SIAP elsewhere.
Hereās what you need to know:
No injuries. This is always going to be a cause for celebration, but when you consider that the team was coming off of consecutive full pads practices, seeing everyone cleared for contact is fantastic. The news was not so good for Bamaās opening weekend opponent today, as the Hokies starting tailback Darren Evans suffered a torn ACL that will cost him the entire 2009 season.
Much of the buzz surrounding tonightās practice was over the newly improved Thomas Drew Indoor Practice Facility. It didnāt get a lot of publicity this off-season, but the indoor tennis facility that took up about 10% of the facility was removed, and football team now has the entire facility. The added room would be the first thing you notice, except for the fact that goal posts now hang from the ceiling ā if they had nets on each side, you might think you were watching an Arena Football League practice.
The other highlight of the improved facility is the new āwave cam.ā It somewhat resembles the camera that ESPN has that can be moved around above the action. This new feature will give the coaching staff a new level access to review the practice by, and could be one of the reasons why a later practice or two ends up inside.
As for the practice itselfā¦ there was no major news to report. The position groupings remained the same as they were in the morning practice.
Barrett Jones was still at right guard. Dre Kirkpatrick is still getting a look with the first unit in the nickel and dime packages. Dontāa Hightower was still working with the inside linebackers.
Tomorrow could be a big day for several guys, as the coaches will doubtless look to see how players respond to the first practice after the first day of each player practicing twice. It could be a big day for several of the incoming guys, as this is their first chance to demonstrate their readiness from a conditioning standpoint.
As it stands, the vast majority of the freshman are still working at the end of their position groupings ā behind all returning players, including walk-ons. Thatās not a surprise really, and likely wonāt change for the most part until after Saturdayās scrimmage.
One player that looks like he could be making a strong push for playing time is wide receiver Brandon Gibson. Heās been a coach staff favorite for his work in conditioning drills, but heās yet to catch a pass in a college football game. That has landed him squarely off of the radar for most fans, but the redshirt sophomore is poised to move into the rotation at receiver. Heās likely running fifth right now, behind Julio Jones, Marquis Maze, Darius Hanks, and Mike McCoy.
If the Tide were not incredibly deep at the safety position, you would probably be hearing more about Rod Woodson. The incoming freshman is a physically imposing player that looks to have great instincts for the football. With Justin Woodall, Tyrone King, and Mark Barron solidly ahead of him at one safety spot, his best chance for playing time in 2009 is likely on special teams, and I would not be a bit surprised to see him land a spot on the kick coverage team.
Speaking of Tyrone Kingā¦. I love it when a player proves me wrong. King was a guy that I thought might take his degree and move on with his life. Instead he is currently running behind Justin Woodall at the strong safety position (though Bama technically doesnāt classify its safeties as strong or free). In individual groupings he is practicing ahead of Mark Barron, though Barron is getting solid work with the first unit in the dime package.
New menās basketball coach Anthony Grant made his first appearance at football practice tonight, joined by womenās coach Wendell Hudson.
Former Bama standout Zeke Knight got good news this past week when the doctors at Stillman cleared him to play football this year.
http://www.bamasportsreport.com/2009/08/11/practice-report-fall-camp-day-6-practice-2/
Hereās what you need to know:
No injuries. This is always going to be a cause for celebration, but when you consider that the team was coming off of consecutive full pads practices, seeing everyone cleared for contact is fantastic. The news was not so good for Bamaās opening weekend opponent today, as the Hokies starting tailback Darren Evans suffered a torn ACL that will cost him the entire 2009 season.
Much of the buzz surrounding tonightās practice was over the newly improved Thomas Drew Indoor Practice Facility. It didnāt get a lot of publicity this off-season, but the indoor tennis facility that took up about 10% of the facility was removed, and football team now has the entire facility. The added room would be the first thing you notice, except for the fact that goal posts now hang from the ceiling ā if they had nets on each side, you might think you were watching an Arena Football League practice.
The other highlight of the improved facility is the new āwave cam.ā It somewhat resembles the camera that ESPN has that can be moved around above the action. This new feature will give the coaching staff a new level access to review the practice by, and could be one of the reasons why a later practice or two ends up inside.
As for the practice itselfā¦ there was no major news to report. The position groupings remained the same as they were in the morning practice.
Barrett Jones was still at right guard. Dre Kirkpatrick is still getting a look with the first unit in the nickel and dime packages. Dontāa Hightower was still working with the inside linebackers.
Tomorrow could be a big day for several guys, as the coaches will doubtless look to see how players respond to the first practice after the first day of each player practicing twice. It could be a big day for several of the incoming guys, as this is their first chance to demonstrate their readiness from a conditioning standpoint.
As it stands, the vast majority of the freshman are still working at the end of their position groupings ā behind all returning players, including walk-ons. Thatās not a surprise really, and likely wonāt change for the most part until after Saturdayās scrimmage.
One player that looks like he could be making a strong push for playing time is wide receiver Brandon Gibson. Heās been a coach staff favorite for his work in conditioning drills, but heās yet to catch a pass in a college football game. That has landed him squarely off of the radar for most fans, but the redshirt sophomore is poised to move into the rotation at receiver. Heās likely running fifth right now, behind Julio Jones, Marquis Maze, Darius Hanks, and Mike McCoy.
If the Tide were not incredibly deep at the safety position, you would probably be hearing more about Rod Woodson. The incoming freshman is a physically imposing player that looks to have great instincts for the football. With Justin Woodall, Tyrone King, and Mark Barron solidly ahead of him at one safety spot, his best chance for playing time in 2009 is likely on special teams, and I would not be a bit surprised to see him land a spot on the kick coverage team.
Speaking of Tyrone Kingā¦. I love it when a player proves me wrong. King was a guy that I thought might take his degree and move on with his life. Instead he is currently running behind Justin Woodall at the strong safety position (though Bama technically doesnāt classify its safeties as strong or free). In individual groupings he is practicing ahead of Mark Barron, though Barron is getting solid work with the first unit in the dime package.
New menās basketball coach Anthony Grant made his first appearance at football practice tonight, joined by womenās coach Wendell Hudson.
Former Bama standout Zeke Knight got good news this past week when the doctors at Stillman cleared him to play football this year.
http://www.bamasportsreport.com/2009/08/11/practice-report-fall-camp-day-6-practice-2/
