🏈 ***CFP Bowl prep news, notes, & previews thread**,

Any update/news on Marlon and his leg? I read summary of Saban presser that made it sound that he's hopeful but not definitive that he'll be ready to go tomorrow full tilt when practice resumes.
 
EasyTider said:
Any update/news on Marlon and his leg? I read summary of Saban presser that made it sound that he's hopeful but not definitive that he'll be ready to go tomorrow full tilt when practice resumes.
Click to expand...

Little bit more info in here @EasyTider:

Crimson Tide turns to Washington after postseason layoff
Ben Jones | TideSports.com

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The Crimson Tide began practice for the first round of the playoffs Friday, December 16, 2016. Alabama offensive lineman Cam Robinson (74) points to a spot as a coach gives instruction.
Gary Cosby Jr. | The Tuscaloosa News
The University of Alabama football team hasn’t had much of a chance to take a break since the season started on Sept. 3. Its nearly two-week layoff since the SEC championship game on Dec. 3 has been the best chance players have had to catch their breath this fall.

If they hadn’t recovered their wind by then, it wasn’t going to happen on Friday. Alabama returned to the practice field for the first of seven practices before it disperses for Christmas.

“Whenever you take such an extended break, you have to get back in the swing of things,” sophomore running back Damien Harris said. “That’s what we’re going to try and do. We have a couple days of some hard practices to try and prepare for this upcoming game. We’re trying to get back in game shape. A week isn’t that long, but at the same time, you can lose a lot in a week.”

Head coach Nick Saban said he was pleased with the effort and enthusiasm in practice as the Crimson Tide turns to face the Huskies. Alabama worked in shells and elected to practice at its indoor facility in preparation for playing the Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome.

Players were still catching up on film study of Washington. But Saban told them what he saw from their next opponent.

“This is the best team we've played this year, by far,” Saban said. “Hands down. And anybody that doesn't have the proper respect for this team and what they've accomplished this year... I hear a lot of people talking about Ohio State and Clemson and all that. I don't want to hear anybody talking about anything in our camp, one of our fans or our supporters thinking about anything but this game.”

The time off did give starting cornerback Marlon Humphrey time to heal. He missed most of the SEC championship game with an unspecified leg injury suffered against Auburn but was a full participant in practice on Friday.

Defensive back Tony Brown, Alabama’s starter at star in the second half of the season, did not practice. He pulled a muscle during workouts last week. Reserve defensive end Dakota Ball was not at practice after shooting himself in the finger while hunting.

The defense has its own set of challenges in facing Washington, which ranks fourth nationally with 44.5 points per game. It hast only been held under 31 points once this season. Saban said the defense will need to sharpen up its tackling skills for the game.

“When defensive players haven't played for a long time, they really have to practice the right way and really work on thudding, getting themselves in position to tackle,” Saban said. “If you notice, a lot of times in bowl games, the tackling is not very good. The type of team this is, sort of a perimeter, RPO team, this is going to be very, very important to how well we play in space and how well we tackle on the perimeter."

They still have work to do, but it began on Friday. Saban said it’s difficult to carry momentum from the regular season into a bowl game being played four weeks later. Instead, they’re starting over.

“Honestly, I didn’t think it was as bad as everyone was expecting it to be,” junior left tackle Cam Robinson said. “Your first practice back, you expect to be kind of gassed and kind of tired. I honestly think it was a good practice. We were able to get a lot of stuff done today.”

TideSports.com - Crimson Tide turns to Washington after postseason layoff
 
Alabama returned to the practice field today for its preparations for the Peach Bowl. They'll practice each day from now until Dec. 22. We should have practice notes each day with the exception of the 22nd, when practice is closed. Alabama was in shells today, practicing inside.

  • Funny moment at the beginning of the viewing period. We walk into the indoor and stand on the sideline, and many of us walked toward the 50, where the quarterbacks warm up. Jalen Hurts wasn't there. We scan left and right to see if he's somewhere else, and he's no where to be found. We check the sidelines to see if he's with the trainers, and he's not there. Then one of the managers walks by us carrying a bag of balls to the QBs. "He's in the bathroom, guys," he said. And we all laughed. Jalen was indeed in the bathroom and did come out to the practice field shortly.

  • Cooper Bateman and David Cornwell were both at practice, as expected.

  • Marlon Humphrey was dressed and appeared to be a full participant during the two periods we watched.

  • Lane Kiffin and Wilson Love were both at practice also.

  • Rashaan Evans was the second ILB through drills behind Reuben Foster with Shaun Dion Hamilton out.

  • Shawn Jennings, B.J. Emmons and Josh Casher were on the stationary bike today.
Practice notes: Dec. 16 | TideSports.com
 
Alabama was working in full pads and remained at the indoor facility today for its second day of practice leading up to the Peach Bowl.

  • Tony Brown (pulled muscle) was at practice and dressed out, but looked like he was limited. Freshman Shyheim Carter was taking reps with the first team when they began working on their nickel package.

  • While they were in the nickel package, it was Rashaan Evans and Reuben Foster working at LB with the first team. We'll keep an eye on that position. Sounds like Evans has the best chance to win the starting job but doesn't have it locked down.

  • Defensive end Dakota Ball (finger) was not at practice.

  • Marlon Humphrey was at practice again and looked like a full participant again. I'm probably going to stop including him on daily reports unless something changes.

  • Steve Sarkisian looked like he was shadowing Lane Kiffin. He's often at practice but normally stands off to the side. Today he was always within a few feet of Kiffin and the two were pretty chatty. Don't think I saw Sarkisian talking to any players (ie coaching) but did appear that he was getting a better lay of the land.

  • David Cornwell was warming up with a manager off to the side while the other QBs were doing some dropbacks. Wonder if his foot has ever been right this season.
Practice notes: Dec. 17 | TideSports.com
 
Alabama was still inside today and working in full pads once again.

  • Steve Sarkisian was watching the RBs at the start of the viewing period. He went back to the QBs after one period but thought that was interesting. Don't know if I've ever seen him paying attention to the RBs at practice.
  • Tony Brown was dressed again but was limited again. Shyheim Carter was working in his place in nickel.
  • Rashaan Evans was still running first team in nickel drills with Reuben Foster.
  • Dakota Ball was still not at practice.
  • Bo Scarbrough was the second RB during drills. He was behind Damien Harris.
  • Don't know if we ever heard exactly what Josh Casher's injury was, but his right foot appeared to have a cast on it. He was leading the other injured guys in some calisthenics off to the side.
Practice notes: Dec. 18 | TideSports.com
 
Alabama’s Playoff opponent? The Washington team that new Tide OC Steve Sarkisian built


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STAN CHRAPOWICKI |
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With Lane Kiffin now the head coach at Florida Atlantic, Alabama offensive assistant Steve Sarkisian is in position to take over for him as the Crimson’s Tide’s offensive coordinator. Kiffin will continue to serve in that role through Bama’s College Football Playoff run, but as Washington’s former head coach, Sarkisian has plenty of intel he can pass along to Nick Saban and the rest of his coaching staff regarding current Husky players.

As a matter of fact, 15 Washington players were part of Sarkisian’s final recruiting class for the Huskies in 2013. Here’s a look at that group and how important they have been this season for current head coach Chris Petersen:

John Ross: Second in the FBS with 17 receiving touchdowns, Ross — along with quarterback Jake Browning and running back Myles Gaskin — is part of of the most dangerous trio in college football. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound junior from Long Beach, California, who has made 76 catches for 1,112 yards, is also Washington’s leading kickoff returner, fielding 14 kicks for 364 yards and a score.

Connor O’Brien: The junior defensive end/outside linebacker from Trabuco Canyon, Calif., had played in every game this season before missing Washington’s 41-10 victory over Colorado in the Pac-12 Championship Game with an injury. The 6-foot-3, 232-pounder has made 35 tackles — 6.5 for a loss — and has added 3 sacks and a pick-six.

Elijah Qualls: The All-Pac-12 First-Team defensive lineman has started all 13 games for the Huskies. After recording a career-high 4.5 sacks in 2015, the 6-1, 321-pound product of Petaluma, Calif., has already reached career bests in stops (32) and tackles for loss (5) this season.

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Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin King: This product of Oakland is more proof that Sarkisian obviously knew how to recruit in California. Washington’s leader with 13 pass breakups, this 6-1, 192-pound senior starter at cornerback has added 35 tackles — 2.5 for a loss — and 2 interceptions to earn All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention status.

Azeem Victor: Victor, who suffered a season-ending broken leg against USC on Nov. 14 in Washington’s only loss of the season, will travel to the Peach Bowl but won’t play in it. Considering the type of the season Victor was having, that’s good news for Alabama.

Despite missing Washington’s final three games, the 6-3, 230-pound junior linebacker still leads the Huskies with 67 tackles. And, yes, the All-Pac-12 first-teamer is also a California product.

Joe Mathis: Like Victor, Mathis has suffered a season-ending injury. But injuring his foot against Oregon State, the senior outside linebacker from Ontario, California finished with 25 tackles — 7.5 for a loss — and 5 sacks.

Keishawn Bierria: Third on the Huskies in tackles behind Victor and Budda Baker with 63 stops, Bierria has been an All- Pac-12 Second Team performer this season. The product of Carson, California also enters the Peach Bowl with an FBS-leading five fumble recoveries this season, which matches a school record.

Coleman Shelton: A product of Pasadena, Shelton has every game at center this season for the Huskies. The 6-4, 293-pound junior is an All-Pac-12 Second Team Performer.

Andrew Kirkland: Believe it or not, here’s a Sarkisian recruit who isn’t from California. The 6-4, 311-pound offensive lineman from Portland, Ore., has appeared in all 13 games this season, starting five at right guard.

Lavon Coleman: Gaskin has been tremendous by rushing for a 1,339 yards and 10 TDs on 227 carries, which are all Washington highs. But backup tailback Coleman has been much more productive per carry.

The 5-11, 228-pound junior from Lompoc, Calif., has rushed 107 times for 836 yards and 7 TDs. He also has 5 catches for 31 yards.

Darrell Daniels: The senior tight end from Pittsburg, California has appeared in every Huskies game this season. The 6-4, 246-pounder has caught 17 passes for 307 yards and 3 TDs.

Trevor Walker: Believe it or not, this 5-11, 192-pounder is another non-California recruit. The junior defensive back has made seven tackles while appearing in all 13 games.

David Ajamu: Sarkisian’s lone 2013 recruit from the state of Washington is a 6-5, 249-pound tight end. Despite appearing in 12 games, has just one catch for four yards.

Cameron Van Winkle: The senior from Fall City, Washington has been one of the Pac-12’s top place-kickers this season. The 5-10, 186-pounder has made 16 of his 20 field-goal attempts and has connected on 74 of his 75 PAT attempts.

Note: Linebacker Sean Constantine has missed the entire season due to an injury he suffered in fall camp.

Alabama’s Playoff opponent? The Washington team that new Tide OC Steve Sarkisian built
 
Just one period of practice today instead of two, so the notes will be a little abbreviated. Alabama was working indoors again and in shorts and shells rather than full pads.

  • Another player told us today during interviews that Dakota Ball is back in Tuscaloosa and was at the facility, but he still wasn't at practice today.

  • Tony Brown was dressed for practice. Hard to say whether he was limited or not based on the little bit that we saw.

  • Marlon Humphrey has been a full participant during the viewing period in the last few days, but I noticed today that he still has something on his right leg. It's not a splint or a cast or a brace; hard to describe exactly. It looked almost like a grey elastic band stretching from his upper leg down into his sock on the back of his leg.

  • Didn't notice any difference in the order of the inside linebackers. Will continue to monitor that situation.
Back again tomorrow. There are two more days of practice with media viewing periods before the team breaks for the holidays.
Practice notes: Dec. 19 | TideSports.com
 
Alabama remained inside for its fifth day of preparation for the Peach Bowl against Washington today. They have two more practices before they break for Christmas, but tomorrow is the last one open to the media.

  • The big news: Keith Holcombe was helped off by 2 trainers during the viewing period. He was limping badly. We speak with Saban after practice tomorrow and would expect an update then.

  • If Holcombe is out (not saying he is, we don't know that), it isn't an insignificant loss. Holcombe is third at ILB now with the injury to Shaun Dion Hamilton, but he's also the team leader in special teams tackles. This would potentially leave Alabama with three ILBs: Reuben Foster, Rashaan Evans and Mack Wilson.

  • Korren Kirven continued to work at right guard, where he won the starting job late in the season.

  • The second team offensive line, left to right, was Lester Cotton, Dallas Warmack, JC Hassenauer, Chris Owens and Matt Wommack.

  • It may have just been the time when I was checking on the WRs, but ArDarius Stewart appeared limited. I'll check again tomorrow to see and make sure.

  • Tony Brown returned to action today as they worked on the dime package. With him in there, the dime personnel was the same it has been: Ronnie Harrison moved into the slot and Hootie Jones came on to play safety.

  • Dakota Ball was still not at practice.
Practice notes: Dec. 20 | TideSports.com
 

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