenty accurate.
 
Pretty much what I'm alluding to. I haven't seen the defensive snap count for last season but would love to crunch the numbers on how many plays were in the nickel and dime as opposed to our base. This season, even the LSU game is going to take a different defensive approach. I think calling our defensive packages "regular" is plenty accurate.

They really don't have your traditional goal line unit, per se, but they do go with a big line. I'll use the word "Heavy" here. It's one of the packages.
Along with that you've got nickel, nickel-rabbit, dime, dime-rabbit, and of course regular. (Last season, the team Bama spent the most time in regular? A&M. [Citadel entire game.])

Overall, the team was in nickel 57% of the time last season.

Now, you ask, why don't just call that the regular defense? Because it's all based on three defensive linemen.
 

  • Saban kicked off the festivities at 9:45 a.m. The first question was about the injuries to outside linebackers Chris Allen and Terrell Lewis. Saban seemed unconcerned about either one, saying that Lewis made a lot of plays in practice yesterday and that the team had “big plans” for Allen before his knee injury last summer. He said the team has three outside linebackers who can be “very productive players,” referring to Lewis, Allen and senior Anfernee Jennings.
  • Since last season there has been speculation that Alabama would use more four-receiver sets this year due to the emergence of Jaylen Waddle and the perceived lack of depth at the tight end position. Asked point-blank if the team would use four receivers more often, Saban said “I think you’re always trying to get the best players that you have on the field in the most productive positions you can get them in.” That would seem to indicate that the answer is yes, but Saban also explained that keeping a tight end on the field gives the offense more options. Sarkisian later said he has no qualms about putting all four receivers on the field when it could be an advantage. A slight uptick in “Red” personnel (four receivers, one running back) seems plausible, but any large shift in offensive identity seems unlikely.
  • Saban kept his comments on departed linebacker Eyabi Anoma brief. He confirmed that Anoma was dismissed from the university and said he could not say anything else on the subject.
  • Senior defensive back Shyheim Carter was the team’s starting Star (slot cornerback) last year and also showed he could be a competent safety. Saban said Carter is one of the two or three smartest players on the team and could be a great coach someday. Carter played safety alongside Xavier McKinney with the first-team defense during practice.
  • Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said during the spring that Sarkisian had been implementing more full-field reads into the offense. On Saturday Sarkisian said “our feeling is the more things you do well, the harder you are to defend,” and added that Tagovailoa has shown “drastic improvement.” He again clarified that the offense isn’t changing to a dropback style of offense; it’s merely expanding to include a new element.
  • Fans expecting junior running back Najee Harris to be a traditional bell-cow type of running back would not appreciate Sarkisian’s comments on the RB group. He did speak as if Harris is the centerpiece of the running game, but named the team’s other four scholarship running backs as complements to him. It seems as if the carries will be allocated with late-season games in mind, as Sarkisian said he wants to ensure Harris is fresh and able to improve as the season goes on. “There may be games in which he is that total bell-cow and we have to go the way we need to go to do what we need to do to win the game,” Sarkisian said. “There may be other games in which it’s not as many. Maybe we do find ways to get him the ball in the passing game and different things.”
  • After Saban’s concerns about the defensive line depth during the spring, Golding seemed more satisfied on Saturday. The team has since added three freshman D-linemen to the three who enrolled in the spring. Half of the team’s scholarship D-linemen are currently freshmen. Golding said the team will use as many players in the rotation as can contribute to playing winning football.
  • Golding’s comments on sophomore corner Josh Jobe continue to point to him being a full-time starter. The DC said Jobe has every physical attribute coaches look for in a corner, and his knowledge of the scheme has caught up to that. He played exclusively with the first-team defense during practice.
  • Sophomore offensive linemen Emil Ekiyor Jr. worked at first-team left guard, second-team center and third-team center during practice. If Alabama played Duke tomorrow, he would likely be the starting left guard.
  • Freshman defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe continued to work with the first team in the absence of LaBryan Ray. Saban said Ray should be back in about a week.
  • With junior tight end Miller Forristall out with a foot injury, Giles Amos and Major Tennison were the tight ends working with the first team. Amos was usually in the backfield and Tennison usually aligned on the line. Saban said he expects Forristall back within a few days.
  • After playing on the second team during the spring, freshman linebacker Shane Lee was with the third team on Saturday. The inside linebackers on the second team were Ale Kaho, Jaylen Moody and Markail Benton.
  • Freshmen Brandon Turnage, Evan Neal and Antonio Alfano were the only freshmen on the second team. Neal was at left guard. Alfano would likely be on the third team if not for Eboigbe moving up to fill Ray’s spot.
  • Six players got reps as a punt returner: Waddle, Diggs, Carter, Jerry Jeudy, Slade Bolden and Xavier Williams.
 

Alabama had its second practice of fall camp Saturday afternoon, a session at Bryant-Denny Stadium that was open to the media.

Here are some notes and observations:

— With LaBryan Ray out, freshman Justin Eboigbe worked with the first-team defense at defensive end. That’s not new. The former four-star recruit has been getting reps at that defensive end spot with the first-team defense since the summer with Ray out. Saban said he expects Ray, who had ankle surgery in June, to be back practicing in some capacity in “a week or so.”


— Josh McMillon was at the inside linebacker spot next to Dylan Moses with the first-team defense. Markail Benton and Ale Kaho were the second-team inside linebackers. The third-team inside linebackers were freshmen Shane Lee and Christian Harris.

— Chris Allen and former five-star recruit Ben Davis were the second-team outside linebackers.

— Florida State graduate transfer Landon Dickerson was at right guard with the third-team offensive line.

— It looked like Jared Mayden got most of the reps at strong safety with the first-team defense. It looked like Shyheim Carter got some reps there too, though. Mayden had an interception Saturday, jumping in front of one of the first-team wide receivers and picking off a short pass from Tua Tagovailoa.

— Reserve cornerback Nigel Knott is working through some medical issues according to Nick Saban and wasn’t at practice. Jalyn Armour-Davis and freshman Brandon Turnage were the cornerbacks with the second-team defense.

— With Miller Forristall out, it looked like redshirt sophomore Major Tennison and walk-on Giles Amos were the two tight ends getting reps with the first-team offense. It looked like redshirt freshman Cameron Latu worked exclusively with the second-team offense. Latu had a long touchdown catch down the middle of the field during a 7-on-7 period on a pass from backup quarterback Mac Jones.


— Jones got a few reps at quarterback with the first-team offense at one point. His last pass during that period was an ill-advised deep ball into double coverage that was nearly picked off by safety Xavier McKinney.

— Freshman Paul Tyson had a touchdown pass of about 35 yards to freshman wide receiver John Metchie later in practice.
 
  • Golding’s comments on sophomore corner Josh Jobe continue to point to him being a full-time starter. The DC said Jobe has every physical attribute coaches look for in a corner, and his knowledge of the scheme has caught up to that. He played exclusively with the first-team defense during practice.
Confused by this... Not that Jobe is doing well, but that he's with the 1st team D. If that's the case who is he beating out, Diggs or Surtain? Orrr is he starting in Nickel in a CB role with Shy staying at safety full time? Or maybe was a little off?

It sounds like Ekiyor is like the perfect inside swing man at all 3 positions and we have 2 great options at backup OT between Neal and Lashley. Or throw Womack out to tackle if neccessary. Not sure we've had this much talent and experience combined on the OL... Which is saying a lot.

Great updates. RTR
 
Confused by this... Not that Jobe is doing well, but that he's with the 1st team D. If that's the case who is he beating out, Diggs or Surtain? Orrr is he starting in Nickel in a CB role with Shy staying at safety full time? Or maybe was a little off?


Which ties into my earlier discussion about actual starters and our "regular" defense. No way Surtain and Diggs are coming off the field.
 
They really don't have your traditional goal line unit, per se, but they do go with a big line. I'll use the word "Heavy" here. It's one of the packages.
Along with that you've got nickel, nickel-rabbit, dime, dime-rabbit, and of course regular. (Last season, the team Bama spent the most time in regular? A&M. [Citadel entire game.])

Overall, the team was in nickel 57% of the time last season.

Now, you ask, why don't just call that the regular defense? Because it's all based on three defensive linemen.


To be fair, you really have to look at all the different types of defenses we're running against spread teams as "regular" as opposed to actual reps in our base. Has to be way up there beyond 57%.
 

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